The show marks the maison&rsquo;s first runway presentation in the country since 2013.

This week was a momentous one for fashion lovers in Singapore as Chanel staged its <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/chanel-cruise-2025-2026-lake-como-italy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cruise 2026</a> replica show right here on our sunny shores. This marks only the second time ever the maison has presented a fashion show in Singapore.
The last was in 2013, when the late Karl Lagerfeld brought Chanel&rsquo;s Cruise vision to the Loewen Cluster on Dempsey Hill, a lush former nutmeg plantation. Lagerfeld himself attended, cementing that show&rsquo;s place in fashion history. Now, more than a decade later, the Maison returns! This time restaging its Cruise 2026 collection against the backdrop of another local landmark: the legendary Raffles Hotel.
Originally unveiled on 29 April 2024 at the Villa d&rsquo;Este on the shores of Lake Como, the Cruise 2026 collection found an equally storied backdrop at Raffles Hotel Singapore. The theme, inspired by the imagination of hotel life, seamlessly linked the two iconic destinations &mdash; both symbols of luxury, history, and cinematic allure. To capture this spirit, Sofia Coppola, long-time friend of the House, created the show&rsquo;s teaser, merging the mood of Como&rsquo;s lakeside romance with Raffles&rsquo; tropical grandeur.

A Dreamy Wardrobe for the Jet Set

Courtesy of Chanel

Think Bardot by the lake, but seen through Chanel&rsquo;s unmistakable lens. The Cruise 2026 collection was a love letter to coastal glamour and easy sophistication&mdash;the kind of wardrobe made for languid holidays and luminous evenings.
Raffia tweeds appeared alongside sculptural eveningwear dusted with sun-kissed sparkle. Trouser suits and evening pyjamas crafted in supple tweed, gold lurex, or entirely embroidered with sequins exuded relaxed refinement. Then came bursts of joy &mdash; pink and orange striped lam&eacute; silhouettes, and short taffeta ball gowns with flounces in pastel hues, worn with long gloves that recalled vintage elegance.
A palette of sunny colours and floral motifs unfolded over lace and prints, while classic cruise codes &mdash; straight-cut white trousers, pea coats, and nautical stripes&mdash;kept the look timeless and relaxed. Finishing touches included silk satin scarves tied effortlessly in the hair, or knotted around ankles and wrists, injecting a sense of whimsy into the sophisticated lineup. The result was a multifaceted universe of diaphanous glamour and luxurious comfort. Unmistakably Chanel, yet perfectly attuned to Singapore&rsquo;s tropical rhythm.

Front Row Star Power

The night&rsquo;s front row was as glittering as the runway itself. Oscar-winning actress and Chanel ambassador Tilda Swinton made a striking appearance, while Thai star Becky Armstrong arrived in a dazzling full-gold ensemble and a sheer lace jacket look respectively.
They were joined by fellow celebrities and Maison ambassadors including Gemini Norawit, Liza Soberano, and Baipor Thitiya. Representing Singapore&rsquo;s own fashion elite were Tasha Low, Stephanie Sun, JJ Lin, Zoe Tay, and more.
The evening concluded with an unforgettable afterparty, featuring a live performance by Grammy Award-winning British singer Raye, whose soulful vocals filled the Raffles Hotel halls. She was joined by Indonesian musician Rio Sidik, whose jazz-inflected set enchanted guests, and Singaporean DJ Nicolette, who closed the night with an energetic local flair.

A Morning of Insight and Inspiration

Becky Armstrong. Courtesy of Chanel

Gemini Norawit. Courtesy of Chanel

Raye. Courtesy of Chanel

Stephanie Sun. Courtesy of Chanel

Baipor Thitiya. Courtesy of Chanel

Zoe Tay. Courtesy of Chanel

Gemini. Courtesy of Chanel

Shye. Courtesy of Chanel

Tilda Swinton. Courtesy of Chanel

Liza Soberano. Courtesy of Chanel

Liza Soberano and Becky Armstrong. Courtesy of Chanel

Becky. Courtesy of Chanel

JJ Lin. Courtesy of Chanel

Earlier that day, 420 students from Singapore&rsquo;s leading art, fashion, and design schools were invited to a CHANEL Talk, held in the presence of Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Chanel Fashion Activities. Moderated by Tyler Br&ucirc;l&eacute;, chairman and editorial director of Monocle magazine, the conversation offered students rare insight into the Maison&rsquo;s business and creative philosophies.
&ldquo;Singapore is a Chanel city,&rdquo; Pavlovsky declared. &ldquo;I think it is one of our stronger markets in Asia, and we have developed a lot of loyal clients here. We&rsquo;ve opened three boutiques because it&rsquo;s a hub for all of Southeast Asia &mdash; and even further.&rdquo; He emphasised the importance of retail experience and the human connection behind every luxury interaction. &ldquo;We sell emotion, not just a product,&rdquo; he said, noting that while the post-COVID world saw unexpected growth, it&rsquo;s crucial for the industry not to lose sight of its emotional core. &ldquo;A super talented team of knowledgeable staff is essential&mdash;they bring life to our boutiques and keep that connection alive.&rdquo;

Tilda Swinton on Authenticity and Fellowship

The conversation took a soulful turn as Tilda Swinton joined the panel to speak about her creative journey with Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld. Her words resonated deeply with the young audience: &ldquo;We need authentic souls now more than ever, so the earlier you can become unapologetic, the better.&rdquo;
Swinton reflected on her forty-year career in film, describing herself as an advocate for fellowship and collective creation. &ldquo;If I stand for anything, I stand for fellowship,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We are all in it together and we need each other so badly.&rdquo;
She called out what she described as &ldquo;the global disease of individualisation,&rdquo; rejecting the notion of having to &ldquo;be your own brand.&rdquo; Swinton spoke on the "global disease of individualisation" where you are told to "be your own brand" and do everything on your own. "This is utter nonsense," she said, "You must stay with your backpack of a collective. We are all in it together and we need each other so badly."

Highlighting Singapore&rsquo;s Creative Voice

Also present were producer and friend of the House Margaret Zhang, Vulture magazine&rsquo;s editor-in-chief Clifford Loh, and writer Amanda Lee Koe. Together, they explored how Singapore&rsquo;s creative landscape&mdash;positioned as both insider and outsider&mdash;contributes a unique perspective to global culture.
They spoke about the importance of collaboration and grassroots connection over rigid structures or bureaucracy, emphasising that true artistry happens in the &ldquo;doing&rdquo;, in real encounters and shared experiences. Singapore, they agreed, is a melting pot of cultures and ideas, and it&rsquo;s precisely this hybridity that makes it such fertile ground for creativity.
With the Cruise 2026 show, Chanel didn&rsquo;t just bring a collection to Singapore. It reaffirmed the city&rsquo;s place on the global luxury map. From the historic halls of Raffles to the future-forward spirit of its audience, the evening embodied what the Maison stands for: elegance that evolves, yet never forgets its roots.

Chanel Returns To Singapore With A Spectacular Cruise 2026 Replica Show

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