Et Voi-Lah! 8 BAZAAR Editors Share Their Thoughts On The Chanel Cruise 2025/26 Show In Singapore

The Chanel cruise 2025/26 show made a dazzling stop in Singapore on 4 November 2025, transforming the historic Raffles Hotel into a vision of Southeast Asia-meets-French-Riviera glamour reimagined for the tropics. It was yet another win for Chanel, and for the city state; as the show came after more than 10 years since the late Karl Lagerfeld made our sunny shores as the inspiration and location to debut the brand’s cruise 2013/14 collection. First unveiled earlier this year at the storied Villa d’Este on Lake Como, the Chanel cruise 2025/26 collection’s showing in Singapore carried forward the same spirit of relaxed sophistication, now infused with the energy and cosmopolitan allure of our island nation.

The House’s timeless codes and forward-thinking spirit were celebrated throughout the string of events that took place throughout the day. It started in the morning with the Chanel Talk with Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel fashion activities, and panelists including Tilda Swinton, Chanel’s global ambassador for arts and culture. The speakers offered valuable insights to the 420 attendees, including selected students, academics and other fashion hopefuls from various design institutes and business schools in Singapore, like the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), LASALLE College of the Arts, ESSEC Business School and INSEAD.

Related article: Becky Armstrong, Tilda Swinton, Raye And More Stars Charmed At The Chanel Cruise 2025/26 Show In Singapore

“Chanel is in the business of selling emotion, which is harder than just selling products,” said Mr Pavlovsky, before reiterating the importance of Singapore as a hub in the region. The enigmatic Swinton, meanwhile, expounded more on Chanel’s house codes and how the House’s founder, Gabrielle Chanel, was truly a modern thinker and a visionary. Swinton gave the example of how tweed was a utilitarian textile and worn in her native Scotland for its durability and all-encompassing nature. These were qualities Mademoiselle Chanel fully understood, and she cleverly incorporated the material even at the beginning stage of the house—way before everybody else in the industry caught wind of it—and it has managed to be constantly reinvented by her successors. Swinton then praised Matthieu Blazy, Chanel’s new artistic director, for his extensive research on the house codes. “He is digging so deep into the codes to bring Chanel into the 22nd century,” she exclaimed.

One thing that both Mr Pavlovsky and Ms Swinton touched on was the topic of teamwork. She brought some examples from her illustrious catalogue, her collaborations with many talented directors and movie makers, before ending with the point about ‘fellowship’, of how artists should function in a collective way. It was a sentiment shared by Mr Pavlovsky, who closed the morning with a very astute statement—of how it’s never just about one creative director, but more about the team and a lot of other people’s contribution in the team.

Related article: From Lake Como To Singapore: Chanel Cruise 2025/26 Collection

The Show That Took a Village

Chanel did two showings of the collection, each unfolding in an intimate “theatre-style” setting where models wove between tables and lounge seating in the hotel’s courtyard, blurring the line between runway and soirée. The atmosphere was cinematic yet informal—guests sipped champagne as looks in tweed, silk, and chiffon floated past beneath palm-framed arches and Singapore’s balmy night sky.

The collection itself was a masterclass in adapting classic Chanel elements for warm-weather living. Tweeds in coral, mint, and ivory were presented for the tropics imbued with Parisian polish. There were sailor stripes and nautical motifs, raffia bags, and crochet accents, all evoking the spirit of a chic equatorial holiday. Sequinned mini-dresses, lamé capes, and evening pieces in shimmering silver and blush pink added touches of Old Hollywood glamour, proving that resort wear can be both effortless and extravagant. Accessories played a crucial role: oversized sunglasses, platform sandals, and pearl-studded jewellery offered playful nods to the brand’s heritage while embracing a sense of fun and freedom. The Singapore show distilled what Cruise collections do best—capture the dream of travel, ease, and timeless style—while proving that the language of Chanel, from Paris to Singapore, remains universal.

Chanel showing in Singapore left many guests with many memorable moments, including the Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore team. Ahead, their personal takes:

Kenneth Goh, Editor-in-Chief

“From the shores of Lake Como to the stately halls of Raffles Hotel in Singapore, Chanel’s cruise 2025/26 show found its way home—in a way only equatorial Singapore could. I had first seen the collection back in April at the legendary Villa d’Este, where the setting felt cinematic, almost unreal. But last night, seated in a wicker chair under the soft glow of the setting sun along the marble verandah, the same clothes breathed a different kind of life. Here, in the balmy heat of the tropics, the bubblegum-pink swimsuits and cotton knits felt instantly wearable, like poolside essentials for a well-heeled afternoon. The stacked platforms? Every socialite in attendance was mentally claiming a pair. The tiny quilted bags, swinging from the models’ hands, were practically extensions of the crowd’s own wish lists.

And maybe that’s the magic—when a collection crosses continents and suddenly becomes personal. After 12 years, Chanel’s return to Singapore wasn’t just a spectacle; it was a reconnection. A moment for Southeast Asia to see, touch and feel Parisian chic in its own sultry light. As the last model glided past the courtyard palms, it felt almost poetic. Chanel, quite significantly, had balik kampung.”

Related article: Chanel Cruise 2025/2026 Brought Cinematic Romance To Lake Como

Annabelle Fernandez, Digital Director

“Twelve years ago, as a young fashion editor, I attended my first Chanel show in Singapore. It was the launch of the Chanel cruise 2013/14 collection, with Singapore as both the inspiration and show location. I remember the palpable sense of excitement in the air, and the sense that this was history in the making.

History was made again yesterday, when Chanel brought its cruise 2025/26 show to Singapore. And how lucky I felt to be part of the festivities once again—to shoot Becky Armstrong for a BAZAAR-exclusive video (stay tuned for the video, coming soon); to witness models walking the halls of Raffles Hotel in wanderlust-worthy outfits, Tilda Swinton gliding around in her gold ensemble, Zoe Tay photobombing our team BAZAAR wefie, and Raye performing to a crowd who could sing along to every song; to savour the most delectable morsels from a menu curated by chef Andre Chiang, and the most delightful drinks, of which the soursop-calamansi-sencha-clarified-with-milk concoction will be in my mind for a long time to come… along with all the memories of that wonderfully balmy night, as the grande dame of Singapore played host to the grande dame of fashion.” 

Renee Batchelor, Deputy Editor

“This is only the third Chanel show that I’ve had the pleasure of attending in my life. The previous ones were an haute couture show in Paris and a Metiers d’Art show in Tokyo. What I love about Chanel shows is that they really capture the essence and the spirit of the city they are being held in. This time, the grand ole dame of the city, the Raffles Hotel, was a very fitting centrepiece for the cruise collection as that balmy, relaxed vibe (palm trees swaying in the background) really captured that resort feel. The clothes felt relatable for our weather and our city—think lighter tweeds, breezy separates and bright colours—and I loved how there was greater size inclusivity with some of the models, showing how the collection could be worn and appreciated by everyone.

As for the after party, the highlights for me were the putu piring offered at the live stations (what a treat!) and seeing the divinely talented Raye perform in front of the grand, sweeping staircases of the Raffles Hotel. There was an old-world charm to that moment, like a jazz chanteuse capturing the audience purely with her stunning voice. It was for me, a magical moment to cap off the day that felt like a true celebration of the vitality and life of the city.”

Nicole Ng, Content Producer

“As a lifelong fashion lover (that being 24 years), having Chanel be my first-ever fashion show was a big honour, and watching it in real life really is a whole different experience. As I realised at a previous Chanel showcase in July, the beauty of Chanel is best seen in the details and every look—from the blue look with the headscarf to the final white dress—looked that much more radiant when I saw it at the Raffles Hotel on Tuesday. Not to forget the fact that I witnessed THEE mother and fashion icon Tilda Swinton as well.”

Gracia Phang, Style Editor

“After having shot the collection in Lake Como a month ago, seeing the Chanel cruise 2025/26 collection as a runway show on home ground felt a lot more personal and magical. I found myself unknowingly spotting looks from the shoot and going, “Oh, i know that one. I know how that look works”. The pieces felt at home in Singapore and made for people of the tropics—it was amplified seeing the models walk through Raffles Hotel in our climate. The soft silks, the lightweight tweed, bodysuits: the collection was home.”

Aaron Kok, Fashion Editor

“The last time Chanel brought its show to Singapore in 2013, I was fresh out of national service, and I remember lapping up all of the beautiful designs and all of my fashion heroes who were in town, with a mixture of marvel, awe and envious desire. Last night, to be able to witness the cruise 2025/26 collection was a real moment of joy. The fabulous embroidery dancing in our tropical light, the glorious shades of bougainvillea, lilac and periwinkle, and the gossamer dresses that seemed to float down the colonial hallways of the Raffles Hotel were stunning to behold in person. And as the moon rose along with Raye on stage, crooning unplugged renditions of her hits, I will always look back at this night as one of those rare, glimmering bookmarks in life, and that for one night, everything shimmered.”

Windy Aulia, Creative Director

“I’ve been lucky enough to attend both historical Chanel shows in Singapore—and, of course, many other Chanel shows and events in between—and I can safely say that Chanel always does things especially exceptional. From the morning Chanel Talk with Bruno Pavlovsky and Tilda Swinton, which was informative and deeply encouraging, to the show and the after-party, everything was highly coordinated and amazingly executed, from the difficulties of arranging transfers for hundreds of guests to and from the venue throughout the string of events, to the surprise acoustic performance by Raye and the delectable canapés prepared by Chef Andre Chiang’s talented team. It was all *chefskiss*.”

Brandon Chia, Content Producer

“I can still remember the buzz of the Chanel cruise 2013/14 show at Dempsey—I should have been studying harder for my O-levels, but as a fashion lover, I just had to lock in on that major moment for Singapore. Fast forward to the 2025/26 replica, I couldn’t help but feel lucky to not only attend the show but also follow its brand ambassador, Becky Armstrong, from her hotel to her front-row seat. From introducing our beloved local snack, iced gems, and riding the same buggy to her hotel lobby to watching the models strut through the halls of such a historical venue, it is safe to say I will be remembering this hallmark event till Chanel’s next big moment in Singapore—hopefully sooner than 13 years, of course.”