FAREWELLS, FIRSTS, AND FANTASIES

From bioluminescent dreams to poetic decay, even the grandest visions at Paris Haute Couture Fall 2025 seemed conceived for everyday life.

- By SHARON TULASIDAS

CHANEL

There are some couture shows that demand attention, but Chanel Fall/Winter 2025 drew us right in like a secret.

Instead of the cavernous main hall of the Grand Palais, the house chose a more discreet setting above—an intimate salon that recalled 31 Rue Cambon, where clients have long slipped in quietly for fittings. More seance than spectacle, it was a hushed, intimate experience filled with whispers of silk and reflections in mirrored light.

Wheat, Mademoiselle’s talisman of prosperity, was evident throughout: embroidered on jackets, beaded into lapels, and gathered in the arms of the finale bride like a sacred harvest. Tweeds softened into gentle silhouettes, silks floated beneath sheer tulles, and pearlescent buttons glinted like heirlooms—all moving with the quiet confidence of whispered house codes.

There was a surprise at ground level, too. Sturdy highland boots anchored delicate dresses, giving a “heiress gone to the Highlands” vibe—a collision of rustic tradition and Parisian elegance.

This was also the Fashion Creation Studio's final couture showcase before Matthieu Blazy’s debut in October. As much a bow as it was a finale, it acknowledged the steady hands that had carried the house between chapters, and the silence before its next voice could be heard.

BALENCIAGA