Jon Bon Jovi and Christine Baranski ride the subway to attend the new Chanel collection

Chanel unveiled Matthieu Blazys second collection in an unexpected New York setting: the Bowery subway station. Once a gritty urban stop, the station transformed into a luxurious showcase, featuring more Chanel handbags and tweed ensembles than major department stores could hold. On Tuesday evening, celebrities and VIPs navigated the rain and swiped through the turnstiles to witness the downtown Chanel express arrive, accompanied by roughly 90 models.

The front row sparkled with notable figures including Christine Baranski, Linda Evangelista, Anna Wintour, Meg Ryan, Martin Scorsese, Sofia Coppola, Kristen Stewart, Ayo Edebiri, Jessie Buckley, Jon Bon Jovi, Emily Ratajkowski, Rose Byrne, Margaret Qualley, and Tilda Swinton. Many had just flown in from Londons Fashion Awards, emphasizing the global pull of Chanel.

Blazy, 41, crafted a collection that rivaled the star-studded audience. The designs merged high fashion with practical urban wear, echoing Coco Chanels original mission of creating a modern wardrobe for womenelegant, distinctive, and adaptable. Feathered gowns, beaded dresses, and animal prints all retained a lightweight, approachable quality, as though the wearers could hop on a late-night subway after an evening out.

The collection showcased restrained luxury, balancing intricate embellishments without tipping into excess. Even the most glamorous pieces retained a sense of wearable sophistication, suitable for city life. Tweed suits, playful sequined I Love NY T-shirts, and layered separates from blazers to loose denim illustrated Blazys vision of contemporary dressing.

New Yorks choice as the venue reflected the citys significance for Chanel, with President Bruno Pavlovsky noting the U.S. as the brands key market. The subway setting symbolically bridged haute couture with everyday urban life, making Mtiers dArt creations feel relevant while honoring the brands artisanal roots, including embroidery, cashmere, and millinery from Parisian ateliers.

Blazy drew inspiration from Coco Chanels early visits downtown, when she observed American women embracing copies of her designs, reinforcing her belief in modern, democratic style. The new collection balances playful charm with elegance, shedding some of Karl Lagerfelds kitsch while maintaining a lively, approachable spirit. Christine Baranski epitomized this ease, enjoying the show in a white Chanel suit while tapping to a retro soundtrack.

Blazys innovative techniqueslightening tweed textures, layering sequins, and mixing printscombined historical silhouettes with 2025 trends, from flapper-inspired dresses to bold separates. His goal was clear: I wanted to show on the subway because its truly democratic. Everyone rides it, whatever their income. The result is a collection that is both glamorous and surprisingly grounded, perfectly in tune with the bustling energy of New York City.

Author: Sophia Brooks