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Chanel’s Biarritz Cruise Show Dazzles with Star-Studded Tribute to Coco’s Legacy
BIARRITZ, France — Chanel transformed this iconic seaside town into a glittering stage for fashion history on Tuesday, as creative director Matthieu Blazy unveiled his debut Croisière (Cruise) 2027 collection. The show, held at Le Casino Municipal, drew A-list celebrities, industry heavyweights and a deep reverence for the house’s founder, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, who opened her first couture salon here in 1915.
The evening was a masterclass in blending heritage with modernity, as Blazy paid homage to Chanel’s revolutionary spirit while infusing the collection with his signature playful yet polished aesthetic. Front row guests included Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, actress Tilda Swinton, rapper A$AP Rocky, and filmmaker Sofia Coppola, all gathered to witness what Blazy called “a love letter to the woman who redefined fashion.”
A Collection Rooted in History, Designed for Today
Blazy opened the show with a reimagined version of Chanel’s legendary 1926 “Little Black Dress,” a design that turns 100 this year and remains one of fashion’s most radical inventions. “Much is said about the revenge dress,” Blazy noted in the show’s program. “This might be the original one.” The collection oscillated between whimsy and classicism, featuring fishtail mermaid gowns, “heel cap” shoes that left feet nearly bare, and oversized beach totes alongside timeless tweeds, floral prints, and mariner stripes.
Pink denim skirt suits and silk ensembles layered over sporty tank tops dominated the runway, while oversized double-C logos—dubbed by Blazy as “the rock T-shirt of Chanel”—added a bold, contemporary edge. Models of all ages walked the carpet, including Kaya, six months pregnant, who wore her suit jacket open over her baby bump and playfully swung a pair of two-tone Chanel shoes from her handbag.
“When Mademoiselle Chanel came to Biarritz, she had every source of pleasure and inspiration at her disposal, day or night. These kinds of different activities led to a lot of the fashion she would come to do.”
— Matthieu Blazy, backstage at the Chanel Cruise 2027 show
Biarritz: Where Chanel’s Story Began
The choice of Biarritz was no accident. The French resort town holds a special place in Chanel’s history, serving as the birthplace of the maison’s first couture house and, later, the inspiration for the concept of resort collections. Blazy and his team transformed the casino’s ballroom into a dreamy re-creation of Coco’s original salon, with mirrored walls, plush ivory carpets, gilded Baroque armchairs, and a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean.
“This collection wasn’t all about work—it wouldn’t be Blazy’s if that were true,” one attendee remarked. “His homages to Chanel’s history are always joyful, always about the woman at the core of it all.” The designer’s vision celebrated Coco’s multifaceted life: the revolutionary designer, the shrewd businesswoman, and the free-spirited woman who danced barefoot on the beach, dined al fresco with lovers, and mingled with local sailors, and artists.
Stars and Style Collide
The front row was a who’s who of global talent. Alongside Kidman, Swinton, Rocky, and Coppola, French actress Marion Cotillard, tennis legend Amélie Mauresmo, and royal Charlotte Casiraghi added to the star power. The event also underscored Chanel’s deep ties to Biarritz, a relationship that Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel’s fashion division, emphasized in a recent interview. “Chanel is part of Biarritz’s history,” he said. “This town must never become another Saint-Tropez—it’s a place of elegance, not excess.”
A Night to Remember—On and Off the Runway
The show wasn’t without its dramatic moments. In a rare off-runway incident, a 40-year-old woman was rushed to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during the event. Emergency responders quickly intervened, and the woman was reported to be in stable condition. The incident served as a stark reminder of the high stakes surrounding such high-profile gatherings, though it did little to dampen the evening’s celebratory mood.
Backstage, the energy was electric. Blazy’s fifth Chanel show—and his first Cruise collection—solidified his reputation as a designer who honors the past while fearlessly pushing the brand forward. With jeans priced at €3,100 (roughly $3,350) flying off the racks in the Biarritz boutique, it’s clear that Blazy’s vision is resonating with both longtime Chanel devotees and a new generation of fashion lovers.
As the fashion world turns its attention to other Cruise 2027 shows—including Gucci’s upcoming debut in New York—Chanel’s Biarritz spectacle set a nearly impossible standard. It wasn’t just a tribute to Coco’s legacy; it was a reminder of why her influence endures a century later.
For more coverage of the 2027 Cruise collections, observe W Magazine’s full roundup.
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