The capsule is a nod to the maison’s timeless elegance, an ode to cinema and the beauty of the Italian countryside.
Lake Como and Chanel share one thing in common: glamour. Put them together and you get a show and collection that oozes effortless style and timeless elegance. Even in the world of haute couture, a Chanel show in Lake Como is quite hard to top.
The location is a statement in itself. Chanel revealed its Cruise 2026 collection at the breathtaking Villa d’Este, the palace hotel famous for hosting Hollywood’s greats from Elizabeth Taylor to Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich to Alfred Hitchcock (who famously pronounced it the most beautiful place on earth), Robert de Niro to Al Pacino.
Related story: Elegance and endurance: Chanel does a poetic play on proportions in F/W collection
Related story: Chanel’s dreamy 2025 Métiers d’Art show evokes the magic of Chinese culture
To set the mood (as if Lake Como needs a mood-setter), Chanel tapped award-winning filmmaker and brand ambassador Sofia Coppola—who is notably of Italian descent—to shoot a short film that highlights the beauty and glamour of the getaway destination known for being a favorite among the rich and famous (see the snippets here). The show then was about more than just fashion; it was an ode to cinema and the splendor of Italy’s natural beauty.
Opening the show was an elegant white bathrobe-style coat. It was followed by bright yellow capri pants, a lilac tweed suit that matches the wisteria on the terrace, a dramatic chiffon halter-top gown with elbow-length silk gloves, and short, frilly taffeta dresses in peach and pink. Models clutched huge tote bags that looked like they could fit all your summer getaway essentials.
Related story: Chanel takes flight with its Grand Palais return for S/S25 show
Related story: The price of Paris Fashion Week: A P2 million dilemma for influencers
There were also Chanel staples like the popular Chanel 25 bag, patent high-heeled mules and sandals, jewelry, and of course, the requisite strings of pearls.
The beautiful and elegant Keira Knightley, considered the epitome of a Chanel lady, was among the 900-strong audience of mostly Chanel’s biggest-spending clients.
Chanel is still amid a major transition, with a relatively new creative designer, Matthieu Blazy, taking on the post in December 2024. The 40-year-old did not work on this collection, which was credited to the design studio, nor did he attend the show. He will present his first collection for the brand in October.
Related story: Chanel names Matthieu Blazy as new artistic director
Related story: Change is coming to Chanel. Who will replace creative director Virginie Viard?
Chanel hasn’t disclosed its year-end financial figures yet, but Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion and president of Chanel SAS, said in an interview with Women’s Wear Daily that he did “not forecast any unexpected changes. As for the rest of the industry, the difficulties were seen mostly in Asia and China. The business in China has been quite difficult in 2024 but now it’s picking up, and we feel a strong, nice energy.” In January, the executive said 2024 revenues would be flat versus 2023.
While the maison has pulled the shutters down its Atelier Beauté store in New York City, it has recently opened a boutique in Fukuoka, Japan. Let’s see if Pavlovsky’s optimism will pull them through another tough year in luxury fashion.
Related story: Kering sales plummet more than expected as Gucci’s woes deepen
