Tyla didn’t just sing about Chanel — she practically stepped into the archives and made them her stage. In her new single “Chanel,” the South African pop star coos, “How you say you love me, if you ain’t put me in Chanel?” And honestly, it’s less a lyric and more a lifestyle memo.
The video delivers what the line promises: a full-blown archival Chanel fantasy. With longtime stylist Ron Hartleben on the sourcing front, Tyla is seen drenched in vintage Karl Lagerfeld-era Chanel — pieces pulled from the early ‘90s through the mid-2010s, each one a breadcrumb in fashion history. Think couture meets collector-core.
Hartleben reportedly scoured the most unexpected corners of the internet — from Chanel collectors in “Bumfuck Nowhere” to high-end vintage dealers like Anthology of Style and Vintage Heritage — to bring this haute treasure hunt to life. “I wanted to pay homage to Karl’s hip-hop era, Peter Lindbergh’s Chanel muses, and still make it feel like Tyla — modern, sensual, untouchable,” he told Vogue.
And that’s exactly what it is: Tyla rewriting the Chanel girl rulebook with a wink and a neon bob.
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In one standout moment, she turns a blush-pink Spring 1993 couture bustier, once worn by Helena Christensen, into a micro-mini dress — because why not? Layered Chanel necklaces, strappy stilettos, and a lemon-yellow wig make the look pure pop goddess energy.
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Then there’s the scene that could only belong to Tyla: she casually threatens her lover with an archival Chanel “gun” and quilted holster — accessorized with Fall 1991 waist chains (a Linda Evangelista original) and Fall 2003 leg warmers. It’s tongue-in-cheek danger meets runway fantasy.
And, of course, the pièce de résistance: the Spring 2013 Hula Hoop bag — Karl’s oversized, slightly absurd icon — slung over Tyla’s shoulder as she pairs it with gym shorts and an ab-baring bustier. It’s both nostalgic and wildly now.
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Where most artists dress in designer, Tyla collaborates with legacy. “Chanel” isn’t just a music video — it’s a masterclass in archival styling, a Lagerfeld love letter wrapped in 2000s pop sensuality.
Karl would’ve approved. Probably with a smirk.
