Chanel‘s artistic director Virginie Viard, who succeeded Karl Lagerfeld, leaves the luxury fashion house

Virginie Viard is leaving her role as artistic director of the French luxury fashion house Chanel after five years. She assumed the position in 2019 following Karl Lagerfeld’s death, having worked with him at Chanel for decades. In a press statement to CNN, Chanel confirmed Viard’s departure, noting that during her tenure, she successfully renewed the house’s codes while respecting its creative heritage, following nearly thirty years within the brand.

Virginie Viard steps down from French luxury fashion Chanel

Viard began her journey at Chanel as an intern in 1987 and eventually became Lagerfeld’s deputy for many years. Their collaboration was so strong that the German designer referred to her as “my right arm and my left arm.”

Lagerfeld, a legendary figure in the fashion industry, had a profound impact with his passing in 2019. Although he was also leading Fendi and his own label at the time, it was his extensive work at Chanel that earned him the most acclaim.

Viard’s departure has been rumoured for a while, creating a major vacancy in high-end fashion. Last year, the fashion insider newsletter Line Sheet reported that Viard’s role at Chanel “was always intended to be temporary,” with Nicolas Ghesquière, the creative director at Louis Vuitton, being considered for the position.

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