Celebrities in Chanel for Bal d’Été at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs

The Bal d’Été at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs isn’t just another glittering social event—it’s Paris’ answer to the Met Gala, with couture pedigree and a purpose. This year, the soirée celebrated the centenary of Art Deco, with none other than Sofia Coppola curating the night’s mood and magic. Think high culture, even higher fashion, and a strong showing from the house of Chanel, which turned out in full force for the occasion.

With the scent of roses, silk, and Chanel No. 5 in the air, here’s how some of the maison’s most devoted muses dressed for the ball.

Glowing Like a Sequin-Strewn Summer Moonlight

Kirsten Dunst, making her first red carpet appearance of the summer, reminded everyone why her quiet glamour always resonates. Her Chanel Spring 2025 Haute Couture look—a beige satin dress fully embroidered with gradient sequins—was a masterclass in soft sparkle.

Minimalist in silhouette, this is the shape Kirsten has gravitated towards time and time again, and for good reason. It’s unfussy, and elegant. But what made this look sing was the sequin detailing, which added just the right dose of shimmer for a summer Haute Couture gala.

The dress’s simple lines let the embroidery speak for itself, while her accessories—Chanel High Jewelry Bouton de Camélia earrings and a Diamant Evanescent ring—felt like a natural extension of that understated yet considered approach. A triumph in hushed glamour.

When Heritage Is the Statement

Keira Knightley took a more tailored turn in custom Chanel—a white jacquard tweed sleeveless coat dress with a metallic effect and contrasting black satin duchess collar and cuffs. While some might not be as immediately swept away by this look as they were with Kiki’s, this is classic Keira in Chanel mode: cerebral, reserved, but quietly powerful.

This piece may be custom, but it’s also deeply rooted in Chanel’s DNA. The tweed, the clean lines, the monochrome palette—all signatures of Gabrielle Chanel’s legacy. Keira is perhaps the one Chanel ambassador who can pull this off without it feeling too archival or museum-like. It lives and breathes on her.

And yes, if you can make those classic Chanel white pumps with black toe caps feel fresh in 2025, you deserve a lifetime contract for life. Her look was completed with Chanel High Jewelry Tweed Cordage ring and Tweed Perlé earrings.

In Her Romantic Era

Sofia Coppola, the woman behind the evening’s dreamy, cinematic concept, embodied the very mood she curated. Her custom Chanel look—a powder pink silk muslin and silk tulle shirt dress—was light, ethereal, and totally unexpected. Usually drawn to the house’s more structured, heritage pieces (think tweeds, blazers, and ballet flats), Sofia’s decision to embrace a softer, romantic aesthetic felt like a refreshing departure. The pastel hue, gentle ruffles, and wispy layers were poetic and perfectly aligned with her idea of “bringing the garden inside.”

Archive, but … Meh

Camille Rowe dipped into the Chanel vaults with a Pre-Fall 2011 number. This was a great collection to select from, but ultimately didn’t quite hit the high notes of the evening. While the archival moment had potential, the look as styled—especially with those black pumps—felt a little flat. There was a missed opportunity here to elevate or reinterpret the look in a more whimsical or modern way. Instead, the energy felt dialled-down. And no, I didn’t expect her to walk in with a sheer tulle embroidered moment straight off the runway, but something about the overall execution muted what could’ve been a more memorable fashion throwback.

When Couture Ages You

After a strong showing from Chanel’s muses, Penelope Cruz’s Chanel Spring 2025 Haute Couture gown didn’t quite land the same way. The navy-blue silk chiffon dress featured an asymmetrical cape and organza ruffles with silvered touches and embroidered braids—plenty of couture bells and whistles, but the overall result skewed a little… well, mature.

It’s not that the dress was objectively bad. On someone like Helen Mirren, it would’ve read regal and commanding. But for Penelope, it lacked the fire and sensuality I want to see from her. What I would not give for her to have worn Kiki’s dress instead.

A Chanel clutch and Chanel High Jewelry Tweed Contraste and Transformable Gold Slider ring rounded out her look.

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