It is perhaps the most unexpected and most shocking fashion news of 2024: Virginie Viard is leaving Chanel. The announcement came only weeks after the house of Chanel praised Viard’s direction, following reports revenue increased 16% to a staggering $19.7 billion in 2023.
Virginie began her lengthy career at Chanel in 1985, as in embroidery intern to the haute couture atelier and caught the attention of the late Karl Lagerfeld. Viard ultimately became Lagerfeld’s right hand woman over the decades, forming a close personal relationship with the famed German designer. After a brief stint at Chloé with Lagerfeld in 1992, Viard returned to Chanel in 1997 and became director of Chanel’s creation studio in 2000. Viard succeeded the world-famous designer as creative director upon his passing in 2019. Fast forward to 2024 and Viard is closing the chapter on her time at Chanel at the end of June.
As planned, the French designer’s upcoming Fall 2024 Haute Couture collection will be presented as planned during the Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week festivities on June 25 and is set to be Viard’s farewell.
Revisit below Virginie Viard’s first Chanel collection for Cruise 2020:
