At the storied Villa d’Este on the edge of Lake Como, magnolias bloom and the echoes of Luchino Visconti’s cinematic dreams still linger. Today, it was the setting for Chanel’s dreamy Cruise 2025/26 show, which was unveiled in a haze of sequins, silk and sun-dappled glamour. The historic hotel—long held as a playground for artists, actors and glamorous aesthetes—provided the perfect stage for the Maison’s creative team to bring their latest collection to life: a celebration of tranquillity, Italian dolce far niente, and the quietly opulent ritual of getting dressed to unwind.
From the Creation Studio emerged a wardrobe for women who understand and exhibit the joy of leisurewear and the theatre of it all. Pastel taffeta ballgowns flounced playfully in peach, pink and blue, each capturing the movement of lake water at dusk. Tweeds shimmered in ochre and gold, echoing the sun-burnished façades of the Villa, while Sofia Coppola’s hazy teaser film floated through the air like perfume—equal parts nostalgia and modern romance.
Elsewhere, a more hedonistic current pulsed through the collection with a hint of disco energy reflected in sequinned pyjama suits, gold lurex damask tailoring and a striped lamé jumpsuit in pink and orange, worn with a coordinating cape—the sort of look one might wear to dance the night away in a foreign place.
The silhouettes were cinematic and sensual—black bustier mini-dresses, ivory blouses adorned with rhinestone braids, flared evening trousers. Floral motifs embroidered in lace paid homage to the setting’s botanical splendour—wisteria, camellias, and oleanders reimagined in chiffon and beaded braids.
As the House awaits Matthieu Blazy‘s new chapter to begin, the creation studio delivered a Cruise show, not just about destination, but about atmosphere and the intangible joys of travel. White pea coats, striped cardigans, oversized sunglasses and strings of pearls whispered of timeless resort codes. Yet nothing felt nostalgic. Instead, Chanel provided a moodboard of casual elegance.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.
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