The “new Chanel woman” in Matthieu Blazy’s eyes: Mariacarla Boscono completely transforms classic tweed

When you think of a Chanel woman, pearls, tweed jackets, two-tone shoes, and camellias may be the first things that come to mind. Yet in Matthieu Blazy’s hands, these familiar codes haven’t disappeared; they’re beginning to take on an entirely different form. At the 2026 Venice Film Festival, Italian supermodel Mariacarla Boscono stepped onto the red carpet for the premiere of “Wild Horse Nine” in a look from the Chanel Cruise 2026/27 collection. There was no instantly recognizable classic suit: from a distance, her black-and-white gown looked as though it were printed with newspapers, yet up close, it revealed itself to be exceptionally lightweight tweed. Chanel’s familiar camellia was still pinned at her chest, though enlarged and adorned with feathers, becoming more dramatic alongside the gown’s oversized twists and train. Perhaps this is the increasingly clear image of the “new Chanel woman” envisioned by Matthieu Blazy.

• Related reading: The geometric lines are simply beautiful! Jungkook makes a surprise appearance in a Graff campaign, reshaping perceptions of high jewelry

All of CHANEL’s most iconic elements are still here; you just don’t recognize them at first glance.

Look closely at Mariacarla Boscono’s look, and you’ll see that Matthieu Blazy hasn’t abandoned Chanel’s classic codes. The gown uses the house’s most recognizable tweed, made lighter and woven with a black-and-white newspaper print; the skirt is twisted and layered with abundant fabric, leaving much of the back bare before extending into a long train that falls across the red carpet.

The giant camellia at her chest is equally familiar, though this time it is made in jacquard and accented with black-and-white feathers, transforming an elegant little embellishment into something almost sculptural. Tweed, black and white, camellias: it’s all Chanel, yet together it lacks the restrained feeling of “wearing classic Chanel.”

“I feel like Matthieu’s princess.”

The look seems perfectly suited to Mariacarla Boscono. A close friend of Matthieu Blazy, she told Vogue in a red-carpet interview that Chanel is the “brand in my heart.” She also described the gown as a work of art, saying that when she wears it, she feels like “Matthieu’s princess.”

Interestingly, though, this “princess” isn’t quite the Chanel Lady we’re familiar with. Rather than pairing the look with an elaborate updo or overly polished makeup, Mariacarla kept her long hair loose and her makeup relatively minimal. Romance, strength, and a touch of unruliness coexist, making the dress more than a pretty adornment on its wearer; it feels more like part of her personality.

What does Matthieu Blazy’s “new CHANEL woman” look like?

Since taking over at Chanel, Matthieu Blazy’s challenge has never been how to create more new symbols, but how to inspire fresh ways of imagining a century-old house whose nearly every element is already familiar. That’s what makes Mariacarla Boscono’s look so compelling. Tweed is still tweed, the camellia is still there, and even the black and white remain unchanged. Yet the woman wearing them doesn’t need to sit primly or try to become the “Chanel Lady” in our memory. She can wear her long hair messy, walk the red carpet in an enormous skirt, and be elegant, eccentric, and full of her own personality all at once. Perhaps the new Chanel woman Matthieu Blazy envisions has no fixed form; rather than making women more like Chanel, he seems to want Chanel to become more like every woman who wears it.

Join Popbee Circle and subscribe to the Popbee newsletter for the latest updates, and get early access to exclusive perks and discounts! Beyond this article, here are a few recent stories worth checking out: