Intro for December 13, 2024

Dear Gossips,  

Happy Friday the 13th, Chanel has a new creative director and I’m sure this is not a bad omen! Matthieu Blazy, lately of Bottega Veneta, has been named Chanel’s creative director after months of speculation as to who would run the storied fashion house (Blazy's name emerged from the rumor mill last month). As he was born and raised in Paris, there’s a nice symmetry to him taking over a legendary French atelier.

So, what can we expect from Matthieu Blazy? Well, he’s known for excellent craftsmanship, weird embellishments, and also handbags, such as the fish-handled bag featured in the sixth slide of this carousel:

And while he’s garnered loyal red carpet clientele including Pedro Pascal and Julianne Moore, he’s also developed a reputation for incorporating classic basics into his collections:

Speaking of celebrities, under Blazy’s guidance, Bottega built relationships with the likes of Jacob Elordi, A$AP Rocky, and BTS’s RM. It will be interesting to see if any of them follow him to Chanel as their contracts with Bottega end. But what can he do for Chanel? Can he finally make Margot Robbie make sense as a brand ambassador? Will he find a new angle on Kristen Stewart’s butch interpretation of Chanel’s classic femininity? Blazy’s work seems to attract fashion eccentrics, like Ayo Edebiri, Rihanna, and Greta Lee. I hope that continues, that he doesn’t end up hemmed in by Chanel’s long legacy and reputation for quiet luxury (which is sometimes a thing kids are into and sometimes code for “grandma’s musty clothes”).

In terms of celebrity, I don’t think anyone has been super thrilled with Chanel as a red carpet label, except for Kristen Stewart who manages to make the fits work. But Margot Robbie has been a boring brand rep at BEST, and it’s been a minute since we’ve talked about Chanel as being on the cutting edge of fashion. The house needs a shakeup and Blazy seems like a good fit, between his craftsmanship and high-low sensibility, but legacy can be a trap. I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to see Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel collection.

Live long and gossip,

Sarah