A$AP Rocky is officially a Chanel Man
Make 'em call me Flacko Lagerfeld
THE BLAZYFICATION OF CHANEL has entered its next phase with the French Maison announcing rapper and fashion icon A$AP Rocky as an official ambassador for the brand.
The credentials for this partnership are more than sound. Throughout his career, A$AP Rocky has built himself up as a fashion insider. His ability to wear clothes, make them his own (even when it’s pulled from full look policy), is a rare talent in the world of professional stylists working behind the scenes.
It’s a talent that saw the 37-year-old named the CFDA’s 2025 Fashion Icon in October.
There’s also precedent. The late Karl Lagerfeld famously had his male muses for the house, who would walk the runways in customised creations. Brad Kroenig, Sean O’Pry and Baptiste Giabiconi have all walked the Chanel runway. Perhaps we’ll soon see A$AP do the same?
While he’s famously said he never wants to be a fashion designer himself, A$AP Rocky made fashion an integral part of his lexicon and image. A casual perusal of his Met Gala appearances, alongside fellow icon Rihanna, and his off-duty opps is a goldmine of sartorial good taste.
“Pardon my language,” he said on a recent appearance on Vogue’s The Run Through, “I do what the fuck I want. I want to represent. I want to be a catalyst for daring men.
“I don’t know who drew the line between femininity – or just being feminine – and masculinity, excuse me. I don’t know who drew that line, but I don’t see any barriers for me.”
Which brings us back to Chanel. The timing is perfect, with new artistic director Matthieu Blazy building out his vision for the storied maison piece by piece, introducing new elements and faces. Tilda Swinton, Nicole Kidman. Now A$AP Rocky.
In an official statement, Blazy stated that “Rocky is an incredible artist who puts his heart and soul into every project he’s involved in, in addition to being an incredible human being.”
The partnership has been teased at previously, with Rocky, 37, revealed to be appearing in the latest campaign, also starring fellow ambassador Margaret Qually and directed by acclaimed auteur Michel Gondry.
It’s also teasing another potential concept – that Chanel, under Blazy, will dip its toe semi-officially into the menswear space. We are watching and waiting.
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