Chanel celebrated the 110th anniversary of its haute couture collections with a special show for fall 2025, held not in the Grand Palais’s usual Grand Nave but in the more intimate Salon d’Honneur. This change offered a fresh perspective on the brand’s legacy, bringing the focus on the history and artistry behind the designs. The event, featuring Sofia Coppola Chanel Couture Celebration as its key theme, highlighted the enduring magic of Chanel’s presentations, a tradition dating back to Karl Lagerfeld’s groundbreaking runway shows at the Grand Palais since 2005.
A Historic Setting Inspired by Chanel’s Iconic Paris Salons
Upon arrival, guests were guided to an upstairs gallery where the ambiance reflected the famed Art Deco haute couture salons at 31 rue Cambon. These salons were where Gabrielle Chanel showcased her collections between 1918 and 1970. Designed by Willo Perron, the set paid precise homage to this legendary space, complete with baroque gold details, beige curtains, and sofas reminiscent of the early 1960s. The design captured a moment in fashion history so vividly that guests might have imagined iconic figures like Anouk Aimée or Marie-Hélène de Rothschild seated nearby, enhancing the atmosphere of timeless elegance.
Sofia Coppola’s Personal Connection and Curatorial Vision
Sofia Coppola, who began her relationship with Chanel as a teenager interning at the Paris studio, brought a deeply personal and creative touch to the anniversary. She curated a special book accompanying the celebration, revealing an approach to couture that moved beyond traditional museum displays. Coppola’s edit emphasized how Chanel’s garments live through the women who wear them, weaving together hundreds of society portraits, editorial photos, and fashion illustrations, including contributions from photographers like Zoe Ghertner and Inez & Vinoodh.
“I thought, oh, I’d love to put together images of how they’re worn in life and who are the women that wear them,”
—Sofia Coppola, Filmmaker
“I … also [wanted to] look at the codes of Chanel, which I love, throughout the years that you can identify with: a bow or a camelia or certain colors and the tweed.”
—Sofia Coppola, Filmmaker
Timeless Fashion Codes Reflected in the Fall 2025 Collection
The Chanel fall 2025 couture line presented by the in-house studio team showcased many of the house’s classical codes, particularly its iconic tweed fabric rendered in soft autumnal colors such as ecru, ivory, brown, green, and plum. The collection balanced mid-century styles with contemporary touches, featuring both knee-length skirt suits and trendy combinations like maxi skirts paired with cropped jackets, leaving just the top button fastened to reveal a subtle glimpse of skin. Designers also played creatively with texture, fusing tweed with feathers to imitate fur, and using bouclé tweed fashioned to resemble sheepskin, demonstrating an inventive reinterpretation of traditional materials.
Symbolism and Inspirations from Gabrielle Chanel’s Legacy
Golden wheat sheaves, a cherished motif of Gabrielle Chanel and seen in the legs of Robert Goossens’s famous side table in her private apartment, featured prominently on delicate embroideries and embellishments like jewel-like buttons. Coppola fondly recalls some of her favorite couture moments, including fittings attended by Inès de La Fressange and Veronica Webb, who mixed Chanel jackets with ripped jeans, embodying effortless yet sophisticated style. Although denim did not appear in this collection, the grounded feeling was emphasized by pairing every look with flat knee-high or over-the-knee boots, drawing on Mademoiselle Chanel’s fondness for the British countryside.
The Enduring Impact of the 110th Anniversary Celebration
By revisiting Chanel’s roots with inspiration from its original salons and embodying the brand’s signature codes in contemporary designs, the house honored its history while looking forward. Sofia Coppola’s involvement as a long-time collaborator and creative editor added emotional depth and authenticity to the celebration. The special book and the fall 2025 collection underscore how Chanel continues to inspire and evolve, shaping the future of haute couture with a respectful nod to its storied past. This event not only marked a milestone anniversary but also set the tone for the maison’s ongoing narrative of elegance, innovation, and cultural relevance.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Sofia Coppola a Nepo baby?
A. Even though Sofia Coppola is the daughter of famous filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, she has moved beyond the “nepo baby” tag.
She has developed a unique and recognizable style in the film industry entirely on her own.
Q. One of these projects was Sofia Coppola’s 2003 rom-com/drama Lost in Translation. While the film is responsible for taking her acting career to great heights, Scarlett Johansson had a tough time working on the movie. Why? Well, for starters, she was only seventeen and away from home.
A. How old is Scarlett Johansson in the movie Lost in Translation?
In the film “Lost in Translation,” Scarlett Johansson was 18 years old.
Q. Is Sofia Coppola a Nepo?
A. Although she is the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, a prominent Hollywood figure, she has moved beyond the “nepo baby” tag. She has developed a unique filmmaking style that clearly stands out.
Q. Why was Sofia Coppola criticized?
A. People said Coppola’s acting in the movie was awkward and not believable. Although issues with nepotism in movies are real, singling out Sofia Coppola seemed unfair. Many actors have had help from family ties in Hollywood for a long time.
