A free fashion exhibition showcasing iconic tweed pieces at an auction house in Paris

Mark your calendars, get ready, and enjoy the view. Before the pieces go under the hammer, Chanel: A Private Collection offers a rare glimpse inside the elegant Haussmannian setting of Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, a renowned auction house nestled in the heart of the 8th arrondissement of Paris. From Monday, February 16, to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, visitors can explore a free exhibition preview: three days to delve into the wardrobe of a stylish connoisseur, carefully curated from 1995 to 2023. This time, the exhibition takes a more intimate approach: centered in a single ground-floor room, it offers a more focused experience than usual. The final auction decision will be announced on February 19, 2026, during a dedicated sale entirely devoted to the world of Chanel.

On mannequins, on racks, and inside display cases, 367 carefully curated pieces arranged by season, style, and color. This exceptional wardrobe offers a glimpse into the history of a fashion house founded in 1910 by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, now brought to life through the designs of Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard. Included in the showcase are 130 jackets, dresses, and coats, 70 cashmere pieces, and 80 costume jewelry items, not to mention Première Mini watches, Ultra rings, handbags, ballet flats, and sandals.

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Among the lots to be examined before auction, a black tweed jacket and a long coat from the 2005 Cruise collection, designed by Karl Lagerfeld, featuring a gilded CC crest – notably seen in the film The Devil Wears Prada. Further along, there’s a zip-up coat in black, white, and silver lurex tweed (Fall-Winter 2014), a long Paris Byzance jacket (Métiers d’Art 2011), a jacket with blue and pink sequins (Cruise 2013), and a short multicolored tweed coat from the 2023 Cruise collection.

Accessories such as necklaces, brooches, and jewelry featuring faux pearls, champagne-colored metal, and glass paste, from 1996 to 2012, adorn the selection. An exclusive pre-sale exhibition offers a glimpse into the Chanel style: a visual deep dive that invites viewers to observe and appreciate in detail before raising their hand to ask questions.