Chanel S/S 2026 Pre-Collection

[marines]

26P Previews

 

[tricotineacetat]

It has that expected, watered-down quality we expect from most Pre-Collections and while I don’t really get why you would want to buy pedestrian clothes at that price point, the average Chanel client probably couldn’t care less.

You can see that it’s designed by Blazy but because this is 'just' the commercial backbone, it doesn’t feel particularly fresher than in the seasons earlier.

I would hard pass on this if I wasn’t a die-hard Chanel customer who wears this as other people do Zara.

 

[tourbillions]

at that price point

this will make or break his Chanel. There will be enough desire for his clothes and there is something for everyone but would they be priced accordingly? or will it just follow the trend of Chanel regardless of how much simpler they are...

Who is designing the bags?? Why are his bags so bad

 

[NoInvite]

I prefer this than the show.

 

[Creative]

Zero POV. This could’ve been done by… whoever.

Very MEH.

 

[Lola701]

It’s good. Familiar, coherent, less sugary and finally less obnoxious logos.
It’s cleaner and fresher but it’s not a huge shock so yes, the transition will indeed be smoother than what some people were afraid off.
He changed their leather it seems.
Chanel’s leather has had that very waxy sheen to it.

It does what the pre-collections (different to the Resort and Metiers d’Arts) are supposed to do at Chanel.

Baby steps but the right steps.

 

[Xone]

It’s good. Familiar, coherent, less sugary and finally less obnoxious logos.
It’s cleaner and fresher but it’s not a huge shock so yes, the transition will indeed be smoother than what some people were afraid off.
He changed their leather it seems.
Chanel’s leather has had that very waxy sheen to it.

It does what the pre-collections (different to the Resort and Metiers d’Arts) are supposed to do at Chanel.

Baby steps but the right steps.

Those printed stockings are criminal on that dress...i imagine this is styled in house?

The collection looks fresh in a way it is not matronly. it have a younger spirit (not juvenile)

so this pre collection enters in store when? january? or this is like their resort?....

 

[FisforFrank]

Those printed stockings are criminal on that dress...i imagine this is styled in house?

The collection looks fresh in a way it is not matronly. it have a younger spirit (not juvenile)

so this pre collection enters in store when? january? or this is like their resort?....

Cruise (resort) collection, the lake como one, will be in store in November.

And then January for the SS pre-collection as seen with the above lookbook. Finally, March for the SS runway collection.

 

[Xone]

Cruise (resort) collection, the lake como one, will be in store in November.

And then January for the SS pre-collection as seen with the above lookbook. Finally, March for the SS runway collection.

Yes you are right i forgot the Lake Como resort...shame on me lol...

Too much merch changing all the time....shameless execs

Thank you!

 

[Lola701]

Those printed stockings are criminal on that dress...i imagine this is styled in house?

The collection looks fresh in a way it is not matronly. it have a younger spirit (not juvenile)

so this pre collection enters in store when? january? or this is like their resort?....

Yes, those stockings…
Yes styled in-house and so far the runway show too.

Yes January for the Pre-collection, after the resort in November and the runway collection in March.

He do have Coco beach for the Summer too.

8 RTW collections a year.

 

[Grets]

looks not far from Michael Riders Celine. Everything is blending together

 

[Caffeine]

looks not far from Michael Riders Celine. Everything is blending together

Rider had better styling than this.
This is depressing. Some looks can be out of the Seinfeld. Shoes are very dated. Some from the 80s others early 2000s.
There are a couple of classic jackets, so people have things to purchase, but this will make customers miss VV very much (minus the logo mandate from the suits).

I don't follow social media but it sounds like people were very mean to VV? This will also backfire.

The average nyc soccer mom is more chic than this.

 

[Avonlea]

Depressing is a good word to describe this. I understand that it's a pre collection, but at least do something interesting with the styling, so it doesn't look like a random high street brand. The bags and shoes are completely undesirable.

 

[Nimsay]

Am I right that Chanel has almost never done this before - aside from the occasional pre-collection drop of a red-hot bag - it makes me think things might not be going well at all.

 

[FisforFrank]

Am I right that Chanel has almost never done this before - aside from the occasional pre-collection drop of a red-hot bag - it makes me think things might not be going well at all.

No, the pre-collections are one of the 6 regular drops at Chanel, with full product offerings (clothing, shoes, bags, SLGs, accessories). They may even sell well than the runway collections because they are more wearable. There are also ad campaigns and store window displays get changed for these collections. I would say Coco Beach and Coco Neige are more capsule-ish and not a lot of products get made.

 

[Caffeine]

Am I right that Chanel has almost never done this before - aside from the occasional pre-collection drop of a red-hot bag - it makes me think things might not be going well at all.

Timing wise, this feels a bit early (but I need to verify). I know that one of the talking points from the SAs is "let's wait and see what's coming in store." Given that the customer feedback has been quite negative so far (from various SAs), they probably released this to reassure people that more commercial pieces are available.

 

[Lola701]

Am I right that Chanel has almost never done this before - aside from the occasional pre-collection drop of a red-hot bag - it makes me think things might not be going well at all.

They have always done it. They were called Act1 or Act2 during Karl’s era.
It’s essentially a « boutique » collection that can take some elements from runway collections in a more wardrobe oriented vision.
Chanel doesn’t have a permanent collection so this kinda act like it.

Virginie was in charge of those collections, under the supervision of Karl. That’s probably why there were less logos on those.

The collections are also less precious and slightly lower priced than the runway collections. They use more normal bouclé and tweed or techniques that they have developed in the past and mastered.

And it’s generally the clothes from those collections that were used in the intermediary campaigns, under Karl and Virginie.

 

[Lola701]

Rider had better styling than this.
This is depressing. Some looks can be out of the Seinfeld. Shoes are very dated. Some from the 80s others early 2000s.
There are a couple of classic jackets, so people have things to purchase, but this will make customers miss VV very much (minus the logo mandate from the suits).

I don't follow social media but it sounds like people were very mean to VV? This will also backfire.

The average nyc soccer mom is more chic than this.

View attachment 1423448

I take this over anything Virginie.
But I think this is something that could work well with men.
So yes, the very commercial styling is « de circonstance ». It’s not a fashion proposition per say.
They have a growing men customer base.
I’m still waiting for a unisex bag but I’m not seeing it so far.

I wonder if they will relaunch Chanel Sports too.

 

[yslforever]

26P Previews

You could slap an Escada label on that, nobody would see the difference and nobody would praise it.

 

[Caffeine]

They have always done it. They were called Act1 or Act2 during Karl’s era.
It’s essentially a « boutique » collection that can take some elements from runway collections in a more wardrobe oriented vision.
Chanel doesn’t have a permanent collection so this kinda act like it.

Virginie was in charge of those collections, under the supervision of Karl. That’s probably why there were less logos on those.

The collections are also less precious and slightly lower priced than the runway collections. They use more normal bouclé and tweed or techniques that they have developed in the past and mastered.

And it’s generally the clothes from those collections that were used in the intermediary campaigns, under Karl and Virginie.

Recently they always had a piece or two in lesage tweed with the pre-collections. But in general, lesage tweed has become rarer...
VV is very under-rated when it comes to elevated daywear, no matter how boring her runway collections were. But the pre-collection in the past two years seemed to have been styled by a very different team or person...the aesthetics was different.
I refuse to paint VV's collections with one broad brush. The tension with the higher ups was obvious when you visit the store in the past two years. I have no idea how their HQ people make decisions, so far it looks like their sales in early 2026 won't be good. Judging from the Red Note, the Asian buyers also hate the MB collection.

(I know, the people who don't appreciate MB must be country bumpkins and less sophisticated.)