I'll always have a special place in my heart for Chanel's Rouge Coco Gloss. My mom never left the house without at least three in her purse (her favorite shade was Melted Honey!), and growing up, I couldn't wait to get my hands on my own shimmery tube at the mall makeup counter. Fast forward a couple decades, and the gloss remains a beauty-bag staple, though most of the swoon-worthy shades have been sold out for a while—and today, we know exactly why.

Introducing Chanel's new Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss collection, featuring high-shine lip glosses composed of 85% hydrating ingredients, including camellia ceramides to fortify the delicate skin barrier and a hydra-peptide complex to smooth and plump. Given the ultra-hydrating ingredient lineup, the consistency is silky and comfortable with zero sticky residue (unlike the original hero, which wasn't too tacky but did have more of a traditional gloss texture), and it boasts the prettiest, megawatt shine.

The collection debuts with 18 stunning shades divided into four categories: frosted finishes, juicy berries and pinks, sun-kissed shimmers, and bold metallics. As someone who collected the Rouge Coco Glosses like tiny treasures, I honestly can't wait to get my hands on them all, though if I had to crown a select few, Febuleuse (a limited-edition glowing citrine), Charms (a sheer pink), Bijou (a shimmery rosy-brown), and Solaire (a punchy coral) are particularly calling my name. The pearlescent shades—Infiniment, a grayish purple, and Ornement, a vibrant fuchsia—also make the perfect, high-shine toppers for your existing lip color.

Clearly, I can't choose just one, so I'm personally going to snag a few favorites before they undoubtedly sell out. Chanel lip products have a tendency of flying off the shelves (Bisous, come back!), so I'd recommend you do the same while they're hot off the press. You can always share them with a friend—or, in my case, a Chanel makeup-obsessed mom.

Shop the New Chanel Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss

Open up a beauty editor's makeup bag, and there are a few cult products that you're bound to find. Hourglass makeup brushes, the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and a Merit blusher are just some that come to mind, but one bronzer that I know every editor swears by is the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream. Have I mentioned that it's one of my favourite cream bronzers of all time (and one of the best Chanel beauty products ever)?

Like bathing your cheeks in all the sun-kissed goodness that would have anyone thinking you've just got back from a week in Greece, this bronzer is my go-to when my complexion feels a little dull or lacklustre. One swipe and suddenly it's like I've just stepped off the plane, with people left, right and centre commenting on how radiant I look. I know what you're thinking: surely one little pot can't do all that? If you don't believe me, keep on scrolling...

First up, let's talk formula. A hybrid between cream and gel, this product sinks into the skin like butter whilst remaining lightweight and easy to blend. It has a velvety finish, which makes your skin look plump and healthy in a matter of seconds. There are five shades available, and I like to apply the lightest shade with a kabuki brush as I find it creates the most naturally sun-kissed effect; however, the great thing about this product is its versatility.

Thanks to its unique texture, you can either apply it to areas where the sun would naturally hit (such as your cheeks, nose and forehead), or lightly blend it all over the face for a more intense bronzed finish. It's not shimmery, so you could even apply it to the hollows of your cheekbones to help contour, but I personally prefer using a contour stick for this.

I've recently opened a fresh pot, and let me tell you, there's no feeling like it. I could feel the excitement as I swirled my brush into the bronzer, knowing I was about to have a really, really good makeup day. As someone who sits at a desk most weeks from 9-5, I can't say I get the best tan during the warmer months, which is why this product is my summer essential.

Yes, it's an investment, but seeing as you only need a few swipes for your best skin yet, it will last you forever. Trust me, your future self will be thanking you for this purchase when you're looking back through photos, shocked at just how bronzed and glowy you look...

Shop Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

Shop More Chanel Summer Favourites

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We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.

There's nothing wrong with simple pointed-toe heels. In fact, I adore the style and wear it frequently enough to own a small but mighty collection. It isn't the only chic footwear option, though many people treat it as such. Another style, which has a similarly elongating shape but tends to feel a touch more unique and expensive, just might be what your outfits have been craving of late. For proof, just see Katie Holmes's most recent denim look, which benefited greatly from the polishing appeal of almond-toe slingbacks. The fact that hers are classic slingbacks by Chanel helped, too, of course.

The actress and director was spotted wearing a pair of almond-toe black Chanel slingbacks with faded black jeans, a leather Chanel belt, and a thin, silky tee during the Tribeca Film Festival, where she's been promoting her new movie with her Dawson's Creek costar Joshua Jackson, Happy Hours. In addition to showcasing the continued chemistry between Joey and Pacey during the press tour, Holmes has debuted a slew of awe-worthy ensembles curated by her longtime stylist Brie Welch, a Who What Wear editor in residence. Think Colleen Allen slip dresses styled over leather pants and more. That said, her look for Chanel's Through Her Lens luncheon at The Greenwich Hotel might be my favorite from the tour because of its effortless sensibility. It reminded me of the street style found in Chanel's home base of Paris, where almond-toe slingbacks are almost as ubiquitous as ballet flats.

On Katie Holmes: Chanel Slingbacks ($1175), Leather Belt ($975), and 25 Mini Handbag ($6900)

Chanel slingbacks, and all almond-toe slingbacks really, are a perfect partner for jeans, making them look formal and put-together without it appearing like you're trying too hard. It's no wonder that French women wear them on repeat. They're the ideal shoes to throw on and get out the door, offering comfort, sophistication, and ease. Plus, with Matthieu Blazy in charge at Chanel, the slingback offering has never been so chic.

Ahead, shop the best Chanel slingbacks available this summer as well as more almond-toe slingbacks from other brands, ranging from contemporary to designer price points.

Shop Chanel Slingbacks

Shop Almond-Toe Slingbacks

Chanel just appointed Marie-Laure Cérède as director of its jewelry creation studio. Of course, the legendary Matthieu Blazy is Chanel's artistic director (Hopefully, you scored something from the latest Métiers d'Art collection.)

"I am honoured and moved to join Chanel, a maison of singular cultural force and exceptional discipline that continues to question convention, redefine femininity, and express modernity through form and spirit. I am looking forward to meeting the teams and writing the new chapter together," Cérède said in a press release from the house. She joins in October 2026. Until then, keep scrolling to shop some of the dreamy Chanel fine jewelry pieces, including the Coco Crush collection.

When a trend starts popping up, it’s an editor’s job to pick up on it, and that’s exactly what’s happening with croc-embossed bags right now. I first spotted one this season at a Clare V. press preview. As soon as I saw it, it felt like the perfect bag for fall, and I immediately wanted one.

Then, I noticed Hailey Bieber carrying the now-unreleased black croc-embossed Small Shopping Bag from Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel collection. And when all of my colleagues started posting photos of the rare Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen sighting earlier this month, what were they both carrying? The Row’s black, croc-embossed bags, such as the Lady and the Agnes. That’s when it stopped feeling like a coincidence.

To add to the sightings, Kylie Jenner wore a blue croc-embossed Hermès Birkin to the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, then carried the same aforementioned Chanel bag as Bieber to another playoff game.

This all made me go back to look at the spring/summer 2026 and fall/winter 2026 runway shows, where the trend showed up across many collections in all different colors: Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Loewe, Prada, Tory Burch—the list goes on.

Below, shop the croc-embossed bag trend ahead of fall 2026.

Shop Croc-Embossed Bags

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If I had to place a bet, I’d wager that summer inspires the most nail art trends of the entire year. From dreamy vacations to wedding season, there are so many reasons to keep routine nail appointments on the calendar—and the latest trend everyone will be itching to copy this season won't be nude nails or single polishes. Confirmed by headline-making Chanel runways and Kylie Jenner’s Instagram, summer’s hottest nail trend is ethereal, chromatic, shore-inspired seaglass nails.

When Mattieu Blazy presented his fifth Chanel collection in Biarritz, France—Cruise 26/27, where models cascaded down the runway in a nautical palette of silk, feathers, and fishnet—we didn’t know that we’d also be downloading summer’s top nail trend. Keyed by celebrity nail artist Ama Quashie, the mermaid-like manicures that completed each look quickly became the talk of beauty editor town for the mismatched color stories and semisheer, dégradé chrome polishes. Quashie previously told Who What Wear that the key to each look was “finding colours that work by clashing as well as melting into one another,” resulting in a marine-inspired kaleidoscope that both minimalists and maximalists can appreciate.

What Are Seaglass Nails?

Seaglass, or the frosted, smooth, semiopaque rocks sometimes found in shallow water or washed up in the sand, is the result of discarded broken glass being smoothed and rehydrated by rolling waves spanning multiple decades. There’s a sort of kinship between this natural phenomenon and this colorful manicure trend—one that celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec says has been brewing for quite some time. “It's the perfect meeting point of several major trends: chrome, jelly, and Skittles,” she explains. All three trends—reflective chrome, translucent jelly, and multicolored nails—find perfect union in this layered mani. “It’s a way to incorporate all of them in a subtly chic way,” the manicurist adds. “I would describe it as the colors of an abalone shell or an opal (both needing water to form), which ties back perfectly to the ‘seaglass’ nail [trend],” she explains.

We’ve seen these playful, colorful, and light-shifting nails often over the last two summers on the likes of It girls and our favorite manicurists alike, and still, inspiration continues to flow. Keep scrolling for the seaglass nail ideas you’ll waste no time sending to your nail tech.

Seaglass Nail Ideas

Ocean Blues

One of the standout looks from Chanel’s cruise show was this gradient blue color progression. The set slowly becomes more saturated from the thumb to the pinky finger, with a playful, opalescent chrome turning each blue-variant nail into a shell-like surface. Though the exact shades used at this show are unreleased, these lookalike Chanel variants can tide you over.

She Sells Seashells

The youngest Kar-Jenner sister tends to influence us with just about everything she wears these days, but I’m still thinking about this vacation set by celebrity manicurist Zola Ganzorigt from last year. She demonstrated her process in an Instagram tutorial, starting with a cat-eye base before layering a different pastel-colored chrome on top of each nail.

Pool Glazed

Multicolored nails are fun, but not every manicure calls for them. If you want to keep things a bit more streamlined, try this "pool-glazed" manicure, as described by professional manicurist Mateja Novakovic. The nail artist layered a pale pink hue and blue chrome powder, both from Manucurist, to achieve this translucent, watery look. But if you lament using messy powder, a chrome-effect nail polish works wonders, too.

Mermaid Scales

Another showstopper from the Chanel cruise show. "This is a simple look to do at home—a single swipe of semi-sheer, shimmery lacquer or a shimmery jelly shade will give you that wash of color and slight transparency," Kandalec muses.

Aura Chrome

Seaglass nails are essentially the trend-stacked outcome of jelly nails, chrome, and the multi-colored mani, but celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen discreetly added another: aura nails. By blending a gradient color onto the nail before layering on the chrome, you can accomplish yet another alluring seaglass effect.

Iridescent Stones

For something on the simpler side, this sophisticated iridescent nail polish makes ocean-inspired nails a breeze to achieve at home. Simply apply two thin layers of Olive and June's Sequin Everything—a stunning sheer blue with a pearly finish—for that seaglass look.

Textured Glass

This textured look takes marine-inspired nails to the next level. Use a pastel chrome polish or powder to get this ultra-reflective look, or blend colorful hues onto your nails (aura-style!) to get this opalescent effect.

It's been an exciting few days for fans of the New York Knicks with the storied team going off in the playoffs and finalizing a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals last night to send it to its first NBA Finals in 27 years. Clearly, the players remember what happened last year—when they lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Indiana Pacers—and came prepared to right that wrong in dominant fashion. It was a team effort, and six players scored in double digits, resulting in a whopping 37-point triumph inside the Cavs' home gym.

I would hate to take away from the team's victory, but as a fashion person, it's my duty to point something out. Sure, the Knicks may have prevailed on the court—quite glaringly, I might add—but the real winner of the Eastern Conference Finals sat a few steps away from the actual basketball action. I am indeed talking about Kylie Jenner's black crocodile Chanel tote, which the A-lister—sat beside her boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet—wore with a vintage Knicks T-shirt, a leather jacket, Levi's jeans, and a pair of heeled thong sandals.

Kylie Jenner's Courtside Look

On Kylie Jenner: Chanel bag; Levi's jeans; The Row shoes

The bag designed by the French house's creative director, Matthieu Blazy, is one of many that have gone viral since Blazy's debut back in October. Called the Small Shopping Bag, it is currently available in two versions: a mint option made of crocodile-embossed calfskin and a classic calfskin leather option in rich burgundy. They retail for $7300 and $7000, respectively. Naturally, Jenner's isn't available, at least not yet. A new fuchsia option is on its way for fall/winter 2026, according to the runway show, but so far, black hasn't hit the runway. Leave it to her, though, to snag an exclusive colorway and wear it casually with a graphic tee and jeans for a basketball game—iconic.

Prepare for more courtside looks starting on June 3, which is when the Knicks will take on either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game that Jenner and Chalamet will no doubt be attending.

Shop Chanel's Small Shopping Bag

Leave it to Hailey Bieber to introduce summer's richest-looking handbag color trend before the season even begins. On Mother's Day, the Rhode founder was spotted at Nobu in Malibu, where she celebrated the holiday with her husband, Justin. For the occasion, Bieber kept her look casual but elevated, wearing a beige T-shirt, capri leggings, and sky-high thong sandals. She finished off the outfit with a large bowler-style Chanel handbag (not yet released) in a color so chic I've been regretting all my navy, brown, and black handbag purchases ever since I saw it—ivory. Bieber's ivory handbag is the same as a black version that's currently available. It's from Matthieu Blazy's lauded spring/summer 2026 debut and retails for $6900. Good things come to those who are patient, though. If you happened to have purchased her bag in black already, I bet you're wishing you'd held out for Bieber's lighter alternative, which will hopefully come out soon.

In the meantime, there are plenty of ivory handbags on the market that are available to shop right now. Brands like Mansur Gavriel, Dragon Diffusion, The Row, and Verafied are all currently selling options at a range of price points, so nothing is stopping you from getting in on summer's most high-value bag color trend ASAP. For even more affordable versions, try Zara and Mango, and if an investment is something you're ready for, stop into Chanel to shop any of its current ivory handbag options.

Hailey Bieber's Chanel Ivory Handbag

On Hailey Bieber: Chanel Large Bowling Bag ($6900)

The reason why this color is so popular among brands and It girls alike? It's unexpected, as most people opt for darker colors like burgundy, black, brown, and navy. You won't see it on every street corner in New York City or Pilates studio parking lot in Los Angeles, immediately making your outfit stand out. Also, if you're prone to wearing a lot of dark colors, an ivory bag will pop against the rest of your outfit, drawing eyes from envious passersby. Plus, ivory is just a sophisticated, expensive-looking color—period.

Before you buy a darker handbag for summer, try an ivory version instead. Trust me. Your warm-weather outfits are about to be a lot more impressive.

Shop Ivory Handbags

When I was in elementary school, I faked an eye exam because I really wanted glasses. Less than a week later, I admitted I couldn't actually see through the cute Coach frames I'd picked out (they had little hearts on the sides), and we quickly returned them. Both of my parents have worn glasses for as long as I can remember, so I'm sure there was some connection there.

All these years later, I still love eyewear. I've always been a sunglasses person and can't leave the house without them. Whenever I forget them, I insistently remark, "I wish I had sunglasses." Lately, I've been wearing my now-sold-out bug-eye Chimi Giadas every single day, and I also have the sportier Split. My dream additions to my collection are from Celine, Chanel, Khaite x Oliver Peoples, and Prada.

For eyeglasses, I sometimes wear the Baby frames in black from Bonnie Clyde that got extremely popular a few seasons ago, and I've also been trying out The Meg from Jimmy Fairly. I stopped by Miu Miu's SoHo store in New York to try on the best-selling oval eyeglasses every fashion person knows and loves, and more recently, I visited the Akila store in Silver Lake during a trip to L.A. to see how Zoë Kravitz's go-to Alien frames looked on me. Now, I want a pair. Shop these and more below.

Eyeglasses

Sunglasses

If there's one trend every fashion person is backing for summer 2026, it's two-tone shoes aka the footwear style made famous and currently viral by Chanel. Two-tone shoes, from flats to slingbacks, have been a staple of the French fashion house for decades, but this summer, they're on track to reach an entirely different level of fame and notoriety thanks to Chanel's creative director, Matthieu Blazy (formerly of Bottega Veneta). He came out strong with fresh takes on the shoe style in his debut collection during the spring/summer 2026 season and has continued to level them up every time his latest designs are revealed.

We're not the only ones who think so, either. Celebrities are just as obsessed with Chanel's two-tone footwear as we are, but they didn't have to wait in line at Chanel for a pair on S/S 26 drop day. That was just us. In fact, the chicest ones have been wearing their personal pairs all around town—at Chanel shows, yes, but also on strolls through Tribeca and even at the Met Gala, plus all the glitzy after-parties.

In the last handful of days, three prominent figures in film and music were seen wearing the buzzy summer shoe trend, starting with Gracie Abrams, who was spotted in Tribeca in one of the coolest street style looks of the year so far. The "I Love You, I'm Sorry" singer and Chanel ambassador wore a raglan T-shirt encouraging people to vote tucked into sleek pleated gray trousers. Adding to the outfit's appeal was an oversize leopard-print flap bag from the French house as well as black-and-white two-tone pumps from Blazy's debut collection. Shoes are often the last item to be added to an outfit and can therefore end up looking unintentional or not very thought-out, but with this shoe trend, that's never the case. They make the ensemble work, pulling everything together in a polished and cool package.

On Monday—the first Monday in May aka Met Gala day—two-tone shoes were on full display, showing up on the Van Gogh–inspired carpet on a handful of Chanel guests, including models Bhavitha Mandava and Awar Odhiang as well as Lily-Rose Depp, who paired her turquoise-and-black dipped-toe pumps with a 1920s-inspired cocktail-length dress in the same seaside shade. The entire look felt plucked from the set of Aquamarine, and the dress included hand-sewn paillettes made to look like butterflies strewn throughout its sheer silk silhouette.

Now, another Met Gala is over and done with, but celebs are still in New York City, coming down from the buzz and chaos of fashion's biggest night. One such A-lister is Margot Robbie, who was spotted downtown in Nolita wearing an elevated-casual outfit with—shocker—two-tone Chanel heels with a sharp square toe. She paired them with classic black jeans and a matching blazer, adding just a quilted flap bag with gold hardware to finish off the look. Unlike Depp's outfit, hers was pared back and simple, proving just how versatile two-tone shoes can be. They're impactful no matter how you style them—as up as the Met Gala's dress code calls for or as down as what you'd wear on any day of errands around Lower Manhattan. That's why they're the summer's number one shoe trend. They can do it all.

Shop Two-Tone Chanel Shoes

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The 2026 Met Gala didn't disappoint. The fashion was stunning, and the beauty was even better. Here are some standouts, ICYMI: Emily Blunt's $13 Essie nail polish looked like it was straight out of The Devil Wears Prada. (Miranda Priestly would almost certainly approve.) Hailey Bieber's goddess bun was the perfect complement to her 24-karat-gold breastplate. And Nicole Kidman and her daughter wore 120 centimeters of hair extensions.

While I watched with bated breath as all the celebs arrive, there was only one person whose beauty aesthetic completely blew me away. It was angelic. It was ethereal. It was Ayo Edebiri's flawless makeup look.

The second I saw it, I knew I wanted—nay, needed—the details. Luckily, I got them straight from celebrity makeup artist Dee Carrion. "I was inspired by Ayo’s ethereal and angelic dress," she said. "I wanted to keep her makeup within that same world, so I created a look of glowing skin, which was complemented by reflective shimmers and a soft, flushed lip." Ahead, see every Chanel makeup product Carrion used on Edebiri, including a $180(!) foundation.

The Exact Foundation

The 8 Other Chanel Makeup Products Used

When it comes to Met Gala dressing, go big, go bold, and then push it even further. It’s fashion’s most theatrical night—so naturally, it’s the last place you’d expect to spot something as seemingly everyday as jeans. Which is exactly why I did a double-take when model Bhavitha Mandava arrived in what appeared to be a pair of jeans and a zip-up polo.

At first glance, her look feels worlds away from the sculptural Schiaparelli moments that dominate the red carpet. But this wasn’t a casual, off-duty denim situation—it was Chanel, after all. Her floor-skimming, straight-leg “jeans” were lifted from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel and echoed the very look she wore to open the house’s Métiers d’Art show back in December.

And here’s where it gets interesting. What reads like classic denim and a lightweight knit is, in fact, crafted from an ultra-fine silk, designed to mimic the appearance of everyday fabrics. It’s a trompe l’oeil effect that’s become something of a Chanel signature of late, also seen across the brand’s spring/summer haute couture collection.

Admittedly, it might not deliver the kind of overt drama we’ve come to expect from a Met Gala red carpet, but for Bhavitha, this particular look carries a deeper resonance—mirroring the outfit that helped launch her modelling career in the first place.

If you suddenly feel inspired to revisit your own denim collection, you’re not alone. While silk iterations may be few and far between, there’s no shortage of impeccably cut straight-leg styles to choose from. Keep scrolling to discover the best pairs to invest in now.

Shop Jeans:

Margot Robbie has been a longtime Chanel ambassador. She officially became a partner of the French fashion house in 2018, so she has worn designs from Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard for many red carpets, including the Met Gala. Though we've seen Robbie wear several designs by Matthieu Blazy since he took the helm of the brand last year, tonight marks her first Chanel look designed for the Met Gala by the creative director.

The golden draped lamé dress is designed with a cascade of ruffles along the back and embellished with feathers and flower petals. The intricate design includes 1080 embroidered elements and took 761 hours to make. Robbie's look was also styled with Chanel High Jewelry, including rings and a pair of chandelier earrings that tap into the heirloom-jewelry trend we've been seeing on the rise in 2026. Ahead, see Margot Robbie's custom Chanel look for the 2026 Met Gala.

See Margot Robbie's Custom Chanel Met Gala Dress

On Margot Robbie: custom Chanel dress; Chanel High Jewelry earrings and rings; Manolo Blahnik Paloma sandals

In the wake of the fall/winter 2026 runway season, I spent hours looking at practically every single look that walked, zooming in on things like scarves tied in every way possible, dramatic jewelry, big belts, and—most of all—shoes. The latter is arguably the most purchased category that debuts on the runway each season, but you have to pay special attention if you want to spot the good ones early, as apparel draws the most attention. If you know me, though, you know that I'll always look closer when it comes to shoes, and on the runway this season, one specific shoe color took over. Forget neutrals. Come fall 2026, you'll be wanting something blue in your footwear collection, be it from Chanel, Prada, or Alaïa, three brands that will shape the blue-shoe trend later on this year.

From satin ballet flats at Carven to knee-high, hand-stitched feather boots at Prada, there was no shortage of blue footwear on the runways this season, adding a shoe-investment option that's less classic and more exciting. Blue shoes are capable of creating standout outfits every single time you slip on whatever pair makes it into your wardrobe. At Chanel, Matthieu Blazy's run of viral footwear continued with fervor, and his blue-and-white two-tone mules in patent leather are sure to be among the styles that get run out of stock in boutiques everywhere when his fall/winter 2026 collection for the French house hits stores. Chemena Kamali went all in with thigh-high boots at Chloé, testing them in a variety of colors. The most interesting style was the royal-blue leather pair lined with shearling. And we can't talk about the blue shoes on the runway this season without mentioning the sexy and sophisticated pumps at Pieter Mulier's farewell to Alaïa.

Blue Shoes on the Runway

Chanel

Prada

Alaïa

Carven

Chloé

Missoni

Suffice to say, designers proved one thing to be true this season: "something blue" shouldn't be boxed into the wedding category. At least when it comes to footwear, a hint of the color can be added to just about any outfit for any occasion, styled with matching leather pants (Chloé), a tweed skirt suit (Chanel), or a slim-fitting tailored coat (Prada). Sure, blue shoes might not be as "easy" to style as a black or brown pair, but what's the fun in that? For a cooler, more interesting alt, shop the blue shoes below, with elegant options from Manolo Blahnik, as well as sportier alts from Prada, all making it into the mix.

Shop Blue Shoes

ICYMI, Chanel just debuted its cruise 26/27 collection in Biarritz, a seaside town on the Basque Coast. It's far from the brand's Parisian headquarters, but it has deep historical significance. Gabrielle Chanel chose Biarritz to open her couture house in 1915. Now, 111 years later, Matthieu Blazy used it as the backdrop of his first Cruise Collection.

Using the sun, sea, and sand as motifs, Chanel sent models down the runway wearing silk foulards, "rustling" raffia skirts, and cotton-canvas suiting. The accompanying beauty look wasn't far behind—think dewy, sun-kissed skin, windswept hair, and shimmering, mermaid-inspired nails.

The latter were particularly stunning. Nail artist Ama Quashie designed six dégradé colourways, ranging from cool nautical blues to sandy yellows and solar reds. While the specific shades haven't been released, Quashie told Who What Wear that the key to the look is "finding colours that work by clashing as well as melting into one another." We have a feeling this just unlocked a major summer manicure trend. See all six stunning mermaid-inspired nail looks below.

Look #1

Look 1 was sheer, ethereal and water-tinged.

Look #2

Look 2 used a collection of sun-kissed purples, ambers and pinks.

Look #3

Look 3 was all about sea-inspired turquoise blue nail shades.

Look #4

Look 4 featured sunny, shimmering shades of yellow.

Look #5

Look 5 featured ethereal, shifting shades of blue and lilac.

Look #6

Look 6 used fiery red and orange shades.

All 6 Looks, Side by Side

Here are all six Chanel Cruise Collection nail colourways—the ultimate nail inspo! We foresee "mermaid nails" becoming a major manicure trend for summer 2026.

Shop 5 Chic Chanel Nail Polish Shades for Summer 2026

There are several buzzy denim trends this season, but I'm not sure that any compare to the buzz of light-wash jeans. The wash, which has historically been thought to make an outfit look more casual, is being styled a bit differently this time around: with heels. The newest It girl of 2026, Sarah Pidgeon, just displayed why the combination is so cool with a specific shoe trend that makes light-wash jeans look even more of-the-moment: metallic heels, which make trends look fresher and more intentional than, say, a black, brown, or other neutral-colored pair would.

Metallic shoes cycle in and out of trend status, and for 2026, they're undoubtedly in. Pidgeon's outfit included a red leather jacket, light-wash straight-leg jeans, a Chanel pre-fall 2026 leopard-print oversize flap bag, and a pair of metallic gold cap-toe heels from the same collection. Given how incredibly buzzy Chanel has been under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy from the start, it's safe to say that anything he designs will remain a trend for seasons to come—metallic heels included.

Scroll on to see Pidgeon's trend-forward light-wash jeans outfit and to shop metallic heels to wear with your own faded denim.

Light-Wash Jeans and Metallic Heels on Sarah Pidgeon

On Sarah Pidgeon: Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen jacket; Chanel Rectangle Sunglasses ($625), bag, and shoes

Shop Metallic Heels

Shop Light-Wash Jeans

ICYMI, Chanel just debuted its cruise 26/27 collection in Biarritz, a seaside town on the Basque Coast. It's far from the brand's Parisian headquarters, but it has deep historical significance. Gabrielle Chanel chose Biarritz to open her couture house in 1915. Now, 111 years later, Matthieu Blazy used it as the backdrop of his first Cruise Collection.

Using the sun, sea, and sand as motifs, Chanel sent models down the runway wearing silk foulards, "rustling" raffia skirts, and cotton-canvas suiting. The accompanying beauty look wasn't far behind—think dewy, sun-kissed skin, windswept hair, and shimmering, mermaid-inspired manicures.

The latter were particularly stunning. Nail artist Ama Quashie designed six dégradé colorways, ranging from cool nautical blues to sandy yellows and solar reds. While the specific shades haven't been released, Quashie told Who What Wear that the key to the look is "finding colours that work by clashing as well as melting into one another." We have a feeling this just unlocked a major summer manicure trend. See all six stunning mermaid-inspired nail looks below.

Look #1

Look 1 was sheer, ethereal, and water-tinged.

Look #2

Look 2 used a collection of sun-kissed purples, ambers, and pinks.

Look #3

Look 3 was all about sea-inspired turquoise blue shades.

Look #4

Look 4 featured sunny, shimmering shades of yellow.

Look #5

Look 5 featured ethereal, shifting shades of blue and lilac.

Look #6

Look 6 used fiery red and orange shades.

All 6 Looks, Side by Side

Here are all six Chanel Cruise Collection nail color ways—the ultimate nail inspo! We foresee "mermaid nails" becoming a major manicure trend for summer 2026.

Shop 5 Chic Chanel Nail Polish Shades for Summer 2026

This morning, the fashion industry awoke to the news we had all along believed to be true: the two-tone shoes reinvented by Matthieu Blazy under his artistic direction for Chanel are officially the second hottest product of the year thus far.

If the feverish demand for the shoes was no indication of their acclaim and commerciality, nor the queues that surrounded the French maison’s boutiques in major cities like Paris, London and New York, the incessant media frenzy discussing their appeal that followed or the fact they sold out across the globe within a matter of days, then perhaps this will—everyone, everywhere can’t stop wearing them.

Just yesterday, Chanel staged its Cruise 2027 collection in the seaside village of Biarritz. A place where Gabrielle Chanel first opened her couture house over a century ago, it was homecoming of sorts for the luxuriate, complete with mermaid-inspired millinery, half-shoes designed to look like the winged sandals worn by the Greek god Hermes and about half a dozen immaculately dressed celebrities from Paloma Elsesser to Tilda Swinton, all wearing two-tone shoes.

This pandemonium started back in September when the former Bottega Veneta creative director took the helm of Chanel. Or, perhaps more accurately, all the way back in 1957, when Chanel herself debuted a revolutionary pair of slingbacks that featured a black toe-cap that contrasted against the tan body of the shoe in an homage to the masculine Oxford and Derbies worn by gentlemen of the time. But accurate creation stories need not be as relevant for a shoe trend that, nearly a century on, continues to be coveted and regarded as the acme of chic, especially given its numerous reinterpretations throughout the years.

So, what makes them so endearing? A connection to a bygone age of glamour, for starters, along with the fact this shoe has become a symbol for sophistication and unabashed simplicity. However, the appeal of two-tone shoes also comes down to their ingenious simplicity. With an archetypal shape like a slingback, pump or ballet flat, the juxtaposing colourways add an element of versatility and visual contrast that can only make any ensemble it's worn with more impactful. An injection of high-octane energy, if you will.

Countless celebrity style savants have proved this recently with their own sartorial outings, from Sarah Pidgeon out and about promoting her performance as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in Love Story to Margot Robbie dancing to the tunes of Kylie Minogue for Michel Gondry’s short film for the Chanel 25 bag campaign and Michaela Coel commanding the streets of New York whilst doing press for her latest project, the A24 psychological drama-thriller Mother Mary.

Appealing to both minimalists and maximalists alike, a trait courtesy of their inherently multi-faceted nature, the two-tone shoe trend is also being adopted by other sophisticated brands, making this such a compelling shoe choice for spring styling.

Turkish-born, Paris-based leather accessories brand Manu Atelier has recently launched a series of two-tone shoes, the most compelling being the XX Mule, which is a black-and-white, square-toe slip-on inspired by an architectural pump first introduced in 2019.

Scottish fashion designer Jonathan Saunders has even injected the trend into his debut collection for high-street titans, & Other Stories, with a colour-blocked court shoe. Of course, that’s not even mentioning the array of two-toned shoes commanding the runway, from Chloe’s Kick slimline trainers to Loewe’s eccentric aquatic-inspired flats.

With a refined sensibility and truly timeless apparel, this modern classic is undoubtedly the shoe trend du jour. Uncover the best two-tone shoes to shop below, and trust us: you’ll only want to wear these this spring.

Shop the Two-Tone Shoe Trend:

With all of this year's Carolyn Bessette Kennedy talk and her signature Selima Optique sunglasses everywhere, I've been thinking about forever pieces that never really go out of style. It made me wonder, if you could only have one item per category in your closet, what would you choose?

My mind immediately goes to Jane Birkin and her Birkin—the pieces we reach for again and again that become part of our personal style. Other items that come to mind are Manolo Blahnik's Callamu 50 Mules (or alternatives like Stuart Weitzman's Minimalist Slide 50 Sandal and Aeyde's Black Vero Sandals), Ferragamo pumps, the Cartier Tank Louis Watch, and classic Prada and Chanel bags. I also think of brands like The Row, Khaite, Toteme, Rue Sophie, and St. Agni.

I asked our editors to share what they consider truly timeless. Judith Jones and Anna LaPlaca both mentioned Ray-Ban's Wayfarer styles, which continue to stand the test of time. Below, see all the accessories they swear by.

Shop More Timeless Accessories

Fun fact: I’ve put more effort into my skincare and beauty routine this past year than in all my previous years combined. I now have a morning-and-night routine focused on hydrating and restoring my skin, and I use a variety of products, including a few heavenly skincare products from Chanel (cue Chanel Sublimage). Up until about a month ago, I hadn't tested makeup a ton. While on a family trip to Miami, I was looking for something to cover a blemish and brighten my under-eyes. I stopped by a Chanel Beauty store, where I discovered the Ultra Le Teint Le Correcteur. It's certainly an investment, but it works and has been a staple in my daily routine ever since.

The waterproof concealer gives me medium to full coverage that is incredibly lightweight (not cakey in the slightest). It helped to cover my blemish (great skintone match), but I now use it daily to help with general red and dark spots on my skin, along with under-eye brightening. I often have some redness on my nose, and this product diminishes that look for a more even tone. Below I have a before-and-after photo of me with and without the corrector.

Keep scrolling for more on the Chanel concealer that has completely changed my routine and boosted my confidence. I’ve also curated an edit of other standout Chanel beauty products—including my personal favorites that I've been able to test—to inspire your next beauty investment. I also included some reviews from customers to further highlight the products. Oh, I also rounded up some of my favorite Chanel fine jewelry pieces and sunglasses if you want further shopping inspiration.

My Favorite Chanel Concealer

Here it is—my holy-grail concealer that leaves my skin even by diminishing my imperfections. Basically, it makes my skin look better (at least to my standards). It's my daily staple and goes everywhere with me.

Customer review: "It is amazing! Goes on so smooth no creases and I've used ALOT of high end concealers! This is it for me."

Before and After

Here is a before-and-after photo using the best Chanel concealer. It's subtle, but you can notice some of the redness has gone from my skin (especially on my nose). The corrector is light and stays on throughout the day.

More Chanel Beauty Products I Love (or Want to Try)

This is the newest addition to Chanel's Sublimage range. The balm treatment is meant to rejuvenate the skin and can help heal skin post-cosmetic procedure. As the description on the Chanel website reads, "The formula addresses the look of all youth parameters and helps boost the effects of a cosmetic procedure on the appearance of skin quality and wrinkles."

Like all products in the luxurious Sublimage line, this product also uses Vanilla Planifolia to support recovery and hydration and bring the skin to a luminous state.

This foundation is next on my list for a liquid-formula option. The silky texture is meant to give the skin a healthy glow (always what I'm looking for).

Customer review: "Beautiful foundation. Worth every penny. Enhances not hides. Great formula!"

This SPF 50 is essential in my routine. It's super lightweight and doesn't leave that awkward thick residue like a lot of sunscreens do.

Customer review: "Great sun protection. Went to Mexico and used it and did not burn my face like I usually do! Feels luxurious on face."

The reviews say it all—this eyeliner is actually water resistant and lasts.

Customer review: "I can stray away and try others but I always come back Chanel... Nothing like their outstanding products!"

I've had the opportunity to use the Sublimage Le Sérum, and while certainly an investment, it delivers. The Chanel Vanilla Planifolia, mixed with a lipopeptide and Solidago extract, brings a smooth texture that helps to rejuvenate and give skin a firmer look.

Okay, I swear every fashion person I know has this cream in their handbag (myself included). The ingredients, made from the camellia flower, nourish and make my hands feel wildly smooth.

Customer review: "Obsessed with this lotion. It is an essential in my purse and makeup bag. It smells so beautiful, and it makes your hands so soft!"

This glorious lip balm smooths and hydrates my lips with a subtle yet impactful finish.

Customer review: "Glides on smoothly, has a nice subtle shine and leaves lips feeling soft and conditioned for hours."

As a finishing touch in a makeup and skincare routine, this mist not only refreshes but also enhances makeup.

This description on the Chanel website is noteworthy: "From the first application, N°1 de Chane Serum-in-Mist addresses the look of the signs of aging and becomes more effective over time. After 1 day, the appearance of fine lines is reduced by 30% and skin looks 22% more toned. After 7 days of use, 5 times per day, skin appears glowing with 3x more vitality. The formula helps reduce the harmful effects of environmental aggressors by 82%."

Customer review: "This is a very nice mist. I use throughout the day for a refresh. I really like it."

This beautiful scent is a staple for many (I also wear it!) because of its lovely fruity-floral scent. It's one of those perfumes that will get you compliments.

Customer review: "This perfume is beautiful. I love it!"

Shop Chanel Fine Jewelry and Sunglasses

In pop-culture terms, we’re emerging from a sexy Q1. First came Heated Rivalry, the spicy ice hockey drama that dropped on 10 January (The Guardian’s review opened with, "I suspect that Chala Hunter is still on a recuperative retreat somewhere. Until about May, I would think. For she was the intimacy coordinator on Heated Rivalry, and she has earned a break.") Next was Wuthering Heights, a film so hot under the collar that, after a screening for her girlfriends, Margot Robbie told Jimmy Kimmel, "It was the most unhinged experience of my life," describing the scene as "20 women frothing at the mouth". Hear that? Frothing.

By the time fashion month arrived, the runways were clearly in the mood. For his first show at Gucci, Demna Gvasalia harked back to the house’s sexiest era under another creative director: Tom Ford. Kate Moss wore the final look, a spangled high-neck column gown, its scooping back revealing a so-called "whale tail", logoed with interlocking Gs, naturally. There were also sculpted muscle tees, leggings with cut-outs on either hip and zippered leather pencil skirts (a slit darting up the left thigh). But whilst the runways dialled up the sex, the clothes outside were more demure—ladylike, even. The vibe wasn’t horny so much as housewifely, with the modernisation of garments such as aprons (courtesy of Miu Miu) and block-heeled pumps (Chanel).

If this sounds a little "trad wife"—the trend for women aspiring to be a traditional, "perfect" homemaker, complete with a certain twinset-and-pearls aesthetic—that’s not quite right. As Linda Cui Zhang, fashion director at Nordstrom, puts it, "We’ve ushered in a more romantic, feminine approach to dressing with spring that echoes the sensuality of the runway season." And, indeed, these echoes were felt on the streets during fashion month, with a sense of "real life" wearability. As Jenny Walton, author of upcoming book Jenny Sais Quoi: Adventures in Vintage & Personal Style, puts it, "Whilst a designer’s vision of a woman might show her at her sexiest, perhaps going to a show in the middle of the afternoon is not when one wants to broadcast their backside to the world. I think in real life, women primarily want to dress in a way that makes them feel comfortable, whatever that means to them."

Outside Miu Miu, Amalie Gassmann wore an outfit that one might consider traditionally ladylike, but not remotely buttoned-up, or (whisper it), boring. Instead, her cut-work lace apron-style top was tied over a sleeveless knit, whilst her skirt, also peekaboo, revealed "big knickers"—a silk pocket square folded over the waistband. It turned the idea of what dressing—or "acting"—like a "lady" entails. (Do you really think such an outfit belongs to a person who’s going to press their husband’s shirts or make sure dinner’s always on the table?) Susie Lau’s look for the Gucci show was similarly demure on the surface, featuring all kinds of ladylike flourishes: a floral scarf knotted under the chin, an oversized corsage and horsebit-embellished pumps, but the logo bag, bug-eye sunglasses and lack of hosiery made the overall picture read as "mob wife" instead of housewife.

All this to say that dressing in this way, almost cosplaying a traditional 1950s style, can be just as fun as dressing sexy, particularly in a season where the silhouettes are overarchingly 'womanly', with just a hint of what you might call frisson. "The peplum silhouette returning as a sophisticated jacket (Liberowe) or top (Ashlynn) signalled a reverence for femininity in fashion," says Zhang, adding, "More structured bags in east-west shoulder (Alaïa) and top-handle shapes (Marge Sherwood) add a feminine gesture to complete the look." Other garments that should be on your mood board include car coats, high-waisted cigarette trousers and pleated skirts, as well as details such as lace hosiery, peep-toe shoes, waist belts and drop earrings. Instead of pairing these all together, however, you should feel at liberty to mix things up.

For Walton, the key is balance. "I wear a lot of vintage, and some of those pieces have a certain 'ladylike' connotation. For me, the trick is to modernise them by pairing them with something a little unexpected. So I might wear a contemporary dress but add a vintage pair of gloves or small purse," she explains. Chloé's jelly mules—a peep-toe, bow-embellished sandal made entirely out of blue-tinted TPU—are her only new purchase of late, an item of footwear which falls "somewhere between a life-sized Barbie shoe and Cinderella’s glass slipper," but which you could pair with a windbreaker-style jacket and knee-length capri leggings instead of a circle skirt.

Ferragamo’s Vara Bow, a shoe line that includes a high-heel stiletto, a low-heel slide, pumps and slingbacks, is described as a design both "elegant and sensual" (Christy Turlington wears the stiletto in the brand’s spring campaign). You could lean into this so-called 'ladylike' vibe or use it to counterbalance baggy tailoring or elevate denim, equal parts comfortable and chic.

That’s the thing about being a "lady": the word means different things to different people, but it always, always, contains multitudes.

Shop the Ladylike Trend:

If you keep a passing eye on fashion crowds, you’ll have noticed the new Chanel heels are well acquainted with the style set by now. Defined by their high vamp silhouette and available in a spectrum of of-the-moment shades, the style made its debut in Paris this past October and has been gaining momentum ever since.

For all their appeal, however, they’re not the easiest shoes to style. As anyone with a penchant for statement heels will know, finding the right outfit can be tricky. Which is why I was so surprised to see them looking their absolute best when paired with the decidedly low-key denim trend. Stepping out this week, Michaela Coel gave her Chanel pumps a low-key spin, teaming them with ultra-relaxed, low-rise jeans finished with a chunky cuff. Tempering the polished natural of the shoes, the casual jeans brought a relaxed energy that makes the four-figure heel feel entirely wearable.

Leaning into the contrast, Coel completed the look with a cropped white button-down and a longline leather trench.

Inspired by the combination I didn’t see coming—but now can’t stop thinking about—scroll on to shop baggy cuffed jeans and heels below.

Shop Low-Rise Baggy Jeans and Heels:

Though fashion month for fall/winter 2026 wrapped up earlier this month, the collections remain a constant topic of discussion among us fashion editors at Who What Wear. We can't stop reliving the runway highlights, debating our favorite shows, analyzing the direction new creative directors are taking their labels, identifying the must-have hero items, and drawing styling inspiration for the upcoming fall season—and even for now. It's rare for a day to go by in the New York City office without someone offering their take.

Michael Rider's Celine collection is frequently cited as a favorite, praised for his mastery of creating the elusive, desirable pieces that fashion insiders dream of owning, while also presenting incredibly directional styling ideas. Similarly, Jonathan Anderson's fresh interpretation of Christian Dior's 79-year heritage continues to draw "oohs and ahhs" from the editorial team. Now that enough time has passed for everyone to digest the season fully, I wanted to broaden the conversation beyond our NYC base to hear which collections are truly living rent-free in everyone's minds. Keep scrolling to discover what the team has to say.

Celine

"Michael Rider's collections for Celine have felt like a breath of fresh air, and for fall, the designer took his vision of bourgeois prep that's defined his first few Celine runways and made it a bit, well, quirkier. I was immediately drawn to the way that personality pieces like brooches and charm necklaces made all the sleek tailoring a little more unfussy and unserious. It felt like a cross between your favorite art teacher and a chic Parisian art gallerist. It's exactly the way I want to dress next season (and truthfully, this season, too), and I'll be looking to incorporate pops of royal purple and maybe a charm necklace or two."

Dior

"Dior is in its playful era now that Jonathan Anderson has taken the helm. Anderson has breathed new life into the storied fashion house, which is no small feat given Dior’s stature. For fall, Anderson leaned into shape and structure, with peplum jackets and cardigans as the focal point of multiple looks, paired with everything from equally voluminous ruffled skirts to sleek denim. I could go on and on about the outerwear—the cinch-waist feather-trimmed coat, checked robe coats, sherpa-lined snakeskin jacket, brocade coats, cascading leather jacket—the list goes on. Thanks to this collection, I’m ready to skip summer and go straight to fall."

Chanel

"Minimalism has become the most common theme among runway shows these past few years, but lately, that aesthetic has started to feel performative and lost my attention. That's exactly why Matthieu Blazy's F/W 26 collection at Chanel felt like a breath of fresh air. Rather that stripping things back, he leaned all the way in to what makes Chanel fun. Building a maximalist, bold, cinematic fantasy world that was the polar opposite of quiet luxury. What struck me most was his reimagining of Chanel's iconic tweed. Trend cycles aside, a great tweed jacket is a permanent fixture in my wardrobe, and Blazy's interpretation reminded me why. Layered with eclectic accessories and an unexpected color palette, each look felt like a scene from a Great Gatsby– or Alice in Wonderland–themed film. After seeing the buzz around this debut collection with the brand, I'm sure the line will be once again wrapped around the building when this one hits stores."

Alaïa

"Pieter Mulier's final collection for Alaïa was both emotional and beautiful. For the last time, Mulier removed accessories such as bags and jewelry from the looks, allowing the focus to be on the elegant garments designed to honor the female form. This deliberate, pared-down approach, used to highlight Mulier's signature craftsmanship, made the collection memorable. While outerwear and dresses were the main focus, each piece made a bold statement. For example, the simple, formfitting sleeveless dresses with contour seaming offered understated beauty and countless styling options. The jersey dresses, detailed with crocodile print down the front, directly paid tribute to Mulier's favorite Azzedine pieces and were impactful enough to stand alone. In the coat section, many designs featured a body-hugging fit that subtly flared at the hips with pleats, maintaining the sculptural precision that has defined the house for decades."

Saint Laurent

"Anthony Vaccarello's winter 2026 Saint Laurent collection was a well-tailored presentation of sheer seduction and attention-demanding suits that led a 'conversation between the parameters of femininity and masculinity,' as stated in the show notes. The creative director's decision to revisit Yves Saint Laurent's 1966 Le Smoking was most memorable. A collection of single- and double-breasted suits walked the runway with a 'nocturnal elegance,' as the show notes described, backed by a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower. Cutting the tension of the sharp suits was Vaccarello's inclusion of sheer lace bodysuits and drop-waist fur coats. It's clear to me that Vaccarello's Saint Laurent winter collection will define the style set's wardrobe this fall, either through the pieces themselves or by re-creating the show's silhouettes."

Tom Ford

"I'm obsessed with Tom Ford's extra-sexy F/W 26 collection. I love the low-rise pants with the belts hanging at the waist. It was very '90s and effortless that I will be re-creating even in the spring. It's just hot and easy, which is the vibe I'm definitely trying to give throughout the rest of this year, and the whole collection kind of gave that too. I also loved just how creepy the show was since it was inspired by American Psycho—such a classic, freaky film."

Caro Editions

"Across all the different cities, it's really hard to pick just one, especially with all the emerging designers. That said, I keep thinking about the Caro Editions show in particular. To me, it epitomizes the glamorous dressing trend, which I feel like is ultimately timeless. I think of Old Hollywood, silk dresses, kitten heels, vintage fur, and oversize sunglasses."

When it comes to celebrity-designer pairings, is there a more perfect union than that of Margot Robbie and Chanel? Robbie embodies everything a Chanel girl is—cool, elegant, confident, and timeless yet forward. So, it makes sense that the brand would tap Robbie to be the face of its modern-day It bag: the Chanel 25.

The Chanel 25 made its debut during the spring of last year, instantly becoming the bag everyone wanted. Celebrities and fashion insiders were soon spotted with the quilted, chain-strap, pocketed, hobo-style bag on their shoulders, and sell-outs in Chanel boutiques the world over soon followed. Although it's been a year since the initial release of the Chanel 25, the buzz hasn't died down in the least.

Robbie, who is a Chanel ambassador and has been seen carrying Chanel bags on repeat occasions as of late, has fittingly been tapped as the new face of the bag, with a vibrant campaign to coincide. The film, directed by Michel Gondry, features duplicates of Robbie, wearing jeans and a tweed jacket and carrying the bag in different sizes and colorways, weaving along the streets of Paris. Alongside it is a series of photographs shot by Craig McDean of different versions of the star, showing how suitable the bag is for the on-the-go woman. The campaign also coincides with the release of the new Chanel 25 Mini bag (which still provides plenty of space to store your belongings) in an array of colors and materials, bringing the total size offerings to four.

Scroll on to peruse the campaign and hear Robbie's thoughts on the newly iconic Chanel 25 bag.

The Video

The Campaign

Peruse the Chanel 25 Bag in Every Size

Chanel 25 Mini

Chanel 25 Small

Chanel 25 Medium

Chanel 25 Large

It's rare that an item as simple as a cotton shirt makes as much of an impact on a runway as the shoes, handbags, or outerwear. Typically, a piece like that is forgotten—used as a layering tool rather than a garment worth talking about at length. At Matthieu Blazy's debut show for Chanel last October, though, that's exactly what happened. To the naked eye, the top half of Look 13 was just a shirt, but when you look closer, it becomes much more than that. The shirt—a crisp, white tuxedo-style button-down—was the first item of clothing Gabrielle Chanel borrowed from menswear, the French fashion house lists on the product description for the viral item. Blazy teamed up with heritage French shirtmaker Charvet to make it, adding Chanel's signature chain, pearl-button details, and the brand's name in subtle red, cursive stitching in the process. As a result, they made an heirloom out of a basic that's long been an afterthought—and kick-started a trend that's almost too easy to get in on.

On Nicole Kidman: Chanel shirt, jeans, shoes, and bag; Omega watch

Funnily enough, the first time we spotted Chanel's tuxedo shirt wasn't on the runway when Blazy's debut collection was unveiled—it was a few minutes before that, when the brand's then-newest ambassador, Nicole Kidman, arrived at The Grand Palais in Paris for the show wearing one of her own. In her effortless way, she styled the untucked shirt with the sleeves rolled up just so and perfectly matched her quilted flap bag with the red "Chanel" embroidery on its front. From there, she added ultra-light-wash trouser jeans and black, pointed-toe pumps, and an elegant Omega timepiece on her right wrist completed the ensemble.

With Chanel's version of the tuxedo shirt finally arriving in U.S. stores this past week (and starring in the window display at the 57th Street store in New York City), the shirt style has, overnight, taken the top spot in fashion from standard poplin button-down shirts. Suddenly, they no longer feel interesting enough, sending everyone I know at least on a hunt to secure a tuxedo shirt (of five) before spring officially arrives. The unexpected ways they were styled at Polo Ralph Lauren's F/W 26 presentation during Paris Fashion Week have only added to the craze.

Ahead, shop the best tuxedo shirts on the market for spring 2026, including Chanel's S/S 26 version by Matthieu Blazy.

Tuxedo Shirt Trend

Shop Chanel's S/S 26 Tuxedo Shirt

Shop Tuxedo Shirts

Ever since Matthieu Blazy’s designs hit the Chanel boutiques, there has been a shopping frenzy among fashion insiders who are ready to scoop up the creative director’s first drops for the French fashion house. There have been long lines reported from Rue Cambon in Paris to 57th Street in New York City, which means that the Chanel boutique rush for Blazy’s new-in designs is spanning countries and continents alike. It’s no surprise given the acclaim of his first collections for the fashion house.

So what are the most in-demand pieces? After surveying the buys of the fashion set, we found a few top contenders. The latest Chanel flap bag with elongated straps is winning out, as is the bowling-bag style. For shoes, the new-in glove pumps and updated two-tone heels are selling out. Ahead, see the Chanel designs by Matthieu Blazy that are selling out everywhere from the U.S. to France.

Last night, the 98th annual Academy Awards took place in Los Angeles. The fashion? Stunning. The beauty? Off the charts. Standout trends included matchy-matchy monochromatic makeup and Wuthering Heights–coded gothic waves. That said, there was another, more low-key trend happening on the red carpet—one you wouldn't be able to spot unless you had the insider knowledge to do so. Not one, not two, but three celebrities wore the same silky foundation.

Yep, that's right. Teyana Taylor, Gracie Abrams, and Best Actress winner Jessie Buckley wore the same foundation on the Oscars red carpet. It's a Chanel formula that costs a staggering $180, but apparently, that's for good reason, because each of them looked flawless on the red carpet. Keep scrolling to see the exact one.

Chanel Sublimage L'Essence De Teint Ultimate Serum Foundation

The foundation has earned hundreds of glowing reviews, with customers saying it's lightweight, hydrating, and crease-proof. Take it from one reviewer, who says, "I'm so excited I found this foundation! It's perfect for my mature skin. It doesn't settle into my fine lines around my eyes, not even after a day full of laughter. I got so many compliments about my glowing glass-like skin. Chef's kiss."

Shop 5 More Chanel Products Celebs Wore on the Oscars Red Carpet

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 I 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 13. 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. It's similar to the Chanel Flap Bag, and its worn-in leather makes it 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

Whether they're slingbacks, flats, or pumps, Chanel will always be known as the place to go for a good pair of shoes. 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 toes. There were even pony hair pumps! I can't imagine these could stay on the shelves for long on 57th Street or Wooster.

The question on everyone’s lips during Paris Fashion Week wasn’t about trends or celeb-spotting, but rather, "Which Chanel bag did you buy?" As Matthieu Blazy’s debut spring/summer 2026 collection finally hit stores in Paris (and a week later, the rest of Europe), editors joined the queues of die-hard Chanel-ophiles primed to get their hands on the newest piece of investment-bag real estate.

WhatsApp groups were made, personal shoppers were enlisted and transatlantic flights were booked—seriously. In other words, it caused full-blown fashion hysteria. Unsurprisingly for a brand like Chanel—one synonymous with cult handbags—the new-season accessories had already generated major buzz before hitting stores. From two-tone, square-toe pumps to new iterations of the Maxi Flap Bag (beige! suede! burgundy!), it's safe to say the collection presents more than a few status symbols.

First debuted in the S/S 26 runway show and already spotted on the likes of Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner and Blackpink’s Jennie, the Large Tote (a modern take on the classic oversized tote) already feels like an It bag in the making. The fresh silhouette feels effortless and cool, and its almost nondescript simplicity ensures its timelessness. This is a wholly practical bag—it can truly take you through the day— and one you'd pull out year after year without ever feeling dated.

Obviously, we need to talk about the size. It's proper XXL, almost verging on weekend-bag territory, but the short under-arm strap and narrowish profile keep it manageable for everyday use. I’ve been searching for a chic handbag to hold my daily essentials for the best part of five years; I’m talking laptop, notebook, water bottle, snacks and maybe a change of shoes. Chanel’s offering holds everything, with plenty of space to breathe. Plus, an internal pocket and front flap mean there’s a spot for your keys and phone, so you don’t have to scramble around to find your essentials.

Being Chanel, it’s precious, but not 2.55 precious. This is a bag to be used, thrown around and scuffed (and for the price tag, you’d want to be using it every day), and the black, grained calfskin leather will actually only look better with age. There’s a logo, but it’s subtle; unmistakably Chanel, but not ostentatious in any way. When it comes to investment pieces, it's always wise to start with the classics, and they don't come more classic than this.

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For those less in the fold, Paris Fashion Week is the last of the ‘Big Four’ cities on the schedule. Last, but certainly not least. In fact, most would probably say that Paris is the most exciting of all. From big players like Dior, Chanel, Loewe, Balenciaga and Chloe, to cult favourites like Acne Studios and Jean Paul Gaultier, as well as some of Britain’s finest like Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and McQueen, it’s a jam-packed schedule of one stellar show after another. As such, us editors on the ground are both inspired and exhausted in equal measure by the very end. The shows! The presentations! The parties! The trends! There’s so much to do, see, touch and enjoy, it really is sensory overload. But one we’re happy to have.

Autumn/winter 2026 is an interesting time and a highly anticipated season in fashion. The autumn/winter collections are always a bigger focus than spring/summer, so there’s a higher degree of pressure to deliver. What’s more is after the ‘big reshuffle’ that took place in time for last season, with over 16 new creative directors at major houses, this was the sophomore collection for a lot of high-power luxury brands and the debut of their autumn/winter vision for the respective brands.

In light of this, there’s simply so much to unpack. Particularly so with the major trends that came through from the French capital. To name a few, I noticed a lot of sharp tailoring, some expected and others less so. From Saint Laurent to Givenchy, Dior to Victoria Beckham and Tom Ford, sharp suits had a major moment. There were equestrian influences, too, to marry with the Year of the Horse. Stella McCartney even presented her collection in an actual riding hall with a magnificent horse show at the centre.

Adding to this, check prints, waterproof garments in transparent plastic materials as well as multiple collections that echoed last season’s obsession with the ‘80s, it was yet another display of joy, colour and fantasy.

5 Key Trends From Paris Fashion Week: Autumn/Winter 2026

1. Horse Power

Style notes: According to the Lunar New Year, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. And let’s just say fashion got the memo. From Stella McCartney’s horse show extravaganza within the Paris riding hall Bois de Boulogne, to Acne Studios, Chloe and Hermes (of course) bringing full horse girl energy by way of over-the-knee boots, belted blazers and silk neckerchiefs, equine influences were scattered throughout the week. Whilst equestrian style can venture into feeling slightly preppy, prim and proper, it is here sharp and streamlined. Whilst McCartney's version felt sportier and slightly more casual with jeans, Schiaparelli's three-piece suit in butter yellow was cinched and snatched.

2. Check Mate

Style notes: Check prints will always have some kind of presence on the runways, because let's face it, they're timeless. But this season there were too many to count, and in different variations. Where Dior, Dries van Noten and Acne Studios layered multiple checks one on top of the other, especially on tailoring and outerwear, Chloe stayed true to its bohemian roots, with a ruffled high neck maxi dress. At Matthieu Blazy's Chanel we expected checks across tweed sets, but not like they came in the closing few looks. Chainmail tartan midi skirts, jewel-adored blazers and trench coats finalised his epic collection—and cemented the resoundingly positive reviews.

3. Against the Elements

Style notes: It may come as no surprise that an autumn/winter season might provide much protection against the cold and wet weather. But be it Loewe's XXXL rubberised coats, vinyl trench coats at Off-White and Louis Vuitton and metallic windbreakers at Cecilie Bahnsen, practicality was a major focus on the outerwear front. Even Haider Ackermann's triumphant collection at Tom Ford, which many likened to the costume in the 2000 film American Psycho with its array of sharp '80s-style suits, also included a series of clear plastic waterproof garments, from hooded raincoats to skirts. If you're as much a fan of the film as I am, you'll remember the protagonist Patrick Bateman putting on a plastic raincoat in a specifically violent scene. Of course, none of these connotations are carried with these pieces, but the stylised and cinematic quality this use of plastic gave, instead of feeling cheap, was well noted amongst editors and critics alike.

4. Avant-Garde Silhouettes

Style notes: If there's one thing we love in fashion, it's drama. We live for vibrant colour palettes, the mixing of materials, prints and, naturally, a few voluminous silhouettes. This season wasn't exactly a sea of streamlined cuts—quite the opposite. For Mugler it was all about the strong shoulder, as ever the house stayed true to its '80s DNA. Meanwhile at Victoria Beckham, it was a dress with cut outs at the waist that left a notably on-brand 'V' shape at the front, that made an impact. At other designers, the extreme, almost avant-garde silhouette took a more dramatic formation. Louis Vuitton closed its show with several heavy shouldered, spatial pieces, that felt more like a work of art than clothing. Similarly at Vacquera, a bridal look came in a spherical shape. But my favourite of all the innovative shapes came on a deep red velvet dress at Jean Paul Gaultier, which followed a fishtail silhouette, but was—as ever with Gaultier—so much more than this.

5. Fur, Fur, Fur

Style notes: Faux fur—in its many forms—is officially back again in autumn/winter 2026. ICYMI, it had a major presence in the winter collections in 2025, but new tones, textures and coat cuts make this timeless style feel fresh. Saint Laurent's ultra short, but oh-so big on the shoulders, belted jacket was nothing shy of impactful. As too was Givenchy's take on an animal print full-length number, which I particularly enjoyed with the pairing of red accessories. Zimmermann on the hand showcased a series of furry shawls in different shades of brown. Some tied together with a brooch, other jacket or coat styles were belted, or worn loose and effortlessly off the shoulders. But my favourite of the brand's fur accents was the green-tinged lapels on the the khaki leather bolero, which when paired over the lace skirt and lingerie bodice, felt like true twenties perfection.

Last weekend, Charles and Alexandra Leclerc (formerly Saint Mleux) made their first paddock appearance as husband and wife in Melbourne during the inaugural race weekend of the 2026 Formula One season, and of course, the latter dressed for the occasion. Her ensemble for Saturday's qualifying session proved to be the most impactful of her three Australian Grand Prix outfits. She looked great, but then again, that's never not the case. What made it special went beyond just aesthetics.

The French-born art coordinator, who wed Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in an intimate ceremony in his hometown of Monaco in late February, has been delivering memorable ensembles in the paddock ever since she was first spotted during a race weekend back in 2023 at the Monaco Grand Prix, when her white Meshki dress immediately went viral. Since then, Leclerc's style has only become more honed and sophisticated, and her paddock outfits often reference art and culture from whichever city F1 is racing in at the time. Many of her looks are extremely thought-out, like the Frida Kahlo–inspired ensemble she debuted at last year's Mexico City Grand Prix or the full Sau Lee wardrobe she wore during the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, showcasing the Hong Kong–based brand's signature cheongsam-inspired designs.

Alexandra Leclerc at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

On Alexandra Leclerc: Vintage Chanel top, skirt, earrings, and bag; Manolo Blahnik Jadaron 70 Leather Mules ($950); Saint Laurent sunglasses; Cartier jewelry

"When it comes to Alexandra's style, the goal is always to find pieces that feel both special and authentic to her," the couple's stylist, Carlotta Constant, tells Who What Wear. "She already has such a strong sense of personal style, so my role is about helping bring it to life." According to Constant, their creative process typically begins with Leclerc providing mood boards and references. From there, Constant will start sourcing and seeing what's realistically available from the array of vintage archives in her Rolodex.

For Leclerc's outfit on Saturday, she and Constant chose to debut a lilac button-down crop top with contrasting black buttons from one of Chanel's most iconic collections ever, the spring/summer 1995 collection, often nicknamed the Barbie collection, by Karl Lagerfeld. The playful, kitschy curation first debuted in October 1994 (the same year Michael Schumacher won his first F1 world championship) in Paris. Thirty years on, its cultural impact can still be felt, which is why pieces from it have become almost impossible to source. "When sourcing archival pieces, it's very much about keeping your finger on the pulse and knowing who holds what at any given moment," Constant explains. "Things can disappear incredibly quickly; something you might have your eye on one day can be sold the next." According to her, archival sellers will always prioritize sales, so stylists like Constant have to be extremely reactive if they want to pull rare pieces like this one for their clients.

Chanel Spring/Summer 1995

Fortunately, Constant has a relationship with Anthology of Style, Kim Albert's live-shopping platform that specializes in luxury vintage fashion items. "I came across Anthology of Style a while back and thought of it immediately when we began [this] search," Constant says. "Kim, the founder, has an incredible eye for sourcing rare pieces. She has one of the most incredible Chanel archival collections I've ever seen." In 2024, Anthology of Style actually curated a private museum highlighting the Barbie collection, bringing an unprecedented number of pieces from the collection—including ready-to-wear, bags, and more accessories—together in one place. "What I particularly love about the platform is the way [Albert and her team] present the pieces. They share the history and details of each garment, which makes discovering them feel very special," Constant shares.

Once she'd secured the Chanel look for Leclerc, Constant turned to shoes, opting to keep with the lilac theme using a pair of new-season Manolo Blahnik peep-toe mules. "They added a playful touch and finished the outfit perfectly," she says. For finishing touches, Leclerc wore Chanel CC stud earrings and a black patent-leather bag, Saint Laurent sunglasses, and Cartier jewelry.

"The Australian Grand Prix felt like the perfect moment for Alexandra to debut the look," Constant says. "She had just celebrated such a special occasion, so what a perfect way to make a statement." As always with Leclerc, there was a deeper meaning behind the outfit. According to Constant, given that the couple's intimate civil ceremony took place at Villa La Vigie, the former Monaco residence of Lagerfeld, Leclerc's archival Chanel look was meant as a subtle gesture of thanks. "The [wedding] weekend itself was incredibly meaningful, and with part of the celebration taking place at Karl Lagerfeld's former home, it felt like a natural and beautiful homage to that era of Chanel," Constant explains. "It was simply the right [time] for a piece like that to have its moment. "

While I may decode the latest fashion trends and It items for a living, as a careful shopper myself, I'm rarely the first to spend on one. Instead, I like to wait a bit to make sure something feels like it has staying power, confirm it works for my petite frame, is true to my relatively classic style, seems practical, and is something I'll actually love long-term. In short, I like to avoid buyers remorse, and as such, I'm always a little late to the game—by design.

Hopefully this explains why I've only now come around to the giant bag trend, as modeled so effortlessly by the always-cool Hailey Bieber above. Sure, I've been intrigued for a while, but as a 5'2" girlie who often buys mini bags because they look regular size on me, I had to make sure I felt like it really worked and wouldn't be something I get over quickly. So here we are. I've finally bought in, and in case you haven't taken the leap yourself either, I thought I'd share the options currently in the running. Just keep scrolling to see what's on my preliminary list!

In the immortal words of Miss Congeniality, the perfect date is one that falls in spring, as it’s not too hot, not too cold, and all you need is a light jacket. The pageant star might’ve conflated her favourite day of the Gregorian calendar with a question aimed at sparking romance, but the point still remains.

When leaving the house during these tranquil, transeasonal moments, you’re able to move lightly without being weighted down by heavy winter warmers or engulfed in summer heat. Truly, the cornerstone of our wardrobe becomes these hard-working, albeit extremely nimble, staples designed to complement your trousers, skirts and saccharine dresses.

As for what styles to layer, the runways were saturated with a plethora of notable spring jacket trends. A season marked by triumphant debuts and an overall joyful mood, the collections presented across each of the style capitals felt buoyant, triumphant and bright. As a result, the outerwear intended for the chic natives in Manhattan and Le Marais feels lighter, more effortless and designed to be thrown on before running out the door.

It’s this understated sophistication that makes these styles so easy to piece together. Without elaborate decoration or fussy details, these pieces are underscored with a quiet strength that makes them as breezy to build an outfit around as they are to wear. So, without further ado, scroll on ahead for the 6 key spring 2026 jacket trends, as seen on the recent runways.

6 Key Spring 2026 Jacket Trends

1. Nipped at the Hip

Style Notes: It's the cult style worn by Jacob Elordi, Michelle Obama and Sarah Pidgeon. Debuted on Matthieu Blazy's freshman collection for the French maison, the cropped blazer has swiftly become one of the most in-demand shapes. Recontextualising the laissez-faire and freeing silhouettes pioneered by Coco Chanel over a century ago, this spring jacket trend tries a more architectural approach with sharp shoulders and clean cuts.

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2. Cargo Carryalls

Style Notes: Mrs. Prada is the perennial pragmatist, though you’ll never catch her designing something that’s solely utilitarian. Underscored with wit, humour and intelligence, her designs always straddle artistic expression with real-world aptitude. So, for a collection inspired by uniformity, functional cargo jackets were juxtaposed with inherently ladylike pieces. Because in a world where everything sometimes feels at odds with each other, what’s more fitting than pairing a decorative satin skirt with a jacket designed for practicality?

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3. Night at the Opera

Style Notes: If you ever needed an excuse to dress up, take the tuxedo jacket trend as an invitation to do so. A style that featured heavily through Johnathan Anderson’s first womenswear collection—which was an homage to Monsieur Dior’s New Look—jackets that feature contrasting lapels and single-breasted fastening also took over Conner Ives’s recent autumn/winter 2026 range. Soiree season might not be till the end of the year, but why not embrace the merits of black-tie elegance all year long?

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4. Gone With the Wind

Style Notes: Less Scarlett O’Hara and more Sporty Spice, windbreakers have become one of the most ubiquitous spring jacket trends for 2026. It’s not surprising considering how much high-fashion has courted the streetwear set—lest we forget Demna closed his inaugural runway show for Gucci with an after-party hosted by Scouse rapper EsDeeKid—but technical anoraks and waisted shell jackets have begun cropping up. From aquamarine styles at Loewe to elasticated silhouettes at Lii Studio, time to ride like the wind.

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5. Queen's Gambit

Style Notes: After making a screaming return from the ‘90s, you didn’t think the grunge-inspired flannel shirt trend would go away quietly, would you? Taking a more airy format for spring, the style has translated into checked spring jackets that fuse Sloan Ranger sensibility—thanks to the Prince of Wales print—with an alternative edge. Because when the style is backed by cool independent brands like Damson Madder and Friends with Frank, why wouldn’t you give it a go.

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6. Blazing Glory

Style Notes: If you hadn’t noticed, preppy fashion is an overarching trend that’s defined most of the leading spring jackets. Whether it be through leaning into the traditional codes or eschewing them completely, most jackets permeate with an insouciant, elite and collegiate ease. The most apparent version of this is through the rise of single-breasted blazers. However, keeping things modern, these styles are being rendered in innovative fabrications, including embossed leather and mock croc.

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At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.

We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.

My partner’s grandma has the epitome of classic, timeless style. She lives in matching cashmere cardigan-and-sleeveless-knit sets and Chanel makeup, with an unwavering loyalty to what she likes; always looking polished and put together.

We were visiting her for a weekend recently, sitting at dinner, when she pulled out her Rouge Coco in the shade 440—the exact one she’s been wearing for years. When I asked if she had any shopping advice she swears by, she didn’t hesitate at all to tell me, “Buy nice or buy twice.” I honestly haven’t stopped thinking about it since. It’s simple: Invest in items you love, wear them on repeat, and create your own signatures.

The next day, my curiosity turned into a trip to her favorite store, Saks Fifth Avenue, followed by a tour of her closet. Inside were the cashmere cardigans layered with their matching sleeveless knits (many identical pieces from Saks’ in-house line), St. John basics, and an extensive shoe collection spanning iconic brands still designing today alongside labels now considered vintage, such as Daniel Green, Ferragamo, Mephisto, Rangoni Firenze, Sesto Meucci, Stuart Weitzman, and Vaneli. There’s a consistency and uniform approach to her wardrobe, with mainly black and other neutrals aside from the color red. Nothing feels trendy; everything feels understated and intentional.

Below is a roundup of enduring staples that stand the test of time, inspired by her shopping philosophy.

As I write this, my copy of Lauren Elkin's Scaffolding sits face down to my left, exposing its cobalt blue back cover against my chocolate brown desk. It’s a fitting symbol—and lede, for that matter—for the way that this exact hue has saturated the zeitgeist to become somewhat of an overnight sensation.

Whilst the electrifying colour has always held a place in the sartorial landscape, from Phoebe Philo’s fixation with Yves Klein Blue during her tenure at Celine to the richly pigmented Dieu Bleu shade of Yeux Paint liquid eyeshadow from French beauty maven Violette, concurrent sightings of the tone on the runway and red carpet have seemingly thrust cobalt blue into the spotlight. Indeed, it appears that fashion has a new favourite colour to play with, and it’s bound to pique interest.

For the uninitiated, cobalt blue is a deep and vibrant tone that sits somewhere between the darker ultramarine and a lighter capri blue. It has been a prominent feature in culturally relevant works for centuries—some say since antiquity—like Chinese porcelain forged in the Ming Dynasty, to the works of 19th-century French Impressionists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet.

Yet, for spring 2026, the cobalt blue is taking on new meaning, with the shade signalling a shift away from winter blues—both literally and figuratively—and ushering in a wave of fresh energy. Because what could be more synonymous with the languid days ahead than a colour dotted across parasols on the Côte d'Azur or nestled into the cacti in Marrakesh’s famed Majorelle Garden?

So, how did cobalt blue come to usurp the pop of red trend and butter yellow as the latest primary colour to covet? Blame it on having the best publicity or an increase in visibility, but you only need to look to the spring/summer 2026 season to see why, with cobalt blue commanding new season collections.

Even back in September during Paris Fashion Week, there were signs of cobalt blue’s supremacy. At Celine, Michael Ryder brought a touch of California cool to the Parisian maison with tie-dye long-sleeves, colour-blocked rugby shirts and—as a standout—a pair of cobalt blue derbies. At Loewe, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez presented their debut collection with rubbery coats, neoprene dresses and slouchy separates that evoked the balmy essence of Ibiza’s coastline.

Just this weekend during London Fashion Week, Toga delivered a collection of moulded tailoring, with upturned skirts and scrunched up knitwear rendered in the piquant tincture.

The moment felt like a precursor to the vivid custom Chanel gown worn by Jessie Buckley to the 79th British Academy Film Awards, which was a crushed blue velvet inspired by Matthieu Blazy’s landmark Métiers d'art 2026 collection and paid homage to the late director David Lynch. With the two sightings of the shade occurring less than 24 hours apart, it’s proof that cobalt blue is only just getting started.

But the eagle-eyed amongst us, you’d know that cobalt blue is already everywhere, if you have the attention to detail to look out for it.

From the packaging of everyone’s favourite summer shoe brand, Ancient Greek Sandals, to the palette of 2000s-inspired surfwear brands like Rashi World, the Entire Studios ensemble worn by internet heartthrob Connor Storrie and even Chanel Beauty’s new indigo denim Le Vernis nail polish shade, the reign of cobalt blue is already upon us.

Ahead, uncover the best cobalt blue pieces to shop and provide your spring wardrobe with a much-needed boost.

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Chanel just launched an exclusive makeup collection at Nordstrom, but it's not just any makeup collection. It's a limited-edition one inspired by the world's most iconic fabrics: denim. The Coco Denim Makeup Collection reimagines iconic Chanel Beauty products through this lens, blending "classic washes, indigo hues, and couture-inspired detailing," according to the brand. It's a major fashion-meets-beauty moment, and it's bound to sell out. In fact, one of the items already is, so if you want in, you'll have to act fast. Ahead, see every item included in the seven-part collection.

Chanel's Coco Denim Makeup Collection

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One of Chanel’s latest releases is a brand-new flap bag. It’s quickly become a celebrity favorite and a style we’re already predicting will be one of the most in-demand handbags of the year. It’s designed with a double-C metal closure, two shoulder straps, and a flap design, falling into the brand’s wheelhouse of classic and timeless bags reimagined for 2026. It mirrors many of the design cues of its predecessors, yet the grained calfskin leather is softer, the silhouette is more streamlined, and the straps extend down to the bottom of the bag rather than sitting at the top. It currently comes in a small size and clutch version in colorways such as navy and light green, but more shades will be released soon.

The new flap bag was first introduced in the Chanel spring/summer 2026 pre-collection and is just arriving in stores, yet it is already poised to be one of the hottest accessories of the year. “The Chanel Small Flap Bag will absolutely take the lead as being the most popular and most requested bag for S/S 26,” luxury product sourcer Gab Waller shared with Who What Wear. It’s already been spotted on celebrities and Chanel ambassadors, including Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and Jennie, only fueling its status as a future It bag. Ahead, more on the new Chanel flap bag.

On the Celebrity Set

The Chanel Small Flap Bag

From Addison Rae opening her self-titled debut album, Addison, with the lyrics “Take a bite of the big apple”, to Lily Allen closing her magnum opus divorce record, West End Girl, with a song titled “Fruityloop”, it seems like popular culture is obsessed with all things seed-y. And where music goes, fashion soon follows, with Chanel’s apple heels quickly becoming a breakout star in its own right.

Whilst visiting Sydney to celebrate the launch of Rhode into Australian beauty juggernaut Mecca, the skincare model and mogul attend the launch wearing a pair of heels that paid homage to her home state of New York. (Yes, she was born in Tuscon, Arizona, as her husband’s viral song “Yukon” hints at, but she was raised upstate in a cosy town by the Hudson River.)

The slingbacks in question featured all the bearings of the French maison’s signature design, from the two-toned colourway, thin strap and contrasting toe cap. However, in the reigns of creative director Matthieu Blazy, the style was given a more contemporary update to feature a sweet little apple perched on the heel.

The shoes actually debuted as part of Chanel’s 2026 Métiers d'art show, which itself was a love letter to the city and the chic Manhattanites that inhabit it. Set in a downtown subway station, the collection featured obvious homages to the borough, like the Empire State Building being rendered into a flippy skirt and flap bags that took the shape of the squirrels that dart through Central Park. (And that’s not even mentioning the half-zip polo jumper that opened the collection.)

Of course, it’s not the first time fashion and food has intersected, especially where footwear is involved. In the first Loewe show following the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonathan Anderson brought some joyfulness and joie de vivre back into the craft-led Spanish house with strappy sandals accented by cracked eggs, bars of soaps, melting candles and even rose buds.

But for Blazy, this shoe is just another feather in the cap of an artist who seemingly can not be stopped—at least when it comes to creating pieces that fashion’s obsessed can’t stop fixating over. The shoes also come on the heels of his new cone heels from his spring/summer 2026 range for the house, proving that he knows a thing or two about taking women to new heights in his creations.

Is it too late to put Charli XCX into these during the press run for her upcoming film, The Moment, and get her to do the viral dance that accompanies her Brat single “Apple”? Or, have Kristen Stewart, who declared she’s “committed” to directing a Twilight remake, wear these when making the project official in an homage to the book’s original cover?

Either way, we know all too well the effect Hailey Bieber herself has on influencing our wardrobes, so even if not for the love of the style, its connotations and the context that surrounds it, you can rest assured that this fruit-bearing heel is bound to get a lot of airtime. Rotten Refined to the core…

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Unlike other facets of our wardrobe, the accessories we carry with us throughout the year aren’t as susceptible to climate-related shifts and thermal changes as categories like jeans, jackets, and shoes. However, if the spring 2026 bag trends are any indication, it’s that parting ways with your dependable carry-all that’s served you dutifully for the past few years should be something you take seriously. Why? The influx of new styles available are simply too irresistible.

This is a message coming from someone who could count on one hand the number of bags they own. (Which, for the record, includes a woven leather St. Agni workhorse that doubles as my laptop bag, a supple bucket bag from New Zealand-based label Yu Mei, a vintage Jil Sander clutch and a Mini Kara silver shoulder bag from Tory Burch.) I know what it’s like to watch the seasons come and go and withhold from investing in a designer bag or partaking in a niche aesthetic by purchasing a novel piece of arm candy. Which is all to say that when I tell you just how covetable the key spring 2026 bag trends are, you would benefit from believing me.

So, why this exact moment to step off the sidelines and play the field by courting a fresh style? It comes down to a few factors, with the most important being that this is the season of the mammoth creative director reshuffle that saw numerous designers take the reins and present their debut collections for heritage houses back in September. For weeks now, I’ve been counting down with bated breath for the moment Jonathan Anderson’s new suede bags at Dior land in the French maison’s boutiques, or watched how everyone from Dua Lipa to Hailey Bieber tease Matthieu Blazy’s first It bag for Chanel, the dual handle flap bag.

I’ve had an endless amount of time to pore over every still, look and angle presented on the spring 2026 runways and really work out what bag trends will have longevity. And, for the most part, the key spring bag trends are new updates on archival silhouettes, meaning that these pieces are forged with a storied history and proven track record of desirability. Better still, the lag between when the collections were presented and when the designs hit stores has proved opportune for me to mentally compile a wishlist for shapes, cuts and colours I’ll be shopping once they’re available for purchase.

Thankfully, that time is nigh, with many of these trends already trickling in. In the immortal words of Addison Rae, I’ve always wanted more, so scroll on ahead for the 6 biggest 2026 bag trends to covet now.

6 Key Spring Bag Trends for 2026

1. Chain Reaction

Style Notes: Leather straps have somewhat become the handle du jour over the past decade. Now, a bevy of luxuriates are relegating this motif to ready-to-wear, making these black nappa straps exclusive to pieces like a Ludovic De Saint Sernin top or a Khaite belt. Usurping this traditional detail is the prevalence of shiny chains. From Valentino Garavani’s chevron-quilted Panthea shoulder bag to Loewe’s slouchy Squeeze tote, this is a trend that offers a soft and industrial edge to any look. Heavy metal and reflective, indeed.

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2. Open Book

Style Notes: On the heels of the quiet luxury aesthetic, discerning shoppers are using even rudimentary styling techniques, like the closing fixtures of their bags, to convey wealth. This trend first began after a herd of Hermès stalwarts thought it novel to wear their Birkins and Kellys with the straps and flaps unfastened. Now, designers are pre-baking this look into their bags, with this undone accent cropping up everywhere from Balenciaga’s Rodeo to Fendi’s new slouchy Way bag. A pickpocket's delight, indeed.

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3. Nouveau Suede

Style Notes: Fashion continues to hedge its bets on suede. But instead of the conventional rich chocolate or lighter latte hues, many designers are rendering the texture in a more tropical and botanical colour palette fit for the season at hand. From Ferragamo’s croc-embossed clutch that’s finished in a perfect clementine shade to Australian-based brand Rylan Studio’s royal purple gathered micro tote, these are styles that are bright, airy and indicative of the warmer weather on the horizon.

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4. Space Cadets

Style Notes: As a self-identified perennial schleper, I know the plight of lugging around all my worldly possessions in one single bag all too well. Much to the dismay of my already irritated shoulder, spring will bring in a new wave of extra-large tote bags—perfect for anyone who loves carrying everything-the-kitchen-sink at the bottom of their purse or wants to recreate that iconic photo of Ashley Olsen arriving at an airport in Mexico back in 2006 wearing a bag that’s literally half her size.

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5. Origami Edges

Style Notes: The Japanese art of origami has long been a source of inspiration for Jonathan Anderson. From Loewe’s Puzzle bag, which emulates the ridges of folded paper, to Dior’s newest Ciagle bag, a style inspired by a Monsieur Dior original dress from 1952, the Northern Irish designer has always found ways of incorporating pleats and clean lines into his accessories. Now, his cohort is taking note. From Prada’s new Passage, a shape that emulates a bag-within-a-bag with a doubled-over front to Saint Laurent’s dimpled Mombasa re-issue, expect to see more sculptural bag shapes come spring.

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5. Duchesse Pouches

Style Notes: Fashion has long been obsessed with ladylike purses. Now, they’re turning their attention to duchesse pouches. Most notably a fixture of Prada’s spring/summer 2026 collection, these dainty sacks are accentuated by a soft fabric and ultra-fine strap that’s designed to be worn around your wrist or clutched in the palms of your hands. Because as the winter layers start to shed, shouldn’t the bags we carry get breezier, too?

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Why Trust Us?

At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.

We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.