Chanel Cruise 2024-2025 Fashion Show: A Journalist’s Unforgettable Experience in Marseille

The Chanel Cruise 2024-2025 fashion show was held on Thursday May 2 in Marseille, at Le Corbusier. An unprecedented event for the town, but also for our journalist.

A few days ago, I learned that I was going to be able to attend my first fashion show. That I was one of the 300 hand-picked guests to discover the new Chanel 2024-2025 Cruise collection. Chanel. The prestigious Maison Coco Chanel. Here, in Marseille, for the first time in its history. The parade was held last Thursday, May 2, in the Radiant City.

I have always loved fashion because in my opinion, beautiful clothes on yourself or someone you see can make you happy. In any case, it makes me happy. I’ve been reading the fashion magazines for years, I follow a bunch of influencers, and spend a lot of time on Pinterest and Instagram. But I never had the opportunity to combine this passion and my work. Until today.

With France 3 Provence-Alpes, I take you with me on this surreal day.

At first I had trouble understanding it. But things became more difficult when a messenger delivered my invitation. A medium-sized black cardboard bag, decorated with a white paper camellia flower. Inside: the famous invitation, but also a nice nod from the Fashion House in Marseille: black pétanque balls, engraved with the iconic CC logo. symbol, recognition for the second city in France.

So I was invited on May 2nd to the fashion show at the Cité Radieuse, at 4pm, for the second show. Due to the popularity of the venue, Chanel organized two identical shows on the same date. And very soon, the D-day will come. A lot of seemingly future questions go through my mind. How do you dress for a Chanel show? Or rather: how to dress for a Chanel show when you don’t have Chanel in your wardrobe? What do we do before the parade? Will someone take me to my seat like in the theater? Who greeted him? Should you laugh? How do you appear comfortable? Or rather: how can you blend in when you don’t know this environment?

The morning of the show, I looked to the source for inspiration: Gabrielle Chanel. In an interview given in 1959, Coco said this: “Women are always dressed”. So, I focused on simplicity. My favorite black suede ballerinas, almost flat. Uniform shorts and a transparent black top. Tights, of course. Because I did not deal with one of the essential elements of this day, the element that gives the parade an unexpected flavor.

Eleven steps felt 8, rain, wind. One of the worst days of the year, no exaggeration (slightly). Bad weather is expected for several days, of course. But in Marseille, the weather is not always very reliable, everyone knows, maybe not Chanel too. I find myself updating the Météo-France application every hour. Just like it was my planned wedding. But I decide to go to the show, a cashmere sweater over the little transparent top, and an umbrella to complete the outfit.

The first show of the day, at 11am, was held against all odds on Le Corbusier’s roof, at MAMO, the Cité Radieuse art centre. The first images went out on the networks, videos shared by lucky people on the site. For a few seconds I see the disheveled hair of the guests, the models with light dresses in the rain. Lily-Rose Depp, SCH, Charlotte Casiraghi… But I don’t want to see more. I don’t want to spoil my first time, my surprise.

When I get to Le Corbusier, I seem to have thought. Big cars with tinted windows arrive in single file in front of the building, on Boulevard Michelet. The guests come out, and are greeted by very smiling people who guide them towards the building. About thirty people were fighting the elements and waiting in front of obstacles, hoping to meet the stars.

I show my invitation, give my name. By magic, the man in the suit laughs at me and I am indeed one of the guests at his table. It’s not magic, I got my invitation in the big cardboard bag. I know that, but I usually live on the other side of the fences. And then everything will be easy.

Umbrellas are blown away by the wind, blowing dryness has difficulty resisting. Then finally, after a second, and a third identity check, we enter the Maison du Fada, under cover. Another man with a smile shows me my place. “G4, 4th floor”. Finally Chanel gave up her second show on the roof, outside. So the parade takes place between the 3rd and 4th floor, in the corridors of the Cité Radieuse. I am not disappointed, because I am cold, and the modern architecture of Le Corbusier offers a pleasant setting for Chanel.

So I find myself alone, a little lost, looking for my name on the benches. I think of my lover, who, this morning, in response to my fear of not knowing anyone, announced: “As long as you don’t do that Peter Sellers in The Partyeverything is fine”. Here I am encouraged. I finally found my place, and, by chance, I met a colleague from a national television channel. She is positioned right next to me. Link, a similar one in this flood of celebrities and VIPs with extravagant clothes and light heels. I am saved.

Together, we will see the famous people and manage to find the names of their faces “that tells us something”. It will ultimately be the defining game of my years Gala I made two or three comments. Marion Cotillard, Lina Khoudri, Akenaton, Pablo Longoria, Caroline de Maigret, Sadie Sink, Anna Mouglalis, Kungs, Sebastien Tellier, Pedro Winter… out with a very smiling waiter. I look everywhere, my attention is highest, I try to capture the essence of this moment.

After an hour or so of carefully hunting the stars, it’s time for the parade. We end up forgetting that all these people are gathered to find a fashion collection. There is so much fun. Of exchanges, of faces. There’s the show, too. All these people together, artists, creators, influencers. I am with them, and yet I feel like an observer. Like in the theater.

In a few seconds, everyone will be in place. These people are used to it. Jean-Michel Jarre’s music appears in Le Corbusier. And I see the first model coming forward. They are tall, often thin, and very young. There is nothing new under the sun. But when they walk past me, I’m caught. With the elegance, refinement of the collection designed by Virginie Viard. But also with what these young women feel. An idea of ​​grace. And I can’t help but look for their attitude, although they are fixed, straight ahead. And everyone is focused on their phone, to capture a piece of this grace.

It passes in the blink of an eye. Fifteen minutes. A 15-minute event brings together the most influential people of the moment, in the water, in Marseille. He is both funny and handsome. Because it is temporary. Because in a few minutes, the stages were emptied, conversations were resumed, taxis were collected, screens were reset. And I have this music by Jean-Michel Jarre that lives with me, a figure in a short dress and flat shoes that passes in front of me in a sigh.

Outside, the rain has calmed down a bit. I walk home, alone. Very smiling young men file their way out. There are always people gathered in front of the barriers. They hope. Very soon, the city swallows me. Later, a man runs. He is on the phone and speaking on loudspeaker: “The fashion show is there I don’t know who”. I will smile. Further still, I join the crowd of white-hot supporters before the event semi-final OM-Atalanta. Marseille I love you.