Chanel’s Fall/Winter Collection Summons the Whimsy and Romance of Jean-Honoré Fragonard

A legend of the Rococo period, Jean-Honoré Fragonard painted works acclaimed for their unbridled romance, frivolity, and eroticism, such as The Swing (1767–68), which portrays a young woman aloft between two men—presumed to be her elderly husband and young lover—her ruffled dress billowing and slipper flinging into the air with delightful abandon.

In one of the final runway shows before the first collection by new creative director Matthieu Blazy debuts in October, Chanel adhered to the iconic motifs that have defined the house for the past 115 years, presenting layers of tweed, oversize pearls, and the ever-elegant ribbon, as seen in this ballet-pink dress and shawl made of mohair and silk.

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2025 Summer Issue in the section “Life Imitates Art.” Subscribe to the magazine.