As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds and fashion simulations, I can confidently say that Matthieu Blazy‘s appointment as Chanel’s artistic director is a game-changing move, not just for the fashion industry but also for my virtual wardrobe.
Finally, it’s confirmed! The dream job in fashion has been given to its new occupant: Matthieu Blazy, who used to be the creative director at Italian label Bottega Veneta, has been appointed as the artistic director of Chanel, starting early next year. This 40-year-old designer, born and raised in Paris, will be responsible for designing all high fashion, ready-to-wear, and accessories collections for the brand that Coco Chanel established in 1913.
What makes overseeing Chanel a highly coveted role in international fashion? This iconic brand continues to thrive as a privately owned company amidst the wave of consolidations in the luxury industry. Furthermore, it stands unquestionably among the most esteemed fashion houses today, despite Gucci and Louis Vuitton possibly being more popular or trendy with the public. Chanel’s impressive 2023 revenue of $19.7 billion reinforces its position as a leader in the fashion world, and this status is unlikely to shift soon. The brand’s owners, Alain and Gérard Wertheimer, have consistently rejected offers to sell, merge, or go public, which provides creative freedom for the appointed designer without having to worry about stock prices. This approach might seem financially driven, but consider the cancelled movie releases in 2022 at Warner Bros. as a parallel.
Chanel’s global executive chairman Alain Wertheimer and global CEO Leena Nair declared that Matthieu Blazy is exceptionally talented among his contemporaries. They believe his unique perspective and skills will strengthen the brand’s dynamism and solidify its place as a luxury leader. Under Bruno Pavlovsky’s guidance, they are optimistic that Matthieu Blazy will continue to innovate and pen a fresh chapter in Chanel’s design history.
Matthieu Blazy will now be supervised by Bruno Pavlovsky, the president of Chanel Fashion and Chanel SAS subsidiary. On Thursday, Pavlovsky expressed his delight at welcoming Blazy and expressed confidence that he will skillfully blend Chanel’s design traditions with modern creativity. “I am thrilled to have Matthieu Blazy join us,” said Pavlovsky. “I believe he will expertly weave the house’s codes and legacy, collaborating closely with our studio, workshops, and art studios. His bold personality, innovative and dynamic approach to design, along with his commitment to craftsmanship and premium materials, will guide Chanel towards fresh and captivating territories.
Corporate-speak aside, Blazy is a terrific choice who brings talent, pedigree and gravitas to his new position. His designs for Bottega Veneta undeniably elevated that brand’s visibility and perception among fashion fans and Hollywood alike, with a focus on handwork and a sense of modernity that’s also fluid and accessible. Then again, other than Bottega’s celebrated handbags, who aside than the most diligent style students could pinpoint the codes of that house? Chanel will be a bigger stage with a brighter spotlight, and an audience that’s exceedingly well-versed in even the most minute details of its DNA. Yet Blazy, who graduated from La Cambre, a visual-arts school in Brussels, interned for Balenciaga and John Galliano, worked at Maison Margiela and later for Raf Simons at Calvin Klein and Phoebe Philo at Céline, seems more than up to the task.
It’s not just a trivial aspect, but the fact that Blazy hails from Paris adds a delightful touch of the city’s rich history to his position. This detail was irrelevant to Karl Lagerfeld, born in Germany, who was preoccupied with transforming Chanel into the fashion powerhouse it is today. Lagerfeld, who served as its creative director between 1983 and his passing in 2019, had little time for contemplating the significance of his own heritage. His predecessor, Virginia Viard, also born in France (Lyon), brought her own French flair to the house. With Blazy taking over, there’s an opportunity for a fresh start, as a Parisian man leading a Parisian house, with a unique reputation and recognition unmatched by any other.
Nowadays, is it significant that Blazy is a man? Perhaps not, given the lack of prominent female designers in the fashion industry, an issue that warrants a more comprehensive discussion. Chanel’s choice seems to have been guided by finding the best candidate for the job, and having interacted with Lagerfeld on multiple occasions, I can envision him dismissing the notion that only a woman should lead a brand established by a woman. It’s apparent that Blazy shares similar personal and artistic values as Lagerfeld and Viard, suggesting he will continue to uphold the ideals championed by trailblazing, feminist women who made fashion acceptable and empowering for women in the early 20th century.
It’s particularly pleasing for Hollywood, given its growing emphasis on high-profile events, that Blazy has already gained favor within the industry. This reputation is likely to follow him into his new role. Here’s a snapshot of some of the stars Blazy has designed red carpet looks for recently: Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Yeoh, Elle Fanning, Jennifer Lawrence, Pamela Anderson, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Pedro Pascal, Nicholas Hoult and Jacob Elordi. Notably, he also dressed Bottega Veneta’s latest campaign stars. This list only covers announcements made between October and early December. The inclusion of several male stars in this list raises an intriguing question: Could Blazy extend the menswear offerings at Chanel? While the brand has traditionally limited this category to special occasions for Pharrell Williams and a few others, Blazy’s skills could open new possibilities in that area.
From this moment forward, the stage is set for an intriguing spectacle in the world of fashion. The Golden Globe Awards unfold on January 5th, followed by the Critics Choice Awards on January 12th, and Paris Fashion Week for the Spring 2025 haute-couture collections takes place between January 27th and 30th. The big question on everyone’s mind is when we’ll get our first glimpse of Blazy’s Chanel design, and whether it will grace a runway or adorn a Hollywood star. While the house ultimately decides the timing, the suspense surrounding this fashion appointment promises to be unprecedented compared to recent ones.
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2024-12-13 00:55