For Fall/Winter 2025–2026, Chanel turned away from the grandiosity of spectacle and leaned into intimacy, transforming an upper floor of the Grand Palais into a whispering homage to the house’s iconic salons at 31 Rue Cambon. Here, in a cocoon of mirrored walls, plush beige banquettes, and quilted cushions, the stage was set not for theatrics—but for exclusivity. It was a deliberate return to the maison’s roots, where haute couture is less about performance and more about reverence.

With Matthieu Blazy poised to take creative helm in October, this interseasonal collection was stewarded by Chanel’s in-house team—a moment of refined pause before a new chapter begins. The garments, subtly inspired by Coco Chanel’s romantic ties to the Scottish Highlands, avoided pastiche in favor of quiet echoes: wintery tweeds in tones of snow and thistle, silhouettes reminiscent of hunting coats, and even pragmatic walking boots grounding diaphanous layers.

There was no overt storyline, no disruptive reinvention. Instead, the focus was on showcasing the virtuosity of Chanel’s petites mains. Embroidery took on sculptural forms—feathers and tulle imitating shearling, full-length coats with the wild tactility of fur, and snowflake-like textures drifting across black tweeds like frozen breath. It was couture in its purest form: tactile, immersive, and unyieldingly crafted.

Eveningwear arrived not as grand finales, but as poetic interludes—modular, floaty, personal. White chiffon blouses hovered over guipure lace, and softly shredded tulle skirts created silhouettes that felt both ethereal and grounded. These were pieces meant for curation, not just admiration—intimate garments waiting for their moment in a private fitting room, not a red carpet.

Yet within this mastery, one felt the presence of absence—a creative stillness, elegant but withholding. The show, while breathtaking in craftsmanship, seemed to wait rather than speak. Without a central artistic voice, it remained a tableau of tradition rather than transformation.

But perhaps that was the point. This was a sacred holding space, a quiet interim before Matthieu Blazy’s arrival. Chanel’s ateliers have once again proven their unmatched ability to craft desire from thread, feather, and memory. And as the house readies for a new era, this collection served as both preservation and promise—a whispered overture before the next verse of couture history unfolds.