The weather might be cooling down in the Southern Hemisphere, but the Chanel Cruise 2025 collection has us dreaming of warmer days.
Set on the rooftop of the Cite Radieuse, a historic apartment building in the French coastal city of Marseille, sun-drenched days were on the agenda for creative director Virginie Viard’s latest collection.
The runway opened with a playful take on the iconic Chanel tweed suit, reimagined in vibrant aniseed green, and with the collar of what looked to be a grey sweatshirt peering out from underneath – the perfect laid-back throw on for when summer days turn into balmy afternoons. This first look also introduced a key shoe for the Cruise collection: ballet flats resembling water shoes, crafted from thick scuba-like material.
This holiday-inspired wardrobe ventured into swimwear, with a variety of athletically-cut one pieces, some fitted with diving hoods, following suit. “I was inspired by the codes of lifestyle, of everyday life and by all the things that invite movement,” Viard explained in the show notes.
And for when the bar beckons after a day of sun lounging, there were summer-ready throw overs abound, from chunky fisherman knits to side-opening dresses, expertly paired with terry towelling platform flip flops.
Viard also paid tribute to the rich history of Marseille – the oldest city in France – and its vibrant present-day cultural scene, with dainty lace dresses and eclectic jewellery akin to the kinds of pieces she recalls being sold in markets growing up in the south of France.
“Marseille is a city that puts me in touch with my emotions,” Viard wrote in the show notes. “I tried to capture its power of attraction, its breath of fresh air, and to convey the energy that reigns there.”
And before the runway began, A-list attendees (including Lily Rose Depp, Phoebe Tonkin, and Sadie Sink), were invited to wander the Cite Radieuse, and its spirited offering of boutiques and business, from vintage furniture stores to bookshops.
