Australian actress Margot Robbie unveiled a striking new hairstyle as she graced the front row at the prestigious Chanel autumn/winter 2026 presentation during Paris Fashion Week. The 35-year-old star, celebrated for her role in Wuthering Heights, revealed a chic lob – a long bob – complemented by a fringe, marking a fresh aesthetic departure.
Star-Studded Front Row at Chanel
Robbie was joined by an illustrious group of celebrities, including Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue and British singer Olivia Dean, as they gathered to witness creative director Matthieu Blazy unveil his latest collection for the historic French fashion house. The event took place beneath the expansive glass roof of the Grand Palais, where towering crane structures illuminated in vibrant primary colours transformed the venue into a mesmerising construction site-inspired setting.
Blazy's Vision: Building a Dream
Blazy articulated that the staging symbolised the concept of "building a dream", reflecting his ongoing mission to reshape the legacy of the house originally founded by Coco Chanel in 1910. Excitement surrounding the designer's tenure has been palpable throughout Paris Fashion Week, with reports indicating that editors, buyers, and models queued for hours at Chanel's Paris boutiques, eagerly attempting to secure pieces from his early collections.
Collection Highlights: Heritage Meets Modernity
The runway presentation explored Chanel's rich heritage through subtle reinterpretations and contemporary styling. The show commenced with one of the house's most iconic signatures: the tweed skirt suit. A black ribbed version fastened with gold buttons offered a refined take on the classic silhouette, paired elegantly with pointed heels and a structured handbag.
Another standout look featured a cream tweed jacket and matching skirt with softly frayed edges, introducing a relaxed yet sophisticated twist on the classic two-piece set while preserving the elegant structure synonymous with Chanel. Several ensembles paired structured jackets with slim pencil skirts, while others showcased textured tweed coats layered over dresses or blouses.
Silhouettes and Outerwear Innovations
Blazy revisited drop-waist silhouettes reminiscent of Chanel's 1920s designs, elongating the torso and creating a looser, flapper-inspired line that contrasted sharply with the cinched tailoring prevalent on many runways this season. As an autumn/winter collection, outerwear played a pivotal role. A short grey jacket with a pointed collar was styled with wide-leg trousers, and a multicoloured tweed coat layered over a lace-trimmed skirt and vibrant pink blouse demonstrated Blazy's adeptness at mixing classic fabrics with contemporary aesthetics.
A fitted black jacket and skirt combination emphasised a streamlined silhouette, accessorised with a shoulder bag and two-tone heels – a subtle homage to one of Chanel's most enduring footwear signatures. Texture and craftsmanship were prominently featured, with one sleeveless look boasting intricate embellishment and another pairing a checked coat with a delicately detailed skirt incorporating lace and embroidery.
Decorative Elements and Accessories
As the collection progressed, decorative pieces became more evident. A pink dress adorned with feather-like embellishments – a dominant trend this season – introduced fluid movement, while other garments layered textured fabrics to create depth across the silhouettes. Accessories remained understated yet essential, with structured handbags in neutral tones appearing throughout the runway.
Jewellery ranged from delicate pieces to oversized statement necklaces. One dramatic look featured a bold red gown styled with a striking coin necklace, the dress's gathered fabric cascading fluidly in a high-low style – a trend also observed at Dior. Elsewhere, a model wearing narrow green sunglasses paired the accessory with a red and black textured dress and a chunky necklace, injecting a playful and contemporary note into the otherwise restrained palette.
The Finale: Minimalist Elegance
The finale returned to the minimalist elegance long associated with Chanel. A black dress cut in fluid fabric appeared deceptively simple from the front but revealed a low back detail accentuated by one of Chanel's most recognisable motifs – the camellia flower. This moment encapsulated Blazy's approach: respecting the codes established by Coco Chanel while gradually adapting them for a new generation.
Guiding Chanel into a New Era
Following the tenures of legendary creative directors such as Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, Blazy faces the formidable challenge of steering one of fashion's most influential houses into its next chapter. Judging by the enthusiastic reaction from fashion insiders and the crowds reportedly forming outside Chanel boutiques across Paris, the rebuilding process is already well underway, promising an exciting future for the iconic brand.
