Margot Robbie and Oprah Witness Blazy's Colourful Chanel Transformation
Matthieu Blazy continues his architectural journey at Chanel, presenting his second ready-to-wear collection during Paris Fashion Week. The designer staged a spectacular show where brightly coloured cranes rose from a holographic floor, symbolising ongoing construction at the historic fashion house.
Celebrity Audience Signals Strong Foundations
The Grand Palais audience demonstrated the collection's solid foundations, with Margot Robbie, Oprah Winfrey, Jennie from Blackpink, Kylie Minogue, Lily-Rose Depp, Teyana Taylor and Olivia Dean all attending. For Parisians accustomed to real construction cranes around Notre-Dame cathedral, the set design offered a fashion-forward interpretation that blended reality with fantasy.
Architectural Approach to Chanel Heritage
Blazy drew inspiration from Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's quote about dresses that "crawl and fly," structuring the collection around tension between plain and spectacular elements. The opening looks featured austere black knit zip-ups, tweed blousons and boxy overshirts with minimal gold button detailing. Blazy described the suit as "the first brick" from which everything else rises, mirroring Chanel's original philosophy of elevating everyday dress into precious fashion.
The designer reinterpreted Chanel's codes through modern techniques, transforming classic suits into knit shirt jackets and pressed-tweed blousons before rebuilding them with innovative silicone-woven fabrics and metallic mesh materials.
Provocative Silhouettes and Retro References
The collection's most daring innovation involved dramatically lowered waistlines, with belts positioned at mid-thigh and pleated skirts beginning where blazers ended. These retro flapper-inspired silhouettes filtered through contemporary design included drop-waisted twinsets, floral-embroidered patchwork dresses, and vividly patterned knits with twenties-era energy.
A bold geometric-coloured furry coat evoked the eclectic style of London's fashionable Camden district, demonstrating Blazy's ability to blend Chanel's heritage with modern urban influences.
Spectacular Finale and Inclusive Casting
The collection's concluding segment answered questions about commercial viability with dazzling sequined plaid suits in vibrant colours, beaded coats featuring star-chart embroidery, and metallic mesh woven to resemble traditional tweed patterns. Pastel-tinted hair coordinated with outfits, while fabric flowers burst from bodices and trailing ribbons created theatrical runway moments.
Blazy employed inclusive casting across ages from teenagers to women in their fifties, allowing the show to develop naturally during a five-minute runway circuit. The presentation concluded with seven pared-back black and cream looks, reassuring that Chanel's essential identity remains intact amidst creative evolution.
This second collection demonstrates Blazy's rare achievement at a heritage fashion house: honouring the founder's vision while developing a distinctive contemporary voice that moves beyond mere imitation.
