Angel Reese Proves Athletic Excellence and High Fashion Aren’t Mutually Exclusive
When Angel Reese glided into Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2025 show in New York City on Tuesday evening, she wasn’t just attending a fashion show—she was making a calculated case for her coronation as the house’s newest It-girl. The Chicago Sky star arrived in an all-black ensemble that whispered sophistication while screaming star power, styled by none other than Chanel’s visionary creative director Matthieu Blazy himself. This wasn’t tunnel-walk theatrics; this was high fashion diplomacy executed with championship-level precision.
Let’s start from the ground up, because any fashion insider knows that’s where true style begins. Reese anchored her look in Gianvito Rossi’s legendary Gianvito 105 pumps—the Italian footwear brand’s signature pointed-toe masterpiece rendered in butter-soft black napa leather. That sleek 105mm stiletto heel isn’t just footwear; it’s architecture. The pump’s clean lines and razor-sharp toe create a silhouette that elevates everything above it, literally and figuratively. It’s the kind of foundational choice that separates fashion enthusiasts from fashion authorities.
But the real magic happened above the ankle. Reese’s Chanel ensemble centered on a lacy skirt set that blurred the boundaries between suggestive and sophisticated. Both pieces—skintight and mimicking the proportions of a little black dress—played with opacity in that deliciously French way where you’re never quite sure what you’re seeing. The high-rise midi skirt featured a ruffled hem that danced along the line between sheer and solid, while semi-transparent tights added another layer of intrigue. It’s the kind of outfit that photographs beautifully but demands to be seen in person to truly appreciate its complexity.
While Reese’s collection certainly includes Chanel’s iconic quilted bags, she opted for something decidedly more contemporary: a seamless top-flap style in smooth calfskin leather that likely hails from Blazy’s Spring 2026 debut collection for the house. Those buttery-soft silhouettes dominated conversations during Paris Fashion Week, and seeing one in the wild confirms what insiders suspected—Blazy is reimagining Chanel’s accessories universe for a new generation.
The devil, as always, lives in the details. Reese’s jewelry game centered on Chanel’s yellow gold double-C insignia, but her real flex came via her wrist: the Première Édition Originale timepiece, instantly recognizable for its black-lacquered face, matching crown, and 18k yellow gold strap. The intertwined leather-and-gold band mirrors Chanel’s most iconic bag strap—a meta moment of house codes referencing house codes. Even her noir cat-eye sunglasses brandished the double-C emblem, while fringed drop earrings added kinetic energy to an otherwise controlled aesthetic.
The setting itself carried symbolic weight. Blazy transported his second Chanel show from Paris to New York, unveiling his 81-piece demi-couture collection against the gritty backdrop of a subway station. Reese sat front row, a positioning that’s never accidental in fashion’s carefully orchestrated universe. Her pre-show Instagram offered devotees a proper close-up of that collector’s item watch, posed with a faux Chanel newspaper—the kind of playful brand immersion that signals someone who genuinely understands the assignment.
