Karl Lagerfeld may have disapproved of sweatpants—famously calling them a “sign of defeat”—but he wasn’t afraid to play with denim. The legendary Chanel creative director once had Claudia Schiffer walk the runway in high-waisted straight-leg jeans, signaling a new era for the maison. Now, under Matthieu Blazy’s direction, Chanel aims to thread the needle between exclusivity and aspiration, captivating a much broader (and younger) audience in the process. And to do that, he’s bringing blue jeans back.
Debuting in the Chanel Métiers d’Art show this past December, the Cambon jeans, named after the street where Mademoiselle Chanel opened her first boutique, are made in Italy from 100 percent certified organic cotton. Low-waisted with a straight, relaxed fit, they will retail for $2,550 in a worldwide launch on June 4.
