Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026: Matthieu Blazy’s New York Vision
Last night in New York, Matthieu Blazy unveiled his second collection for Chanel, the Métiers d’Art 2026. Following his debut with Summer 2026 in Paris, expectations were high, and the atmosphere electric. What emerged was a collection that reaffirmed Chanel’s DNA while pushing the house into a new era of wearability, individuality, and modern tailoring.
Anticipation and Storytelling
The build‑up to the show was as cinematic as the collection itself. A short film directed by Michel Gondry starred Margaret Qualley and A$AP Rocky, with Rocky racing across the city to propose. The playful narrative stirred social media chatter many worried, before reading captions, that Rocky was proposing to someone other than Rihanna, with whom he shares three children. This clever prelude underscored Chanel’s ability to blend pop culture with high fashion, setting the stage for a collection that would explore individuality, romance, and urban drama
The Subway as Stage
The show took place in the New York City subway, a venue that perfectly captured the democratic spirit of fashion. The subway is the great leveller: all human life is here, constantly in flux, always becoming but never being. It is a microcosm of New York itself, a place of drama, encounters, and unexpected beauty. For Chanel, it became a metaphor for fashion’s own perpetual reinvention.
Blazy transformed the underground into Chanel’s “sub(way)-culture,” where the ordinary became extraordinary. The setting resonated with the collection’s emphasis on individuality. Just as subway riders express themselves through personal style, the looks celebrated self‑expression. In a moment when fashion craves authenticity, Blazy delivered a wardrobe that encouraged mixing, matching, and styling with freedom an ethos Luxury Endless has long championed.
Subway Style: Individuality in Motion
One of the most striking aspects of the Métiers d’Art 2026 show was its embrace of individuality, expressed through styling that echoed the spontaneity of street style. The New York subway became more than a backdrop—it was a metaphor for fashion’s democratic spirit, where every passenger is a character and every outfit tells a story.
Alex Consani embodied this ethos in a sharp pinstripe suit, a deliberate nod to Coco Chanel’s pioneering embrace of genderless dressing. Though the collection was formally presented as womenswear, the styling blurred boundaries, reminding us that Chanel has always challenged convention. The suit carried both authority and playfulness, a look that could just as easily be captured in a candid street style photograph as on the runway.
Sequined tops reimagined the classic “I Love NY” slogan, shimmering with wit and irony. A chunky knit, playfully resembling the Superman logo, was layered under striped shirts, creating a dialogue between pop culture and couture. Tweed jackets paired with masculine‑cut trousers reinforced the fluidity of modern dressing, underscoring Blazy’s belief that individuality lies in how pieces are worn, not in rigid categories.
This subway‑inspired styling spoke to the reality of fashion today: people want clothes that reflect their personality, that can be mixed and matched, photographed on the street, and shared across social platforms. In a city like New York—or London or Paris—style is lived in transit, captured between destinations, and defined by the wearer’s own narrative.
Blazy’s collection tapped into this energy, offering garments that felt personal rather than prescriptive. The looks encouraged self‑expression, echoing the way commuters curate their outfits each morning, blending practicality with flair. In this way, Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 became not just a runway show but a celebration of fashion’s most vital force: individuality in motion.
Art Deco and Modern Femininity
The collection carried a strong Art Deco vibe, echoing both the soul of New York and Coco Chanel’s own beginnings. Suits in tweed appeared throughout, but the tweed was lighter, more fluid, adapted to contemporary wear. The silhouettes balanced ladylike refinement with 2026 modernity, offering tailoring that was approachable yet elevated.
Blazy’s genius lay in his ability to merge craft with pop culture. “Lingerie denim” was paired with complex embroideries, evoking a new kind of western wear. An archival Art Deco dress was reconfigured by Lesage with fringed feather work from Lemarié, worn with illusion chinosa witty nod to the flapper spirit. Men’s shirting motifs reappeared, weighted with Chanel chains, while lumberjack flannel was reimagined in sumptuous wool boucle tweed.
Playful Mutations and Hidden Pleasures
The collection abounded with playful mutations. Minaudières carried hidden meanings: an oyster concealing a pearl, enamelled monkey nuts and apples transforming tourist trinkets into exalted treasures. Jewellery dazzled with ice cube glass cabochons and deco hummingbirds, crafted by Goossens. Silk linings featured hand‑painted motifs of the city, including Coco Chanel herself walking her dog against the New York skyline.
These details spoke to Chanel’s tradition of wit and surprise, offering personal pleasures for the wearer. Fashion here was not just about spectacle but about intimacy, discovery, and delight.
Bags and Collectables
No Chanel show is complete without its bags, and Blazy delivered both classics and collectables. The house staples were presented in timeless form but also refreshed with modern twists. The Minaudières stood out as highly covetable pieces, particularly the mini apple, destined to become a collector’s item.
Denim for All
Denim played a central role, acknowledging its place in every wardrobe. Blazy elevated denim beyond casual wear, integrating it into Chanel’s couture vocabulary. Embroidered, tailored, and layered, denim became a canvas for individuality, reinforcing the collection’s democratic spirit.
Cinematic Inspiration
Blazy drew inspiration from Gabrielle Chanel’s 1931 sojourns in New York, en route to Hollywood. Movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn had invited her to design for film stars, but it was downtown New York, not Hollywood, that reignited her confidence. She discovered locals adopting Chanel style in their own way, a pop celebration she considered the sincerest form of flattery. She returned to Europe renewed, convinced of Chanel’s global appeal.
Blazy tapped into this cinematic association, merging uptown glamour with downtown grit. His Métiers d’Art 2026 collection became a love letter to New York, echoing Coco’s own fascination with the city.
A New Vision for Chanel
What makes Blazy’s vision compelling is its balance of heritage and modernity. Karl Lagerfeld’s marketing genius and long tenure at Chanel established the brand’s DNA, but Blazy reinterprets it for today’s world. His tailoring is easier, more wearable, yet still luxurious. His approach embraces individuality, encouraging women to style pieces in their own way.
The collection’s Art Deco references, subway setting, and cinematic storytelling created a narrative that was both rooted in history and alive with contemporary energy. It was Chanel as we know it—craft, wit, elegance—but also Chanel as we need it now: democratic, playful, and personal.
Closing Note
Matthieu Blazy’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show in New York was more than a fashion presentation; it was a cultural statement. By staging the collection in the subway, he celebrated individuality and diversity. By weaving in Art Deco, denim, and playful mutations, he honoured Chanel’s heritage while pushing it forward. By embracing cinematic storytelling, he connected past and present, Coco and New York, craft and pop culture.
We are truly fascinated by this new vision of Chanel. Blazy has proven that he can carry the weight of the brand’s DNA while infusing it with modern relevance. His Métiers d’Art 2026 was witty, wearable, and deeply resonant a collection that reminds us why Chanel remains at the heart of fashion’s global conversation.
Matthieu Blazy, at the end of the show, appeared on stage to greet the audience.