Chanel CEO Leena Nair confirmed that there are no plans for a dedicated Chanel menswear line. Though there have been many speculations that there would be one in the past two years, given the brand’s recent alignment with a new creative director; Matthieu Blazy, Timothée Chalamet’s public appearances dressed in chanel, and Kendrick Lamar as a brand ambassador.
While this might seem like the house is simply preserving its core identity, the reality is far more layered. Because whether or not Chanel creates for men, men have been wearing Chanel — and in recent years, wearing it well.
Pharrell Williams, a longtime collaborator and muse of the house, shattered early expectations — from co-designing capsule collections to walking in women’s shows and fronting campaigns in tweed blazers and pearl necklaces.
Then came Kendrick Lamar, whose recent public appearances have quietly pushed Chanel into hip-hop’s luxury lexicon. Kendrick has been spotted layering Chanel brooches, tweed coats, and pearls in a way that feels effortless — even before they made him a brand ambassador.
Even more quietly, male figures like Sebastian Tellier, Kristen Stewart’s partner Dylan Meyer, and stylists behind artists like ASAP Rocky have continued to inject Chanel pieces into men’s wardrobes. A pin here. A chain there. A fragrance. A moment.
What’s ironic is that Chanel has managed to be a menswear brand — without ever officially becoming one. While houses like Louis Vuitton and Dior aggressively expand their men’s divisions with runway shows, campaigns, and menswear creative directors, Chanel has become a cultural flex for men who don’t need overt gender categories.
So maybe that’s why Pharrell’s 2019 Chanel collaboration worked — because it wasn’t about building a new department. It was about inviting men into the house, without needing to rearrange the furniture.
