Matthieu Blazy’s First Chanel Collection Hits NYC Today—Here's What Will Sell Out First
One of my favorite things about living in New York as a fashion editor is that sometimes the best industry intel comes from the most casual moments—like popping into a store over the weekend. Earlier this week, I was in the area so made a quick stop into Chanel on 57th Street, and within minutes, it became clear that there was one topic everyone in the boutique wanted to talk about: Matthieu Blazy’s first collection for the house. If you happened to be in Paris last month you got lucky, The city got early access to this collection with it dropping in the midst of Paris Fashion Week and a frenzy was unleashed. Editors and stylists were stopping by in groups in between shows to be the first to wear this exciting collection.
During my uptown Chanel store visit, a few customers popped in to see if they had it on the shelves yet only for the staff to instruct them to come back on Friday, March 13th. Well, that day is finally here and believe it or not, it's a lucky one for us Chanel lovers. With this collection finally on the city's shelves, I'm excited to find out which items New Yorkers will flock to first. If you know me, you know I already have predictions.
Between the moment the runway first walked through Paris to the final conversations I had at the store about what's to come, while every item the collection has to offer would be a treat to own, there are a few that might just be the most popular first. From the styles that feel especially New York to the ones fashion insiders are already planning outfits around, a few standouts kept coming up again and again. Ahead of the drop, these are the pieces I have a feeling New York’s fashion crowd will gravitate toward first.
Bags
For me, the ideal Chanel purchase will always be a bag and that's true amongst many New Yorkers I own. For us, a good bag does all the wonders when running throughout the city. Blazy did an excellent job of reworking the classics. One of the most noteworthy styles to come out of this collection is the 2.55 Handbag. Eerily similar to the pre-Chanel flap era it-bag, worn-in leather makes this feel as vintage as the original design really is. We're currently living in an era of the clutch so that was a style that couldn't be missed as well. Many other shapes continued to thrill me from a bowling bag, to the mini tote that comes in the most delectable shade of mint green.
Ready-To-Wear
Of all the ready-to-wear looks to walk the runway, 78 to be exact, knowing New York I'm convinced the item the locals will be flocking to is the spring jacket. The brand refers to many of these pieces as "tweed as a field of experimentation." This has always been a classic element of the brand but Blazy's collection spotlit prints, patterns, and color play we've never seen before.
Shoes
Slingback, flat, or classic—Chanel will always be known as the place to go for a good pair of pumps. This collection felt like a quite modern take on the traditional silhouette with new colorblocking techniques and shapes. A higher shaft with angular elements felt like a standout moment in one of the pairs., another took the classic slingback to a new level adding more color to the toe, there was even a ponyhair pump. I can't imagine these could stay on the shelves for long on 57th street or Wooster.
