Blazy Crazy
Rave reviews and ravenous fans, Blazy’s Chanel has hypnotized everyone from collectors to critics alike. Blazymania is very real, and the appetite for his designs is insatiable. But who is this sartorial genius, and how exactly did he get here?
The Man Behind the Madness
Before unleashing handbag hysteria on the masses, Matthieu Blazy was a promising yet anonymous young talent at Maison Margiela. At the time, Margiela’s in-house designers remained nameless, but Blazy’s talent was too brilliant to keep under wraps. The French-Belgian designer was discovered by Vogue’s Suzy Menkes and “unmasked” as the creative force behind Margiela’s ready-to-wear line and the iconic crystal-studded Margiela mask Ye donned for his 2013 Yeezus tour. From there, it was only up. Matthieu took flight, landing Senior Designer at Celine, Design Director at Calvin Klein, and eventually Creative Director at Bottega Veneta, where he created the irresistible Andiamo.
Following his massive success at Bottega Veneta, Chanel tapped Blazy to revitalize the historic house after then-creative director Virginie Viard's sudden departure left Chanel a shell of its former, lustrous self. Blazy stepped in as Artistic Director in December 2024 and blew the fashion world away with his debut Spring/Summer 2026 ready-to-wear collection in October 2025.
Like that, the spark was lit. He set the brand ablaze, igniting a Chanel fever that has shown no signs of cooling. One year later, following his return to the Grand Palais for Paris Fashion Week, the house is still hotter than ever.
In Conversation with Coco
“The women within a woman” was the inspiration behind Blazy’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection at the Grand Palais. And the woman in question? None other than Gabrielle Chanel herself. His most recent show put a spotlight on the many faces of Coco, celebrating every version of her. It was an ode to the complex identity shifts a woman can embody, and all the pieces she uses to costume said aspects. While the show departed from many of the house codes, it did so by reinventing them and offering audiences a revolutionary reinterpretation of the classics. It’s safe to say that under Matthieu Blazy, Chanel has found her wings once again.
Haute Tip: Matthieu Blazy is deeply influenced by the Chanel archives, and his old-school handbag muses tend to come with smaller price tags. Did you know that you can shop archival Chanel accessories at FASHIONPHILE? Add a piece of Chanel fashion history to your closet.
Cure Yourself with FASHIONPHILE
Bitten by the Blazy bug? We don’t blame you. FASHIONPHILE offers you a front-row seat to all his wonders, so you don’t have to wait (or wait in line at Chanel). Shop Chanel by Matthieu Blazy now.
