Tweed, the front row and the Grand Palais: Alexandra Eala at the Chanel show

The 21-year-old Filipina attended Paris Fashion Week for the first time. She sat in the front row at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2027 show, and a few days later she was due to return to the Asian swing of the season.

On October 5, Alexandra Eala took her seat in the front row at the Chanel Womenswear Spring/Summer 2027 show at the Grand Palais in Paris. It was her first appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Her mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, joined her, Preview.ph and ElysPlanet reported. The WTA published a feature on the tennis player's appearance, calling it one of the tour players' standout fashion week moments.

A look in the house’s signature codes

Eala opted for a look in the brand's signature style: a Chanel tweed jacket over a black top, dark jeans, a classic Flap bag and sunglasses. The WTA, Philstar and Preview.ph reported the details.

She shared her impressions on Instagram, ElysPlanet reported.

Alexandra Eala, Instagram (quoted by ElysPlanet): “Freedom, made tangible. A beautiful collision of heritage, movement and artistry”api.tennis

The tennis player was more concise in her Stories. Preview.ph quoted her short caption.

Alexandra Eala, Instagram Stories (quoted by Preview.ph): “A forever memory”api.tennis

Birds above the runway

Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy presented the SS27 collection. According to AP News and Who What Wear, he built it around new variations on tweed, including “smocked” tweed, and the house's signature codes. Models walked beneath a flock of glowing birds. According to AP News, Nicole Kidman, Dua Lipa and Pedro Pascal also sat in the front row.

Wallpaper* noted that Chanel traditionally transforms the Grand Palais into a monumental set. Eala's Paris debut took place amid just such a setting.

First came New York

Her road to Paris began a month earlier. In September, Eala attended three shows at New York Fashion Week: Tory Burch, Michael Kors in MoMA's sculpture garden, and Calvin Klein. She met Anna Wintour in the front row. According to Karla Otto/Lefty data cited by Daily Tribune and Preview.ph, her Calvin Klein debut generated an estimated $502,000 in earned media value.

The WTA also recorded comments from both of them at the time. Wintour spoke about the union of sport and fashion, while Eala explained what she loves about tennis.

Anna Wintour, WTA: “It's wonderful how sports and fashion have become this wonderful sort of marriage”api.tennis

Alexandra Eala, WTA: “I love that in tennis, we're able to express ourselves through fashion”api.tennis

Fashion is also a family affair for Eala. In an interview with Vogue Philippines, she described her on-court style as “girly, confident and a little edgy” and spoke about wanting to weave Filipino influences into it and work with local designers. Her uncle, Rhette Eala, is a designer himself.

Back on court

The Paris stop came during a busy stretch of the season. In August, Eala won the WTA 500 tournament in Washington, the first tour title for the Philippines. She beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the final, with the match having to be completed on Monday because of rain. After the win, she broke into the top 20 for the first time. At the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Eala won bronze in singles. She is currently ranked 18th.

Philstar Sports wrote that Eala made a splash in Paris and is now returning to the Asian swing of the tour. She is entered in the Wuhan Open (WTA 1000): according to the WTA preview, main-draw matches begin on October 12-13. Next up is the BNB Ningbo Open (WTA 500), from October 19 to 25, where she is listed in the official entry list. Philippine media also expect her to play at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, scheduled for October 26 to November 1.