Chanel opened with its name, and this frame seemed like a promise of grandeur unfolding. But nothing in the public record supports the idea of a 139,930 square-foot supermarket-style labyrinth as part of the Fall/Winter 2024/2025 runway. The actual shows took a different route — real, elegant and anchored in tradition rather than hyper-theatrical supermarket fantasies.
The house’s main 2024/25 presentations were rooted in couture and the artisan spirit of the maison. The CHANEL haute couture Fall-Winter 2024/25 collection was staged at the Palais Garnier in Paris. The corridors surrounding the auditorium were transformed into opulent red-velvet opera boxes, creating a theatrical yet refined atmosphere.
Material richness defined the runway. Tweeds, silky velvet, illusion tulle, duchesse satin, lacquered jersey, embroidered flowers, feathers, tassels, cabochons and braids flowed through the collection. Some looks combined a burgundy tweed suit with white satin trims, a black corduroy tuxedo paired with a detailed blouse, a long, feathered-shoulder jacket over culottes, capes, voluminous coats, and soft evening gowns.
The mood was romantic and theatrical. The collection nodded to classical stage and costume traditions — drawing subtle inspiration from the heritage of the Paris Opera, echoing the ballet-costume legacy the House shares with stagecraft.
As for the Métiers d’Art 2024/25 show — it did not involve a supermarket labyrinth either. That collection was presented at West Lake in Hangzhou, China — on water, under nightfall.
The runway was a zigzagging path on the lake, evoking the layout of traditional Chinese gardens. Models walking there appeared almost like reflections in an ink painting, the water acting as a mirror between garment and environment.
The designs themselves merged French couture craftsmanship with Chinese aesthetic touches. Cloud, forest and mountain motifs reappeared across silk gowns, pleated skirts, boots, travel bags and accessories. Sequins, delicate embroidery and prints echoed the imagery of Chinese art.
Denim acquired a watercolor-wash reminiscent of lake water; pleats and ruffles referenced folding fans; satin pyjamas and negligee-style pieces embroidered with velvet lace hinted at intimacy and movement.
Celebrities and friends of the house attended the couture show at the Palais Garnier. Among those in the audience were acclaimed names such as Naomi Campbell, Keira Knightley, Michelle Williams, Vanessa Paradis, Zhou Xun, Greta Gerwig, Sadie Sink, Olivia Dean and a number of others associated with the maison.
In their dresses they mirrored the mood of the collection. Velvet gowns or tweed suits in muted tones, occasionally softened by pastel slips of satin or bold embroidery. Their presence added weight to the runway — not as a spectacle, but as a recognition of heritage and craftsmanship, a quiet celebration of couture elegance.
There is no credible reporting or archive that documents a “supermarket-themed” Chanel 2024 show with grocery-filled shelves wrapped in Chanel labels. Likewise, there is no record of a train-station exhibition with packed trains carrying models for the 2024/25 season. Searches of major fashion-industry coverage, runway archives and press releases show the Hangzhou water-stage for Métiers d’Art and the Palais Garnier opera corridors for couture.
The tastes of the maison for 2024/25 leaned into understated luxury, craft and subtle storytelling over bold gimmicks. Each garment whispered its value — textured tweeds, embroidered silks, pleats, lacquered finishes — as opposed to shouting with spectacle.
One can reflect on why a supermarket-labyrinth or train-station runway may seem believable: fashion houses sometimes do stage elaborate sets to make statements. But in this case, what the world saw was anchored in heritage, artistry, the traditions of couture performance and graceful reinvention.
You might wonder about how myths and rumors like the supermarket runway spread — but facts matter. And the 2024/2025 collection served a reminder that real craftsmanship still carries weight at the house of Chanel.
