Virginie Viard to exit Chanel

6 Jun 2024

Chanel is parting ways with its creative director Virginie Viard, after thirty years at the Parisian house, the luxury fashion brand announced late Wednesday.

Having joined Chanel some three decades ago, Viard, a faithful deputy to Karl Lagerfeld, took over as head of design at the fashion house in 2019, following the death of the iconic designer.

“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,” Chanel said in a terse statement.

“Chanel would like to thank Virginie Viard for her remarkable contribution to Chanel’s fashion, creativity and vitality. A new chapter is opening for Chanel Mode. We are confident in the teams' ability to ensure the continuity of the collections during this period of transition,” the house continued.

“A new creative organization for the House will be announced in due course,” said Chanel, without naming a successor.

Chanel will continue to present its Autumn/Winter 2024/25 collection on June 25 at the Opéra Garnier, as part of Paris Haute Couture Week. When Viard will unveil her final creations for Chanel.