Matthieu Blazy Sets the Tone for a New Chanel With FW26
- Sheri Roushdy
- Fashion
For Fall/Winter 2026, Matthieu Blazy continues to shape his vision for Chanel with a collection that favors adjustment over disruption. Rather than rewriting the House codes, he works through proportion, texture, and styling, allowing familiar elements to shift in tone without losing their identity. The result feels measured and intentional, a season focused on refinement rather than spectacle.
Photo: Gorunway.com
The collection moves between structure and ease. Tailoring appears sharper, yet never rigid, with jackets cut closer to the body and skirts falling longer than in previous seasons. Coats carry stronger shoulders and extended lines, giving the silhouette a more composed presence. The proportions feel slightly elongated, suggesting a gradual evolution of the classic Chanel outline rather than a complete change.
Photo: Gorunway.com
Tweed remains the foundation of the collection, though treated with notable variation. Some versions appear lighter, woven in softer tones that reflect light as the model moves, while others lean into heavier textures through dense weaves, layered knits, and substantial outerwear. This contrast between lightness and weight runs throughout the lineup, creating a rhythm that keeps the collection from feeling static.
Photo: Gorunway.com
Daywear stays grounded in practicality. Knitwear, long coats, and softened suits suggest clothes meant to function beyond the runway, styled with an ease that avoids nostalgia. Blazy’s approach feels less concerned with recreating Chanel as it once was, and more focused on how its codes can adapt without losing their clarity.
Photo: Gorunway.com
Eveningwear shifts the focus toward surface rather than silhouette. Sequins, metallic threads, and sheer layers appear throughout the Fall/Winter 2026 lineup, but the shapes remain restrained. Dresses shimmer without excess, and embellishment is often placed on otherwise simple forms, allowing texture to define the look. The effect feels controlled, with glamour that reads as natural rather than theatrical.
Photo: Gorunway.com
Proportion continues to guide the collection. Shoulders are slightly broader, coats extend further down the body, and hems frequently fall below the knee, giving the lineup a more settled, mature rhythm. Moments of softness appear through fluid blouses and lighter knits, keeping the collection balanced and preventing the references to the past from becoming literal.
Photo: Gorunway.com
Accessories reinforce this idea of continuity, particularly in the bags, which remain rooted in familiar Chanel shapes while subtly altering scale and material. Instead of introducing a new icon, the Fall/Winter 2026 runway revisits the flap in multiple variations, each one adjusting the classic silhouette in a different way.
Photo: Gorunway.com
An oversized Maxi Flap appears in crocodile-embossed leather in deep, saturated colors, its enlarged proportions giving the bag a heavier, more architectural presence. The quilting is flatter, the surface smoother, and the strap simplified, making the piece feel more functional than decorative.
Photo: Gorunway.com
A tweed flap follows, woven in multicolored threads that echo the textures of the garments. Here the bag feels fully integrated into the look, reinforcing the connection between tailoring and accessory that runs throughout the collection.
Photo: Gorunway.com
Structured top-handle flaps introduce a more formal note. Rendered in smooth leather and mock-croc finishes, they are often carried in the hand, recalling earlier Chanel eras while the cleaner lines keep them from feeling archival.
Photo: Gorunway.com
More experimental versions appear in sequined and embellished finishes, including graphic black-and-white styles that mirror the textures seen in the ready-to-wear. These bags function less as separate accessories and more as extensions of the material story, continuing the collection’s focus on surface and light.
Photo: Gorunway.com
A tweed Maxi Flap offers one of the clearest departures. In one version, the central panel is left partially unfinished, revealing the structure of the fabric while the surrounding frame remains dense and textured. The effect reflects the contrast between lightness and weight seen throughout the collection, testing how far the Chanel icon can shift without losing its identity.
Across the accessories, the styling remains notably relaxed. Bags are worn crossbody, tucked under the arm, or carried without ceremony, reinforcing the sense that this Chanel is meant to move with the wearer rather than sit on display.
With Fall/Winter 2026, Blazy continues his dialogue with the House through careful shifts rather than dramatic gestures. The collection refines the proportions, textures, and habits that define Chanel, allowing them to evolve without losing their discipline. The effect is subtle, but deliberate, a season that moves forward quietly while keeping the structure of the House intact.