OUT OF THIS WORLD

Laura Craik reports from the front rows at Paris Fashion Week as a clutch of creative directors make dazzling debuts

- By Laura Craik

Every Paris Fashion Week is special, but this season's was even more so, due to the number of creative directors making their debuts.

One of the most anticipated was Matthieu Blazy at Chanel - not just because it is one of the world's most storied and commercially successful luxury brands, but because it had only been helmed by three designers in its 115-year history before now.

One of these was its founder, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, while another was Karl Lagerfeld, the prolific genius who was in charge for 36 years until his death in 2019. No pressure, then.

Happily, Matthieu, 41, delivered. He also delivered an extremely high-wattage front row. Making her first public appearance since the shock announcement that she and her husband, the country singer Keith Urban, plan to divorce, Nicole Kidman, 58, looked relaxed, happy and very dressed down in an oversized white shirt and jeans.

She was joined by the couple's daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, who also kept things casual in denim.

PERFECT MATCH

Nicole’s marriage may have broken down, but she recently renewed her vows with Chanel, having been announced as one of the brand’s house ambassadors - a position the actress last held in 2003, when she was the face of the Chanel No 5 fragrance.

Also on hand to support Matthieu were longstanding brand ambassadors Vanessa Paradis and her daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, as well as the actresses Penélope Cruz, Tilda Swinton, Marion Cotillard and Margot Robbie, casual in a dark denim ensemble teamed with a denim bralet.