Virginie Viard is stepping down from Chanel after a five-year tenure as the artistic director of fashion collections for the renowned French luxury brand.
She succeeded Karl Lagerfeld in 2019, having collaborated with him at Chanel for many years.
Viard held an esteemed position in the fashion world, following in the footsteps of Lagerfeld and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel as previous artistic directors for the iconic label.
Chanel officially confirmed Viard’s departure in a statement to CNN, acknowledging her contributions to the brand by stating that during her time as the 62-year-old designer, she successfully modernized Chanel’s style while honouring the brand’s rich heritage, built over nearly three decades.
A successor has yet to be named, but the brand added that an announcement would be made “in due course.”
Chanel said that it wanted to thank Viard “for her remarkable contribution to Chanel’s fashion, creativity and vitality”.
Viard, who began her journey at Chanel as an intern back in 1987, rose to become Lagerfeld’s deputy over the years.
Their close collaboration was evident, as Lagerfeld once referred to her as “my right arm and my left arm.”
When Viard was appointed in 2019, it was a natural progression, ensuring that the legacies of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld continued to thrive.
The speculation surrounding who will fill her shoes will undoubtedly be a hot topic in the weeks to come.
This news comes amidst a series of significant industry movements. In March, Pierpaolo Piccioli left Valentino after eight years as creative director, succeeded by Alessandro Michele. Additionally, Sarah Burton stepped down from Alexander McQueen last week.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.