For Fall Winter 2025/26, CHANEL turned to the countryside—not for escape, but for inspiration. The English landscapes and Scottish moors that once shaped Gabrielle Chanel’s creative eye served as the starting point for a collection grounded in natural textures, soft silhouettes, and a familiar, earthy palette.

CHANEL’s latest Haute Couture collection arrives at a moment of transition. Designed by the in-house studio —comprising the same team that worked under both Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard — this season rooted firmly in legacy. With Matthieu Blazy set to take over artistic direction in just a few months, this show stands as a confident expression of the House’s codes from the team that has carried them forward for over a decade.

Staged in the Grand Palais’ Salon d’Honneur, with scenography by Willo Perron, the setting drew inspiration from Gabrielle Chanel’s own design philosophy: understated, elegant, and rooted in simplicity. Tweed — CHANEL’s perennial signature — was reimagined with a softer, more tactile approach, whether brushed into mohair, rendered as knits, or used to create the illusion of faux fur. A white coatdress embroidered with braids opened the show, followed by a series of suits and separates in ecru, plum, green, and ivory. Menswear-inspired proportions gave the looks ease and made for fluid movement, while intricate handwork maintained their couture status.

Wheat ears (a symbol of abundance that Gabrielle Chanel held close) were woven subtly throughout the collection. They appeared as feathered accents in the folds of a black-and-white chiffon dress, traced along the neckline of the final bridal look (which was accompanied by a bouquet made entirely of golden wheat ears), and stamped subtly into buttons. Elsewhere, the motif was abstracted into chevron stitching on tailored trousers, reinforcing its presence without overt repetition.

Gradually, the collection moved from earthy restraint to something more luminous, with hints of gold, silver and orange lamé shining through in later looks. And as always, this culminated in the finale bridal look: a milky white dress with wheat embroidery, carrying with it symbolism of both closure and renewal.