Matthieu Blazy transformed Paris' Grand Palais into an overgrown storybook garden on July 7 for Chanel's Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026/2027 show, his second couture collection for the house.
Titled "Gaby and the Beanstalk," the presentation used the language of fairy tales to reconsider Gabrielle Chanel's life and the mythology surrounding the brand. Towering stalks, twisting vines and oversized flowers framed a collection that drew on stories including Jack and the Beanstalk and Goldilocks and the Three Bears while remaining grounded in Chanel signatures such as tweed, precise tailoring and the little black dress.
The fairy-tale references were built into the clothes rather than simply placed around them. Guipure lace recreated the visual structure of tweed, while silk mousseline appeared in cornflower blue, lilac and other soft shades. Mint green, pale pink and flesh-toned beige gave much of the collection a delicate palette, offset by sharply constructed jackets, nipped-waist suits and skirts cut with dramatic slits.
Texture supplied some of the collection's most memorable effects. Floral embroidery spread across sheer surfaces, shaggy coats and hats extended the woodland mood, and feathered shoulders moved like wings as models crossed the runway. The workmanship reflected the contributions of Chanel's couture ateliers and the specialist artisans associated with le19M.
Accessories pushed the narrative further. Vines climbed shoe heels, a minaudière took the form of a sleeping bear, and buttons traced a transformation from duckling to swan. Bird's-nest hats, golden eggs and magpie-inspired embellishment turned familiar couture details into small pieces of visual storytelling.
Blazy also disrupted one of couture's most established conventions. Rather than allowing the bridal look to close the show, he gave the final appearance to a spare black dress — a deliberate return to one of Gabrielle Chanel's most enduring contributions to modern fashion.
The fairy-tale theme did not transfer literally to the front row, but guests echoed the house's codes through graphic stripes, lace, paillettes and contrasting approaches to tailoring.
Tilda Swinton wore a sheer red, navy, cream and black striped Chanel ensemble from the Cruise 2026/27 collection. Its graphic lines created a tweed-like grid across the dress, while a coordinating wrap panel defined the waist. A charm necklace, red lip and cream pumps completed the look.
Lupita Nyong'o chose one of the day's most heavily embellished outfits, wearing a black, cream and red Chanel piece densely covered in paillettes. Petal-like discs built volume around the neckline and shoulders, while gold hoop earrings and a glossy red lip kept attention on the garment's surface.
Pedro Pascal took the most relaxed approach. He paired a clean white T-shirt with tailored white trousers and draped a navy-and-white striped knit over his shoulders. A black Chanel crossbody and dark brogues added contrast to the otherwise tonal look.
Teyana Taylor moved in the opposite direction with a sky-blue, denim-effect sequined jacket and matching trousers. Coordinating heels, a chain-strapped bag and narrow sunglasses turned the monochrome outfit into one of the front row's strongest visual statements.
Elsewhere, Chinese singer Shan Yichun paired an ivory, black-trimmed ensemble with a burgundy quilted Chanel bag, while Quen Blackwell wore pale blue lace beneath a coordinating textured jacket. The guest list also included Michelle Yeoh, Vanessa Paradis, Elizabeth Debicki, Sarah Pidgeon, Alexa Demie, Charlotte Casiraghi and Catherine Deneuve.
By placing familiar Chanel codes inside a world of giant flowers, climbing vines and storybook creatures, Blazy made his second couture collection feel less like an escape from the house's history than a new way of reading it.
