The industry has been abuzz about the recent shake-up amongst creative directors at some of the most iconic fashion houses in the world. Many high-profile figures have swapped places, with brands ranging from Gucci (now helmed by Demna) to Dior (led solely by Jonathan Anderson), revealing their first collections under new leadership this season. Matthieu Blazy’s first collection for Chanel has been the most highly anticipated of all — according to fans of the brand, he did not disappoint.
Lily-Rose Depp, a longtime muse of Chanel, was especially inspired. Following the show, she spoke with Harper’s Bazaar, sharing, “I was blown away. I almost could have cried, it was so beautiful. It was so cinematic … I’m really grateful that I got to be here. It was so spectacular to be able to see Matthieu’s first collection in person and what it means for the future of Chanel.”
The actress, 26, has a unique relationship to the brand and its heritage. Her mother, Vanessa Paradis, has modeled for the French label since 1991, having modeled countless collections and appearing in several campaigns over the past 34 years.
Depp has modeled for Chanel herself, last appearing on the runway in Jan. 2017, when she closed the show in a pink layered silk gown, arm-in-arm with the late Karl Lagerfeld. These days, she remains a constant presence in the front row each season.
And in this new creative era, Depp is more invested than ever. After 77 new looks marched down the runway on Monday, she easily chose a favorite.
“There was a white silk dress that was my favorite, with the flowers, that was insane … I want to wear that on my wedding day, it was so gorgeous,” she shared. However, the actress, who has been dating rapper 070 Shake since 2023, has no imminent plans to rush down the aisle.
Though she has been professionally working with the French house since she was 15 (over 11 years), Depp explains, “It’s something I’ve always been familiar with and that I’ve always admired, through my mum and looking up to the woman that she is and wanting to dress like her and look like her when I was a kid. Chanel has always been inextricably linked with that.”
At this season’s show, wearing a navy blue mini skirt and matching double-breasted jacket, Depp epitomized the youthful Chanel woman, the timeless style of the iconic design house running through.
Depp echoes the sentiments of Chanel’s particular approach to beauty and style, saying, “I guess I’ve always admired the women around me more than, necessarily, what’s going on in the fashion world or what’s on trend.” She continued, “I’ve always loved my mum’s style, my grandma’s style, my aunt’s style and my girlfriends’. I feel we rub off on each other.”
It seems Blazy’s first collection, while distinct, still embodies the spirit of Chanel that is beloved by generations of stylish women around the world.