On June 5, it was reported that Virginie Viard, Chanel‘s artistic director for five years, had left the brand. The new creative team after Viard’s departure has not yet been decided and will be announced later.
Virginie Viard joined Chanel in 1987 and has been with the company for 30 years. She had admired Karl Lagerfeld since she joined the company, and when Lagerfeld moved to Chloé, she followed him to the label. In 1997, she returned to Chanel with Lagerfeld.
After Lagerfeld’s passing in 2019, she immediately succeeded him as Artistic Director. She has overseen the creative team while continuing the Maison’s longstanding traditions and bringing new winds to the company.
Chanel issued the following statement regarding Viard’s departure.
“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 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.”
Chanel just held its Cruise 2025 show in Marseille on the 2nd of this month. On June 25, the brand will also present its Fall 2024 Haute Couture show in Paris.