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Virginie Viard is parting ways with Chanel after thirty years with the house—five of those spent as its artistic director following the passing of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019.
While no official reason was provided for her departure, the French fashion house acknowledged her contributions to a rich chapter in its legacy.
“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,” read a statement shared with Vogue Business. “A new creative organisation will be announced in due course. Chanel would like to thank Virginie Viard for her remarkable contribution to Chanel’s fashion, creativity and vitality.”
Viard started at Chanel in 1987. Having become Lagerfeld’s right-hand woman, she followed the designer to Chloé before they both returned to Chanel, where they would both remain for decades. In 2018, Lagerfeld, then artistic director, even shared his closing runway bow with Viard.
When he passed away the next year, Viard was quickly announced as his successor.
The news comes after Chanel reported record revenue in 2023. In May, it was reported that sales totalled $19.7 billion last year, up 16%, with double-digit growth across all categories.
“It’s a testament to the desirability of Chanel’s creations and the sustained investment we’ve made in our brand in creating the ultimate luxury experience for our clients and in supporting our people to grow and develop,” said global chief executive officer Leena Nair Nair in an interview with WWD.
Viard’s last collection was Cruise 2024/2025, which debuted during a show in Marseille earlier this year. Little has been confirmed about her final collection, but Chanel’s Haute Couture show is scheduled to show during Paris Haute Couture Week as usual.
In what has been dubbed fashion’s ‘musical chairs’ era, where countless major houses are undergoing rapid leadership changes, it stands to be seen who will be next to step up to the tweed throne.
Some contenders that have already been pitched by the public? Pierpaolo Piccioli, former creative director of Valentino, Gabriella Hearst, who recently departed from Chloé, and Phoebe Philo are names floating around, but all will be revealed.
