The classic comic book mythology dictates that to transform into a superhero, one must retreat to a phone booth, don tight spandex, and emerge ready to battle gravity. However, Matthieu Blazy’s debut CHANEL Métiers d’art 2026 collection suggests a far more sophisticated alternative for the contemporary woman: skip the spandex, keep the camellias, and treat the New York pavement as the ultimate launchpad.
By framing fashion as a method of “inventing your own superpowers,” Blazy taps into a truth Gabrielle Chanel understood implicitly: the right silhouette is not a decoration; it is armor.
Lensed by Craig McDean and Rahim Fortune against the restless backdrop of New York City, the campaign introduces an eclectic league of extraordinary New York girls. These are not damsels waiting on a rooftop for rescue. Embodied by models like Anok Yai, Julia Nobis, and Anne Vyalitsyna, these women navigate the shifting temporal planes of the city—zipping seamlessly from the sensibilities of the 1920s to the realities of the 2020s.
The humor lies in the brilliant juxtaposition of the cinematic superhero archetype with the chaotic daily hustle of Manhattan. The collection effectively democratizes the concept of the “power suit,” presenting silhouettes that fluidly morph across various urban personas:
- The corporate working girl conquering the boardroom.
- The student subverting academic rigor.
- The socialite operating in high-altitude glamour.
- The literal superhero who demands both freedom of movement and immaculate tailoring.
In this sartorial narrative, Superman’s cape is handily outmatched by the pragmatic luxury of wrap skirts, fluid pants, and elevated denims. Blazy reinterprets the historical codes of the House to serve the speed of modern metropolitan life. The iconic tweed suit and two-tone shoes return, but they are paired with the ultimate token of American urbanity: the baseball cap.
There is an intellectual wit in watching a floor-length gown or a hand-painted skirt brush against the grit of a sidewalk , accessorized not with high-tech utility belts, but with sophisticated giraffe bags, squirrel pouches, and brooches featuring Dalmatians. It is playfulness weaponized as poise.
Ultimately, the true “supernatural” element of the collection does not stem from alien origins or radioactive mishaps, but from the human hand. The real magic is generated inside le19M in Paris, where the specialized Maisons d’art—including Lesage, Massaro, and Maison Michel—forge intricate embroideries, specialized headpieces, and historic footwear.
When these French artisanal traditions cross paths with the raw, cosmopolitan energy of New York, the result is a striking realization : a beautifully constructed coat or an engineered knit can alter how a woman moves through space just as powerfully as flight. Clark Kent can keep his cape; the modern New York woman has Chanel.
@Runway
Photo Courtesy: Chanel
