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Matthieu Blazy just unveiled his groundbreaking first Chanel Cruise collection in Biarritz on April 28. The seaside show featured pink denim, shimmering gowns, and a packed front row of A-list celebrities celebrating fashion’s newest creative force.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Location: Biarritz Casino, where Gabrielle Chanel opened her couture house in 1915
- Event Date: April 28, 2026, marking Blazy’s fifth show and debut cruise collection
- Front Row Stars: Nicole Kidman, A$AP Rocky, Tilda Swinton, Marion Cotillard, and Sofia Coppola
- Collection Highlights: Pink denim jeans at €3,100, turquoise mermaid gowns, and reinvented double-C logos
Where It All Began Returns to Fashion’s Spotlight
By returning to Biarritz, Chanel paid homage to its origins. The fashion house’s founder opened her first couture establishment in this Basque coastal town in 1915, introducing the working-class aesthetic to high fashion. Blazy’s decision to show his Cruise 2026/27 collection here wasn’t coincidental, it was a tribute to the revolutionary spirit that defined Gabrielle Chanel’s career. The beachfront casino ballroom overlooked surfers riding Atlantic waves, framing the collection against Biarritz’s wild, untamed landscape.
When asked backstage about his inspiration, Blazy explained how Gabrielle watched swimmers, tanned herself, and wore French workwear. This outdoor lifestyle shaped her comfortable, practical approach to dressing, one that transformed working-class garments into high fashion staples.
Chanel Cruise 2026/27 debuts in Biarritz with Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection
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A Cruise Collection Brimming with Bold Innovation
Blazy’s debut cruise was anything but safe. Models ranged from their 50s to 60s, with six-months pregnant model Kaya walking while swinging tiny two-tone heels from her handbag. The designer offered pink denim skirt suits, tissue-fine silks over sporty tank tops, and oversized straw baskets inspired by beachwear codes. Quarter-zip sweaters paired with Basque-striped skirts created a modern ease absent from Chanel under previous leadership.
The collection’s oversized double-C logos became what Blazy called the rock T-shirt of Chanel. A turquoise sequined gown with a shimmering mermaid tail referenced an art deco mural on the nearby lighthouse, depicting two mermaids with intertwined tails forming the iconic Chanel double C.
The Front Row Cast and Collection Details
| Detail | Information |
| Venue | Le Casino Municipal, Biarritz |
| Collection Name | Cruise 2026/27 by Matthieu Blazy |
| Key Attendees | Nicole Kidman, A$AP Rocky, Tilda Swinton, Marion Cotillard, Sofia Coppola, Michaela Coel |
| Price Point | Pink denim jeans starting at €3,100 |
“She borrowed the black dress from the workers, from the servant, from the shop girls. She decontextualised it and put it on the aristocracy, imposing her taste on them. It was a revenge on her own social status.”
— Matthieu Blazy, Chanel Creative Director
The Little Black Dress Celebrates a Century
Blazy opened the show with a little black dress, celebrating the 100-year milestone since Vogue dubbed it Chanel’s Ford in 1926. The simple silhouette represented radical democratic dressing when Gabrielle debuted it, stripping away elaborate ornament to reveal elegant simplicity. A newspaper print suit emblazoned with headlines from Gabrielle’s time in Biarritz nodded to her radical spirit. Blazy revealed he loved a quote where Gabrielle said she liked reading newspapers like men, leading him to digitally print newsprint onto tailored silhouettes. The designer also playfully incorporated fish and chips messaging, a nod to seaside vacation culture.
According to Bruno Pavlovsky, Chanel’s fashion president, the brand maintains tens of thousands of VICs (clients spending over €100,000 annually). He noted that Blazy’s research gives him freedom to twist and create the Chanel of today and tomorrow.
What’s Next for Blazy’s Chanel Cruise Vision?
The Biarritz spectacular extended beyond the runway. Chanel transformed a local food market into a cocktail party, screening the show live at the Gare du Midi exhibition hall for residents. The collection underscored Blazy’s growing mastery of heritage codes while maintaining contemporary relevance. Will his cruise debut cement his status as Chanel’s most important designer since the Lagerfeld era? The honeymoon is far from over, with fashion insiders predicting Blazy will reshape luxury for generations to come.
