All aboard Chanel’s underground train.
The French brand’s new artistic director Matthieu Blazy unveiled his 2026 Métiers d’Art Show in an abandoned Lower Manhattan subway station Dec. 3, and the guest list flocked to the location in a New York minute.
As several models strutted in front of a stationed train, celebrities such as Solange, Dapper Dan, Linda Evangelista, Kristen Stewart, Tilda Swinton, Bowen Yang, Teyana Taylor, Riley Keough, Meg Ryan, Jon Bon Jovi and more watched on from the front row. Plus, the house’s new ambassadors A$AP Rocky and Margaret Qualley—who both starred in Chanel’s latest short film for the show—as well as Ayo Edebiri appeared in the audience, all sporting different hues of vintage plaid, leather and cinched dress coats.
Indeed, Matthieu wanted this show to capture New York’s cultural diversity.
“This collection is very character-driven,” he explained in an interview that was printed in Chanel’s newspaper invitation, per W Magazine. “We have a journalist from the ’70s, we have the ’80s businesswoman who’s going to rule the world. And all those kinds of characters, they also have embroideries, but it needs to somehow match them. It needs to create an alchemy.”
With that in mind, the designer—who joined Chanel last December—realized the city’s busy transit system was a perfect place to see people’s different approach to style.
“The other thing that I found amazing about New York, I think it’s one of the unique cities in the world,” he continued. “When you take the subway, you truly never know who you’re going to meet.”
In fact, Margaret enjoyed seeing this location as a fashion backdrop.
“I’ve been on the subway many times but I’ve never seen it like this,” The Substance actor told WWD after the show. “It was so glamorous, so New York and gorgeous.”
Emily Ratajkowski echoed the sentiment, noting the runway reminded her of all her inner personas.
“I take the subway a decent amount and it was my fantasy of every outfit and every rendition of a woman that I am — sometimes I’m a mom, sometimes I’m fabulous in a ballgown, and I’m on the subway,” the model also told the publication. “I’m inspired to go home and try to copy the looks that were in it.”
As for the main Chanel look from the event that’s dominating her fashion moodboard?
“The translucent raincoat with the sequin cheetah underneath,” she explained. “I loved the patterns and color."