For the Cruise 2026/27 collection, CHANEL returns to Biarritz, the coastal town where Gabrielle Chanel first reshaped fashion by aligning modern life with the natural world. There, she broke away from the constraints of the Paris salon, embracing the outdoors – sea, wind and sun – as forces demanding comfort, movement and practicality in dress.

In his debut Cruise collection, Artistic Director Matthieu Blazy celebrates this legacy with a wardrobe that blends purpose and play. French workwear, leisurewear and couture are brought together, dissolving rigid hierarchies through pieces that range from sailor uniforms to flowing gowns. As for fabrics, they mirror the surrounding landscape, from airy silks and springy tweeds to raffia, washed cotton canvas and shimmering paillettes. Basque stripes and the double C motif run throughout as subtle structural links rather than overt branding. Bathing suits, foulard ensembles and relaxed tailoring emphasize movement and the pleasure of dressing and undressing.

In turn, accessories elevate the looks by evoking travel and versatility through compact valise bags, waterproof flap styles and oversized striped beach paniers. Footwear shifts between Art Deco heels and barefoot-inspired designs, while jewelry reflects both Biarritz’s architecture and its marine life, with shell earrings and pearls.

Blazy also revisits CHANEL’s 1926 black dress, presented as the opening look and a key element. Once a radical design that challenged haute couture conventions, its simplicity blurred class distinctions and redefined elegance. Reinterpreted from the original sketch, it remains a symbol of liberation.