Villa d’Este, a historic jewel nestled along the shores of Lake Como, became the backdrop for a runway show that seemed to pause time itself. Within the ornate walls of this iconic palace, Chanel unveiled its Cruise 2025/26 collection: a tribute to the elegance of hotel living, to carefree days, and to timeless glamour.
Models glided through the imagined corridors of a grand hotel, like guests of an endless summer, dressed in peach, pink, and powder blue ensembles. From sunlit tweed suits to multicolored sequin sets, every look celebrated the joy of dressing to be seen, to dance, to live inside a cinematic postcard.
The collection captured the radiant energy of the villa: jackets in ochre and gold tones, crisp white trousers, and sailor-striped sweaters. The spirit of the gardens took shape in delicate floral embroidery, floating atop black skirts and pristine white tailoring.
Movement was a central theme—plunging lamé jumpsuits in pink and orange stripes, sheer capes that danced with each step, and voluminous taffeta trousers paired with crystal-embellished blouses. Each outfit evoked the scene of a dreamlike film, imagined by Sofia Coppola, whose teaser video encapsulated the show’s ethereal mood.
House codes were seamlessly woven into the narrative: long pearl necklaces, oversized pool bags, patent leather mules, and silk scarves loosely tied around hair or ankles. The silhouette conjured an old-Hollywood star—not one playing a role, but simply living her best scene of summer.
More than a collection, Chanel offered a way of inhabiting time—an elegant refuge where every detail, from a beaded cuff to the perfect fold of a dress, invites us to slow down and embrace the art of leisure. Like the lake itself, life here flows gently, reflecting silver light, whispers of cinema, and promises of endless summers.
The Cruise 2025/26 collection also revisits traditional cruisewear codes: tailored white trousers with strawberry sorbet-hued sailor jackets, blue-and-white striped knits, and rainbow-striped polos and dresses.
Pearl chokers, minaudières, oversized totes, opera gloves, black sunglasses, lacquered mules, and delicate silk scarves tied at the wrist or ankle complete the vision—a bold yet timeless take on elegance.
Both luxurious and effortless, the collection reflects the easy glamour and harmony that have made Villa d’Este and Lake Como legendary destinations since the Renaissance.
Website: chanel.com
