What You Should Know About Chanel’s Newest Creative Director
Now that the dust has settled on fashion week, and we’ve had a sufficient time to digest the sweat, tears, and glamour that was the Chanel fashion show, it’s time to do a little deep dive.
After the unexpected passing of legendary Chanel Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld (RIP), the fashion house named Virginie Viard his successor. Viard was Lagerfeld’s longtime right hand and was introduced to many Chanel fans after being prominently featured during Netflix’s special “Seven Days Out.” Here’s what you need to know about Viard’s time at Chanel thus far.
Before she could ever imagine becoming the creative director or even the head of the atelier Viard started her career at Chanel as an intern with the fashion house in 1987. This started her long relationship with Langerfeld. The duo has worked together for over 30 years.
In 1992, Viard was asked by Lagerfeld to join his team at Chloe where she remained for five years, before returning to Chanel as the artistic coordinator for haute couture. Only three years later did she add ready-to-wear to her resume.
Viard and Lagerfeld had a close working relationship. How close? According to Hapers Bazaar they were on the phone constantly. Lagerfeld was known to send Viard personal messages from his cat from time to time.
According to her feature in this one out, Viard said her job as Chanel’s Director of the Fashion Studio was to maintain the integrity of the creative process, and ensure that Lagerfeld’s designer were brought to life in all of the beauty that they were imagined.
Viard has spent her entire career devoted to the fashion house. The ever watchful eye of the fashion house are expecting Viard to deliver timeless feminine pieces and impeccable detail.
