How Blackpink’s Jennie Stole the Show in Chanel's Front Row

As Paris Fashion Week’s hottest ticket, Chanel never fails to bring out the stars. Just as founder Coco filled her salons with a who’s who of European high society, her namesake brand populates its front row with an international roster of ambassadors who represent the best of art and entertainment. Virginie Viard’s fall 2022’s collection debuted to a packed house, but one guest stood out from the rest: South Korean singer Jennie, 1/4th of the K-Pop girl group Blackpink.

The show’s scene-stealer, Jennie enjoyed her time in the front row from the moment she arrived at the Grand Palais Éphémère in a gamine look from Viard’s pre-fall runway. Despite the attention from paparazzi and the fans camped out to catch a glimpse of her, she focused on fashion. “Coming to Chanel is the best [and] it’s always great to see a new collection,” she says. “Each one gives me different insights and inspirations but this show was purely amazing!”

A Chanel ambassador since 2017, Jennie is familiar with the house’s signatures, and Viard’s use of the brand’s iconic textiles struck a chord this season. “What captivated me was the focus was on tweed,” she explains. “All the looks were over-the-top sophistication, but my favorites were tweed looks with delicate details and colors.” Pieces like the intricately woven pastel coat worn by show opener Vivienne Rohner and the strapless cocktail-length checked gown on model Fran Summers were impossible to ignore. Still, Jennie was equally impressed by how the material transformed the set-pieces inside the Grand Palais. “Even the venue itself was decorated with tweed,” she says. “It was quite remarkable.”

Having worn multiple variations of Chanel’s little black jackets and classic suits, Jennie wanted to try something different for Tuesday’s show. Settling on an embroidered velvet blouson and matching skirt from Viard’s pre-fall collection worn with diamond and 18k gold Coco crush rings, she looked the part of designer muse. Still, the star’s trip wasn’t solely about fashion week. Like many, Jennie finds people-watching the best part of the Parisian experience. “I like to just stroll around the neighborhoods and explore new spots,” she says. “[When I’m free] I just walk in the park [or] look at the people in the streets and listen to a few good songs.”