PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANEL
Matthieu Blazy’s debut Métiers d’Art collection for Chanel, first staged in a decommissioned New York subway station and later recreated in Seoul, finally arrives in boutiques. Shot by Craig McDean against the Big Apple’s unfiltered energy, the campaign suggests that a bag is often the ultimate opening line. And these four certainly say it louder than most.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANEL
Of all the ways to pay tribute to Central Park, sending a squirrel down the runway is one nobody expected. Yet it proves impossible to forget. The Mini Flap Bag in dark khaki lambskin features gold-tone metallic limbs and a sculptural head, while a voluminous shearling tail extends across the strap. The lozenge quilting, CC turn-lock and leather-interlaced chain remain unmistakably Chanel. The squirrel, however, is pure whimsy and wonderfully eccentric.
Continuing the urban jungle theme of #CHANELMetiersdArt, the giraffe bag deserves equal attention. Rendered in dark burgundy lambskin, its metal head protrudes from one side, while a tasselled tail swishes from the other. Four metal feet allow the bag to stand upright, transforming this giraffe into a miniature object of art. Photographed against the New York skyline, with the Empire State Building in view, it feels both surreal and perfectly at home.
Then comes the Gatsby era-esque Flap Bag, a piece designed around movement. It features an ecru leather base, dense embellishments of cascading glass and crystal-beaded fringe in silver, black and tonal white. Together, they form a playful poodle motif across the surface. When craftsmanship reaches this level, motion becomes part of the design itself. Pair it with a feathered evening coat, or simply let it elevate an understated LBD.
Finally, Chanel offers its ode to the Big Apple in minaudière form. Lacquered red with a green enamel leaf and CC clasp, it measures 16 cm by 10 cm. That’s just enough room for cards, keys and perhaps a pair of AirPods, but gold-tone hardware lends it the presence of a downtown art object. While the #CHANELMetiersdArt runway version featured an extended metallic branch, the retail edition feels more refined. Carry the Apple Minaudière by its green leather-interlaced chain, or simply cradle it in hand.
