It wasn’t just a runway—it was a reverie. Chanel unveiled its Cruise 2025 collection at the legendary Villa d’Este on Lake Como, transforming the iconic Italian estate into a portal of Riviera nostalgia and cinematic seduction. Nestled between emerald gardens and the lake’s glassy blue, the show unfolded like a storyboard of casual opulence—where fashion met fantasy, framed by old-world elegance.
For Chanel, Lake Como wasn’t a mere backdrop. It was a character. The connection runs deep: Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was a close friend of Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti, a regular visitor to Como’s historic villas. That cinematic lineage, coupled with Chanel’s affinity for travel-ready sophistication, served as the creative axis for this Cruise chapter—brought to life with a short film by Sofia Coppola, whose lens captured the wistful, sunlit aesthetic that defines both the house and the setting.
On the runway—or rather, the villa’s meticulously manicured grounds—69 looks floated by like watercolor dreams. The collection, crafted by Chanel’s in-house team ahead of Matthieu Blazy’s highly anticipated creative debut this fall, fused breezy silhouettes with architectural tailoring. Pastel taffetas in peach, rose, and sky blue danced alongside sequined tweeds and whisper-thin sheer dresses. Jumpsuits flowed like lake water, while nautical stripes, lamé sets, and strawberry-hued overcoats added playful precision.
The palette echoed the villa’s natural hues: soft ochres, buttery yellows, sage greens, and of course, Chanel black. Holiday signatures were ever-present—crisp white trousers, navy-striped tops, and silk scarves fluttering like boat sails in the wind. Accessories played their own cinematic roles: oversized black sunglasses, diva-length gloves, and the star of the evening—a mini cupcake-shaped handbag, which instantly became the show’s viral moment.
Guests were equally curated. Keira Knightley, Caroline De Maigret, Joan Thiele, and Beatrice Grannò joined a guestlist that could have passed for a Cannes red carpet. Their front-row presence added to the theatrical glamour and underscored Chanel’s status as a cultural barometer, not just a fashion house.
More than just resortwear, the Cruise 2025 collection teased a transition—both creatively and symbolically. With Blazy’s takeover set for October, Chanel is poised to enter a new era. But before that curtain rises, this collection offers a lingering look at the maison’s enduring magic: timeless, yet utterly of the moment. A wardrobe built for getaways, imagined in the language of legends.
