Chanel has made Australian history. On Thursday, 5 November 2026, the French house restaged creative director Matthieu Blazy’s debut Cruise (resort) collection for the brand in Sydney, in the harbourside precinct of Barangaroo. This second presentation of the collection, first shown in April in Biarritz, France, was also Chanel’s first-ever runway show in Australia. The Australian press hailed a luxury house staging a show of this scale in the country as a turning point for the local fashion scene.
Two shows at Barangaroo
According to Marie Claire Australia, the show took place at The Cutaway, a cultural events venue set beneath Barangaroo Reserve. The collection was presented twice on the same day, once in the afternoon and again in the evening. The name Barangaroo honours the area’s Aboriginal heritage and an influential female leader of the Cammeraygal people; RUSSH magazine wrote that this historic connection also played a part in the choice of venue.
The set largely followed in the footsteps of April’s Biarritz show. As RUSSH described it, the rooms were laid with soft beige carpets evoking sand, while the walls were lined with mirrors, so that the collection’s iridescent pieces multiplied in the reflections before the audience. Marie Claire Australia noted that works by an Australian ceramic artist also featured on stage, and that the venue’s sandstone wall became part of the set.
A collection inspired by the seaside
Blazy’s Cruise collection is filled with motifs drawn from the world of the beach and the sea. Chief among the standout pieces in the reviews were retro swim-cap-style hats with fin-like appendages. These caps are read as a nod to the costumes Gabrielle Chanel designed for the ballet Le Train Bleu, staged in 1924. A red dress cut to resemble coral was one of the looks both sources highlighted most.
Frames from Chanel's Cruise 2026/27 show in Sydney
Elsewhere in the collection, sailor-striped tops, jackets with seashell details, shimmering beaded evening looks and Blazy’s “barefoot”-effect sandals caught the eye. Loose cuts, light fabrics and a relaxed attitude set the overall mood. Marie Claire Australia also noted that the runway featured pieces easily adapted to everyday life, such as a workwear jacket in ribbed cotton and striped cotton sweaters.
Julia Nobis opens, Australian faces on the runway
Australian model Julia Nobis opened the show in a low-waisted black dress. The runway brought together models from different generations of the country, among them First Nations models Latahlia Hickling, Tarlisa Gaykamangu and Cindy Rostron. In the front row sat the house’s ambassadors Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman, alongside singer Kylie Minogue.
Guests at Chanel's Sydney show: Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue
Why it matters
Major fashion houses taking their Cruise shows to a different city each year is by now a well-established tradition. What Chanel did in Sydney, however, was not to unveil a new collection but to restage an existing one on another continent. This “replica” show model is emerging as a way for brands to connect directly with growing markets and to extend the life of a single collection. The inclusion of Australian models and local artists also gave the event the feel of a local celebration rather than merely a tour stop.
Seen from Turkey, the picture is intriguing too: international fashion houses moving their major presentations beyond Paris, Milan and New York opens a door of opportunity for cities like İstanbul as well. The city’s historic venues and strong manufacturing base could make it an attractive stage for similar events. Those who want to follow the season’s other key fashion gatherings can take a look at our fashion week calendar guide, while those who dream of walking the runway can check out our guide to what it takes to become a model.
Sources
- Marie Claire Australia: Chanel’s Resort 2027 show in Sydney
- RUSSH: Chanel Cruise 2026/27 Sydney show
- The Zoe Report: Chanel Cruise 2026/27 replica show
Image: Barangaroo Reserve and the city skyline from Sydney Harbour (representative image) — Rob Deutscher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
