5 June 2024 |
She took over as Artistic Director in 2019 following the death of Karl Lagerfeld.
After five years at the helm at one of the world’s largest and most recognizable luxury houses, Chanel and Virginie Viard will part ways. The news broke on Wednesday evening, as the brand released a statement. It reads, “Chanel confirms the departure of Virginie Viard after a rich collaboration of five years as Artistic Director of Fashion collections, during which she was able to renew the codes of the House while respecting the creative heritage of Chanel, and almost thirty years within the House. A new creative organization will be announced in due course. Chanel would like to thank Virginie Viard for her remarkable contribution to [the brand]’s fashion, creativity and vitality.”
Viard assumed the role of artistic director in 2019, following the death of Karl Lagerfeld, having joined Chanel in 1987. As Lagerfeld’s successor she remained true to the visual language he set for the house and saw explosive demand for the brand’s handbags during the pandemic. Viard’s tenure also included runway shows in destinations ranging from Dakar, Senegal to Los Angeles to the most recent in Marseilles. Given that the statement mentions a new creative organization, it’s anyone’s guess as to who may assume the role. Let the speculation begin!
Photography courtesy of Chanel.
