CHANEL Cruise 2025/26: Ode to Italian Glamour

CHANEL’s Cruise 2025/26 collection casts its gaze across the waters of Lake Como, finding inspiration in the sunlit corridors and cinematic history of the Villa d’Este. Nestled among magnolias and marble staircases, this Renaissance-era palace becomes the collection’s emotional anchor: a symbol of escape, beauty, and the quiet luxury of dressing without rush.

From the very first look, the CHANEL Creation Studio delivers a sense of leisurely sophistication. Short flounced taffeta ball gowns in soft shades of peach, lake blue and pink evoke morning reflections on the water. These dreamy silhouettes are complemented by ochre- and terracotta-hued tweeds that mirror the villa’s sun-washed tones.

There is movement in the garments that feels unforced but deliberate. Sequinned evening pyjamas, glittering black blouses paired with flared trousers, and lamé jumpsuits signal a shift toward dance-inspired sensuality. Whether through a cape trailing behind or a sleeve glinting with rhinestones, the CHANEL woman here is constantly in motion—confident, playful, and utterly poised.

In line with the Cruise tradition, nautical references reappear with white pea coats, striped jerseys, and relaxed trousers in strawberry ice cream shades. Accessories act like souvenirs from a glamorous stay: oversized sunglasses, silk foulards tied just so, and patent leather mules that transition from terrace to twilight.

But it is the floral language of the Villa’s gardens that lends the collection its poetic thread. Lacework mirrors the natural curves of camellias and wisteria, while chiffon petals bloom on suits and skirt sets. These quiet details bloom softly within a collection otherwise anchored in architectural elegance.

If past CHANEL Cruise collections flirted with wanderlust, this one settles into it. There is no rush to leave, no urgent itinerary. Just the pleasure of dressing for the beauty of the moment, in a place where time slows, and glamour lingers like the light off the lake.