The New Chanel Girl Is a Glamorous Woman Who Vacations in Lake Como
In the days leading up to its cruise 2026 runway show, Chanel released a teaser video and photos shot by Sofia Coppola on the shores of Lake Como, which set a cinematic tone for the collection. This carried through to the runway looks themselves, which were shown in an alfresco lakeside setting at the legendary Villa d'Este. The cruise collection tapped into the glamour and nonchalant elegance of Italian summer style. This Chanel woman vacations in Lake Como and exudes carefree sophistication. In her suitcase, you'll find a neutral-and-pastel palette, poolside bags with woven chain straps, jeweled minaudières, statement sunglasses, lightweight tweed pieces, belted swimwear with coordinating cover-ups, and flowing ruffled gowns.
Guests included ambassadors and friends of the house, such as Keira Knightley, Coppola, Lupita Nyong'o, Margaret Qualley, and Sarah Catherine Hook, who took seats at sun-drenched café tables for the runway show. Ahead of Matthieu Blazy's debut at Chanel in October, the collection was presented by the Creation Studio, providing an interlude before Blazy showcases his new vision for the fashion house in the coming months. Here, read more about the Chanel Cruise 2025/26 collection.
The Cruise 2026 Collection
The glamour was turned up for the Chanel Cruise 2025/26 runway show. The iconic setting at Villa d'Este on Lake Como communicated that—as did the clothes. The collection evoked glamorous vacation style with pieces such as a ruffled scoop-neck evening dress primed for a black-tie dress code, lightweight tweed pant sets, and smart pool attire. It embodies a jet-set lifestyle and robust social calendar with the wardrobe to match.
Star Power
A-list celebrities close to Chanel arrived in Lake Como for the French fashion house's cruise 2026 show, including Knightley in a black-and-white palazzo dress adorned with a strung pearl belt, Qualley styled in a tweed minidress paired with toe-capped slingbacks, Nyong'o in a buttoned jacket and CC hair accessories, Coppola in a two-tone skirt set, and Hook wearing a sleek LBD and quilted bag.
The Bags
Chanel's bags are always a focal point on the runways. For the cruise 2026 collection, we saw updated versions of the just-launched Chanel 25 bag in violet alongside bejeweled minaudières, straw Flap bags, pool totes with chain handles, and scarf-accessorized quilted silhouettes. Each style feels primed for a Lake Como packing list.
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