Chanel took over the iconic Raffles Hotel to stage Singapore’s biggest fashion event of the year: A replica of its Cruise 2026 show, which was first presented at the Villa d’Este in Lake Como earlier this year. The collection was about the glamour conjured by grand old hotels, and the kind of chic yet unfussy clothes that Coco Chanel used to wear to these places. In other words, even though the collection travelled halfway across the world, it looked right at home at the majestic Raffles. Many of the brand’s famous friends also flew in from all over the world for the show, including Hollywood star Tilda Swinton, British musician Raye, Chinese supermodel Liu Wen, and Thai actors Becky Armstrong, Baipor Thitiya and Gemini Norawait. They were joined by Singapore’s own Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin, Zoe Tay, Tan Kheng Hua and many others.
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From the lobby of the Raffles to its drawing rooms, courtyards, and even the hallways outside the bedrooms, the show unfolded throughout the entire hotel. The Cruise 2026 collection was one of the last ones designed by the creative studio team, and the team has always understood the codes of Chanel and why they resonate with so many women. In contrast to the old-world opulence of our surroundings, the clothes were fresh and modern. In fact, the lightness of the pieces made it seem as though they were designed specifically for the tropics.
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The show opened with a series of all-white looks, starting with a robe (which was entirely sequinned—what a delightful alternative to a little white dress!) and then segueing into flouncy little skirts and dresses, and tunics and sailor pants. Some of the pieces came delicately beaded at the hems, which added a subtle dimension of texture. Standouts in the early segment of the show included a striped rugby shirt worn with matching sweats, a boater hat and costume jewels—holiday dressing at its finest. There was a pale gold suit that would look fabulous whether it’s worn to brunch or cocktails. A matching three-piece set (cardigan, polo and miniskirt) in navy ribbed knit looked like a cooler, more casual take on the classic twinset.
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All throughout the collection, the studio team worked with effortless, pared-back silhouettes that were rich in detail. There were shift dresses with jewelled trimmings or in sparking tweed; white shirts with embroidered bibs; lace shorts and shirtdresses; tank tops in crochet; and camisoles embroidered with flowers at the neck and waist. For eveningwear, the designers upped the glamour but kept the lightness with swirling, floating dresses made of metallic lamé and lustrous taffeta. Cruise collections were originally conceived to provide clothes for winter sojourns to warmer climes. Chanel bringing its Cruise 2026 show to our sunny shores felt like the most charming and fitting expression of this spirit.