Virgine Viard, the artistic director of Chanel, is departing the company. The statement from the luxury firm on Thursday sparked rumors about who would take her place in one of the most sought-after positions in fashion.
“A new chapter is opening for Chanel Mode,” the brand said in a statement. Business of Fashion was the first to report on the development, which happened to be a modification.
The privately held brand, which is well-known for its No. 5 perfume, quilted purses with double-C insignia, and tweed jackets, did not announce a replacement when it congratulated Viard for her “rich collaboration of five years”.
Viard, 62, collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld for almost thirty years at Chanel. Following Lagerfeld’s passing in 2019, Viard assumed his position.
She preferred easy silhouettes with an Eighties twist, and she adopted a more understated style than her predecessor. For instance, at recent fashion shows, she sent models down a Manchester street and along the Seine River, which contrasted with Lagerfeld’s showmanship, who constructed enormous sets for his catwalk presentations that included an indoor waterfall and a rocketship.
Chanel staff will make sure that there is “continuity” of collections throughout this interim period, the brand added in the statement. On June 25 in Paris, the brand will also present their fall-winter haute couture presentation, 2024/2025.
For years, there have been rumors of a new designer at Chanel. Most recently, powerful figures in the industry, such as Alessandro Michele, the former designer of Gucci, who was hired by Valentino, have been mentioned.
Last month, Leena Nair, the chief executive of Chanel, dismissed rumors of a new designer, pointing out that Viard had led the brand’s significant expansion in ready-to-wear fashion sales, which have increased by 2.5 times since 2018.
French billionaires Alain and Gerard Wertheimer control Chanel, the second-largest brand in the world behind LVMH’s Louis Vuitton.
