BeautyRival – Chanel is preparing for a bold new chapter with Matthieu Blazy’s highly awaited debut as creative director. Yet before the curtain rises on fashion week, the house reaffirmed its cultural roots by supporting the Paris Opera Ballet.
The evening unfolded at the Palais Garnier, where guests enjoyed the timeless Romantic ballet Giselle starring Germain Louvet and Sae Eun Park. The gala also introduced a modern touch with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Requiem for a Rose, blending classic and contemporary art.
French actress and Chanel ambassador Anamaria Vartolomei called the night “poetic.” She praised the richness of the set and costumes, and admired the generosity of the dancers. “The first act felt like a Disney movie,” she said, clearly enchanted by the performance.
The gala went beyond culture—it also raised €1.5 million for the Paris Opera Ballet. Sponsored by Rolex, the event strengthened efforts to preserve one of France’s most iconic institutions.
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This was Chanel’s 11th year of supporting the Opera gala since their partnership began in 2018. The house also funds the Opera’s Junior Ballet, helps restore historic venues, and creates custom costumes through ateliers Lesage and Lemarié.
Étoile dancers appeared in tutus and tiaras adorned with Chanel’s white satin camellias, first designed in 2021. For Vartolomei, such details showed Chanel’s true spirit: elegance achieved through intelligence, generosity, and devotion to beauty.
The event gathered a wide mix of cultural figures. Nina Ricci’s Harris Reed, curator Sarah Andelman, and model Ashley Graham joined the celebration. Belgian pop star Angèle, actress Amira Casar, model Alton Mason, and Charlotte Casiraghi also attended. Guests later enjoyed a seated dinner in the Grand Foyer with dishes by chefs Antoine Villard, Hanz Gueco, and Zélikha Dinga, paired with Taittinger Champagne.
Ashley Graham, who attended her first Parisian ballet, said she was “blown away.” She recently ended her Broadway run as Roxie Hart in Chicago, and though she loved the evening, she admitted she would miss the Nina Ricci show due to commitments in New York.
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While the evening celebrated tradition, the fashion world’s attention is now shifting to Matthieu Blazy. Vartolomei, who has worked with Chanel since the age of 12, said she is eager to see his debut. “He’s mysterious. I want to know his references, his inspirations, and how he imagines the Chanel woman,” she said.
Opera director general Alexander Neef captured the spirit of the night: “Dance, like music, transcends differences. It reminds us that beauty, collective effort, and sharing can still uplift us.”
For Chanel, the message was clear. Fashion will continue to evolve, but its heart remains tied to culture, artistry, and timeless elegance.
