Fala Chen’s Chanel 2025-26 cruise collection adventure at cinematic Lake Como: the Marvel star hung out with Sofia Coppola and Lupita Nyong’o – and did a photo shoot by the lake

May 2 , 2025

Marvel star Fala Chen hung out with Sofia Coppola and Lupita Nyong’o at Lake Como, ahead of Chanel’s 2025-26 cruise collection. Photo: Handout

The Chinese-American actress stayed at charming Villa d’Este, channelled old Hollywood glam herself, and commented, ‘You don’t walk through these gorgeous buildings and villas in your sweatpants’

Just three hours after attending the Hong Kong Film Awards clad in a shimmery dress from Chanel, actress Fala Chen jumped on a flight to Italy. A close friend of the French maison, Chen was headed to Lake Como for the unveiling of Chanel’s 2025-26 cruise collection.

Fala Chen was staying at historic Villa d’Este for Chanel’s cruise 2025-26 show at Lake Como. Photo: Handout

The actress, who starred in Hollywood blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) – and more recently, in the psychological thrillers Peg O’ My Heart (2024), a Hong Kong production, and the upcoming The Ballad of a Small Player, set in Macau – stayed at the magnificent Villa d’Este, the legendary hotel and former royal residence where the show was held.

Here are some highlights from a whirlwind 48 hours in Lake Como for the Chinese-American star.

Cinematic Como

Fala Chen (second from right) with (from left) French-Romanian actress Anamaria Vartolomei, Indian actress Ananya Panday, Singaporean actress Tasha Low and Thai actress Achiraya Nitibhon, at Villa d’Este by Lake Como the day before Chanel’s 2025-26 cruise show. Photo: Greg Williams

“This felt very different from previous visits to Lake Como because even though it has always felt like a holiday place for me, this time I felt like I would love to shoot a film here; it would be a really beautiful backdrop for some mysterious story, like a film noir. Yesterday we did a photo shoot in black and white by the lake, and even though everything is in bloom and colourful right now, with the trees and lots of flowers, it’s actually very beautiful in black and white because there are so many shades of light – shimmery and misty in the morning.

Chanel held a dinner at Villa Erba on the shores of Lake Como the night before the cruise show. Photo: Handout

“It’s so beautiful, and then in the afternoon the light is so soft. Like any girl, I love soft light because it makes you look beautiful. Yesterday we went to a villa for dinner and the light was just gorgeous, with this golden hue to it.”

Dressing the part

Fala Chen paired this whimsical dress from the pre-fall 2025 collection with a black cardigan for Chanel’s 2025-26 cruise show. Photo: Handout

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