Chanel 2026-2027 cruise collection, presented at the Biarritz casino on April 28, 2026. CHANEL
Chanel's guests discovered a casino without slot machines or neon lights, stripped of its nightclub atmosphere, on Tuesday, April 28, in Biarritz, southwestern France. The Parisian fashion house staged its 2026-2027 cruise runway show in a setting that recreated the salons of Gabrielle Chanel's couture atelier, which she opened next to the Biarritz casino, at the Villa Larralde, in 1915. Panoramic windows overlooking the beach, mirrored walls, beige carpeting and gold linen-upholstered armchairs set an exquisitely tasteful, unmistakably Chanel scene.
The choice of this destination, which luxury brands rarely seek out and which, during the school holidays, tends to be packed with families, was no accident. Since taking the helm in April 2025, artistic director Matthieu Blazy has worked to put Gabrielle Chanel back at the heart of his creative vision. Before him, Karl Lagerfeld, who led the house from 1983 to 2019, drew on signature codes (the double C, black and white, camellias, pearls, and so on) but did not seek to stay true to the founder's refined taste.
Blazy, in contrast, has delved into "Coco" Chanel's history to craft his own. He chose Biarritz for the runway show because it was there that her style truly took shape. Inspired by the coastal environment, she imagined a more relaxed wardrobe that allowed women freedom of movement. "She created her first fashion house there and lived surrounded by artists, politicians, sailors, and vacationers, all of whom mingled at the beach in a kind of microcosm where hierarchy faded away," explained the 41-year-old designer.
