Inside Chanel’s Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2025/26 Show: A Countryside-Inspired Ode to Feminine Liberation

Inspired by the sweeping romance of the English countryside and the mysterious beauty of the Scottish moors, Chanel’s Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2025/26 collection felt like a breath of crisp winter air after a long, golden summer. Presented with the backdrop of a reimagined 31 Rue Cambon – brought to life by Willo Perron – the show invited guests into an intimate, dreamlike setting.

Modern Culture of Tomorrow takes a closer look at Chanel’s Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2025/26 show…

A Return to Greener Pastures

Designed by Chanel’s in-house Creation Studio, the collection was a tribute to nature and open spaces. The colour palette evoked a misty rural morning: ecru, ivory, brown, forest green, and soft black, occasionally punctuated by the glow of golden buttons and embroidery, like the first rays of sunlight at the end of winter.

Fabrics took centre stage, with richly textured tweeds mimicking the illusion of faux fur, and feathers woven into silhouettes that blurred the boundaries between structure and softness. Winter classics were reimagined: a white coatdress was edged in braided embroidery, while a suit jacket was reworked to resemble a knitted jumper.

Shapes of Freedom

Echoing Gabrielle Chanel’s vision of liberation through clothing, the silhouettes borrowed from menswear – boxy, slightly oversized, yet always feminine in movement. The collection revisited Chanel’s original promise: to allow women to move, breathe, and live fully within their clothes.

Embellishments were symbolic as much as aesthetic. Wheat ears – which were highly valued by Gabrielle Chanel as a sign of prosperity – were intricately woven into garments. Meanwhile, multicoloured floral appliqués offered moments of whimsy and softness, like wildflowers scattered across the moors.

A Final Glimpse Before Change

This collection marks the end of an era, as the house prepares for Matthieu Blazy’s creative takeover in October. It was a collection not driven by reinvention, but by reverence. An introspective chapter – rooted in nature, tradition, and the quiet strength of Chanel’s legacy.

As the last golden and light-kissed hued looks glided down the runway, it was hard not to see them as a symbol: warmth at the edge of winter, and light on the horizon.

Image credits: Chanel