Virginie Viard steps down as Chanel’s artistic director, leaving behind a legacy of record-breaking sales and a five-year tenure marked by quiet elegance.
Chanel, the French luxury fashion house, has announced the departure of its artistic director, Virginie Viard, who succeeded the legendary Karl Lagerfeld following his death in 2019. Having worked alongside Lagerfeld for 20 years, Virginia Viard guided the brand to unprecedented success, with sales soaring to nearly $20 billion in 2023, a 14.6 percent increase over the previous year.
“Chanel confirms the departure of Virginie Viard after a rich five-year collaboration as artistic director of fashion collections,” the group stated, commending her for her “remarkable contribution.” Critics have noted that Virginia Viard’s designs often played it safe, yet under her direction, the brand achieved its highest sales figures ever.
Her last womenswear collection, presented in March, was a tribute to the French seaside town of Deauville, where Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel opened her first boutique in 1912. Viard, known for her understated personal style and reserved public demeanor, contrasts sharply with the flamboyant Lagerfeld and his often provocative statements.
Chanel has yet to announce Virginia Viard’s successor, but has promised that the details will be revealed soon.
With AFP