Chanel Pre-Fall 2026 New York

[Kanzai]

I honestly can’t with this guy. Everything about this collection feels unfinished, sloppy and uninspired. It’s not like he’s actually mastering deconstruction or making some profound statement on wabi-sabi or the beauty of imperfection and etc sh*ts. It’s just plain ugly (the skirts are worst) and devoid of any chicness. I know he’s trying to be the new Miuccia, but seriously? With this?

This is exactly what happens when a designer’s ego takes the wheel (yes, he's egoistic). He’s designing to prove he can "push boundaries" instead of actually catering to the long-term clients who keep the brand alive and pay his multi-million Euro salary. Chanel doesn't need a heavy narrative, and it definitely doesn't need this kind of braindead experimenting. I’d only consider Blazy worthy or a "new wave" pioneer if the novelty actually came from his cuts, deformation, or structural deconstruction, opening up a genuine new aesthetic system instead of this cheap, stupid attempt to overhaul the brand.

Say what you want about Demna, but at least the man has a POV. He has enough of a vision to cultivate a massive fanbase, and his narrative feels real and actually has social impact. I don't see Blazy moving a single needle here and I don't see Chanel becoming any less commercial or anything better. Sky-rocketing prices paired with try-hard statements do not make this new Chanel more "elevated".

 

[chanelh]

full collection is on vogue now, let me just say those clothes belongs to NYC subway station

and if Chanel fired Virginie for her last cruise show, I can't understand why they put up with his work, just because you can't fire two designers in a row?

 

[Frederic01]

The randomness of it! I don’t see the difference of this to an Alessandro Michele collection? Even the location is so Alessandro x Gucci the first womenswear show and advertising campaign.

 

[brandon J pierre]

Not bad I like this better then his debut. Its all over the place but in a good way. Different eras of the new york city woman in movement. I like it. 40S TO THE 90S

 

[reese06]

This looks like Chanel by way of Alessandro Michele with all the random individual looks. But he fails in creating a world. Blazy is bombing. This is not the least bit aspirational. His colors are so drab and sad. True grit of NYC type stuff

Too many ideas, none fully developed where we can see true experimentation with materials out silhouette. The choreography of the show was also bad.

 

[TianCouture]

the friggin dog print suit. just why?!

 

[TurkicMongol]

I regret having left comments violating forum rules in his thread before the show because there's nothing controversial about it as long as his work is still bad. I am going to shut up from now on.

 

[Demna]

This whole thing is atrocious.

 

[Caffeine]

Not bad I like this better then his debut. Its all over the place but in a good way. Different eras of the new york city woman in movement. I like it. 40S TO THE 90S

In reality, I see the MB looks and the looks requested by the SAs. There is a replica of a jacket from the Chateau collection but in black. The leather look before the ugly oversized leather outfit is also a reproduction but with black leather instead. It fits and is well made. This is another obvious "as requested by the SAs" look. The so called different era is used as an excuse to show his design and the requested looks.

So this collection will sell better.
The jewelry is an improvement.

But take the leather outfits as an example (17 and 18???) It really shows how undesirable his clothes are.

I also noticed the buttons vertically spelling out "chanel" on some jackets. Def. Requested by the SAs.

Finally, the first look and the last really showed you how subpar his level of work is. He doesn't care to fit the models either. I watched a documentary with Karl fitting each model and look days before the show. He made sure that the clothes fit.
MB doesn't bother with this. The jeans button shows on the first look. The last dress appeared to have been made for a model with a different height. Where is the work ethic?

 

[ghostfeed]

As for the staging, Jeremy Scott’s Moschino Pre-Fall 2020 runway does come to mind.

 

[dancv]

Proof that showing in NY can make any inept designer or collection look elevated.

 

[Norden]

I think it’s much better than his debut! There’s some real glimmers of hope in here. His work on the more traditional Chanel staples is very nice, it’s starting to feel sharp. I also like his use of creams and faded yellows with black and white. But the good ends there.

I don’t want to list all the bad stuff, but the disease of this generation is this character thinking. Demna is doing this and now also blazy (see blue square). This allows them to be random and create whatever soup they want without having a story giving these characters narrative. I can already hear him answer how nyc is a hodgepodge of everyone, well Matthieu, not everyone can afford your Chanel. He needs to dial down this randomness and create more cohesion. It’s so frustrating to see fashion like this.

 

[liberty33r1b]

I couldn't finish watching it, it's just too awful

can't we just start a petition to get him fired please???

 

[mteb123]

I couldn't finish watching it, it's just too awful

can't we just start a petition to get him fired please???

Ohhh could we please!! lol I would be signing… I don’t hate the guy but he’s just not right for Chanel… His work would’ve been better suited at Proenza instead!! I think he would’ve excelled there!!

 

[90sfan]

Guess his whole approach to fit is to make it ill-fit. Original!! 🤣🤣🤣

 

[tourbillions]

is modern fashion in the room with us?

I can smell a box of goodwill clothes (probably an ex micheles client wardrobe), waiting to be unpacked and put in the racks on restocking day. And all the chanel girlies from the midwest waiting in line to knock other btches out for a coat.

 

[TomBlanksFullFatMiuMiu]

Cheap move, Chanel. At least Karl was able to utilize Grand Central Station in 2006. Can't they at least cover the entire platform and train with CC logos? Marc's Vuitton built that impressive train, and for a brand of this size, this production feels rather stingy.

 

[TomBlanksFullFatMiuMiu]

Where's the throw-up emoji reaction when you need one?!

 

[TomBlanksFullFatMiuMiu]

Those loud animal prints...that "Superman" jumper with the Chanel logo instead of the "S"...the "I LOVE NY" t-shirt...and those 1950s plaid Claire McCardell couple of looks for no reason at all...and still I haven´t see the whole collection!!

Someone call the FBI, this collection should be declared a terrorist attack on N.Y.!!

The NY version of baguette and beret! So cliche, so cringe

 

[Lola701]

Very good collection!

I think this is a very solid Metiers D’Arts collection. He really took advantage of all those métiers. He took some very Chanel elements and turn them into something quite unexpected.

Still infused of what he did at BV, aka his design sensibility, but it works. Those elements are not fighting with each other despite the (controlled) chaotic vibe of the collection.

Urban jungle. He took it many ways obviously. And there’s a sense of diversity in the proposition that speaks to the diversity of the Chanel audience and that was also reflected in the attendance. Maybe much more than the SS collection.

I think the video and the show put it more into context even if I still believe that the outfits chosen for the video weren’t appropriate. The look with the jeans that actually open the show would have been more a propos in the video and in the narrative of the whole thing.

From a pure stylistic POV, I really like the pencil skirts, the very fitted silhouettes. I think it’s the best silhouette to combine the conservative nature of Chanel style (with the length below the knee) and a sexy, modern and desirable way of dressing. I still like his combination of denim and relaxed looks. Some very beautiful trench coats, the car coat in embossed croc or the coat in suede matelassé! Stunning.

I think the accessories were fantastic. The eveningwear was wild and surprising but the icing on the cake remains the feathers coat with the red dress.

Chanel and Karl used to do animalier a lot. It’s something that Karl progressively ditched in the late 90s and 00s. So it’s always surprising to have it come out.

Everything wasn’t perfect. I do appreciate his décomplexée approach to creativity. He is not « scared » of the heritage of Chanel but doesn’t seem constraint by the commercial imperative either…But those boxy shapes aren’t working. Some designers do it better but he is not one of them.

Even if you do a Chanel suit in the lightest fabric, the square shoulder with a straight skirt below the knee wouldn’t work, never!

And I also think that those very colorful suits would have been interesting styled as separates and not as suits.

Nevertheless, I still enjoy the show and collection. Sister Nancy on the soundtrack was great. While I have a positive biais to his work, I’m still excited about Couture. He is quite a confident designer. I like that.

I just landed in Paris. I’m going to take the subway later today. Given the cold, I’ll keep my Balenciaga coat but having Chanel boots won’t be enough to catch the mood of the show right ahah..

Catch me in the line 3 lol.