Out with the old? Newly single Nicole Kidman sees Matthieu Blazy bring Chanel bang up-to-date with a debut collection that blends heritage and modernity

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Only a few days after publicly announcing her divorce, Nicole Kidman attended Chanel’s fashion show in Paris last night, sitting in the front row.

She wore a relaxed outfit of a large white shirt and jeans, and was accompanied by her daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14.

The Academy Award-winning actor filed for divorce from singer Keith Urban last week, ending their 19-year marriage.

After first working with Chanel’s No. 5 perfume over twenty years ago, the 58-year-old actress has now been named a brand ambassador for Chanel.

Sitting to Nicole Kidman’s right at the Grand Palais was actress Vanessa Paradis, a longtime brand ambassador, at age 52. Her 26-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose Depp—whose father is actor Johnny Depp—was also there, wearing a navy peacoat and fishnet stockings.

Margot Robbie, Penelope Cruz, Tilda Swinton, Gracie Abrams, Pedro Pascal, Kendall Jenner, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were also at the event. Their ages are 35, 51, 64, 26, 50, 29, and 38, respectively.

The front row featured a blend of both established and new faces representing the brand, and Matthieu Blazy’s first collection followed suit, skillfully combining classic elements with a modern aesthetic.

The fashion house announced the appointment of the 41-year-old French-Belgian designer as its new creative director in December. He previously held the same position at Bottega Veneta, where he worked from 2021 to 2024.

This wasn’t about replacing older ideas with new ones; it was about updating them to better suit the needs of women today.

The traditional boucle jacket was updated with a looser, more relaxed fit, featuring dropped shoulders and fuller sleeves. Skirts came in a variety of lengths, from short mini skirts to longer midi styles, with details like thigh slits and flowing, asymmetrical hems.

Perhaps most notably, this meant a huge influx of new handbags. While Blazy is a talented clothing designer, he truly shines when it comes to accessories – especially bags, which are a major source of revenue for luxury brands.

Chanel’s iconic quilted leather handbag is a well-known sign of luxury, and its price increases steadily each year. Despite its classic status, it was due for an update – and now it has one.

Quilts are getting a makeover for spring 2026! Designers are playing with size and shape – some are smaller, some longer, and others are extra-large – to offer a style for everyone. We saw them in a range of looks, from relaxed beige suede to bold metallic gold and classic black and white.

This season saw a record number of designers – twelve in all – taking on the role of creative director for womenswear collections, and the appointment of Blazy at Chanel generated the most excitement.

Chanel, established in 1910 by Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, has had remarkably few creative directors – only four in its 115-year existence.

It’s hard to replace Karl Lagerfeld, who led the fashion house for 36 years until he passed away in 2019 at the age of 85. Despite increased criticism, most people would agree that Blazy, who was born in Paris, did a commendable job.

This wardrobe wasn’t just practical for women; it felt like a dream come true. And if you don’t appreciate a designer who chooses upbeat 90s music like The Corrs and ‘Rhythm Is A Dancer’ for their fashion shows, it’s hard to imagine anything ever satisfying you.

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2025-10-07 02:03