Gray hair is so relevant today that a naturally gray model opened the Chanel couture show. It was one of the most talked-about moments of the collection created by Mathieu Blasi, and further proof of how ideas about beauty are changing on the catwalk.
“Chanel's couture seemed closer to real life than most of what we saw on the runways this week,” said Vogue Runway Director Nicole Phelps in her review. But it wasn't just about the lightweight, wearable silhouettes. The noticeable gray in the model's hair was the very detail that made the show truly modern and recognizable.
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Gray hair is a trend for 2026
Model Stefania Cavalli, who opened the show, admits she still can't believe what happened: “I feel like I'm walking on clouds,” she tells Vogue. It was her second Chanel appearance, the first being at the Métiers d'Art show in New York City in December, which was decorated in a subway style. “I never thought I'd do something like this – open a Chanel show. It was completely unexpected, especially at my age.”
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Stefani Cavalli also owns a vintage store in upstate New York. She started modeling in her 20s, mostly in commercial projects, returning to the field intermittently. She made her runway debut at Tibi's spring/summer 2024 show three years ago, and has since walked for Miu Miu, Maria McManus and Proenza Schouler. “When Mathieu [Blazy] saw me at the first couture fitting, he said I inspired him and that he wanted me to open the show,” Cavalli recalls. “I was happy and a little nervous at the same time, because opening such a big show is a big responsibility. But I did it.”
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Gray hair: not a protest, but beauty
Although gray hair is now seen as a strong fashion statement, the model herself emphasizes that it was never a gesture of age or protest. “I was just tired of constantly dyeing my hair and sometimes the color came out beautiful and sometimes not,” she explains.
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During the pandemic, Cavalli decided to stop coloring her hair completely to restore its health. She says it was important to her that her self-esteem wasn't dependent on the color she dyed, even though adjusting to her natural gray hair wasn't easy. “But once I realized it was having a positive impact on both the health of my hair and my career, I decided to stick with it,” she adds.
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The model has a busy fashion month ahead of her and a big new drop in her vintage store. All the pieces she found during short breaks between shows in Paris. “I didn't wear my hair like that to prove that gray hair is beautiful. But somehow it turned out to be true,” concludes Stefani Cavalli.
Based on material from: Vogue.co.uk