Virginie Viard to Exit Chanel

Virginie Viard

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Virginie Viard is departing Chanel after more than 30 years with the fashion house, including five years as the creative director.

The French luxury fashion brand confirmed her exit in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday: “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 30 years within the house.”

“A new creative organization will be announced in due course,” the statement continued. “Chanel would like to thank Virginie Viard for her remarkable contribution to Chanel’s fashion, creativity and vitality.”

Chanel has yet to announce who will be taking over the role.

Viard first joined the fashion house in 1987 and worked alongside her predecessor, Karl Lagerfeld, for several years. Following the designer’s death in 2019, Viard was appointed creative director. She was Chanel’s third artistic director since the house was founded in 1910, after Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel herself.

During her tenure, the fashion house collaborated with a handful of celebrity brand ambassadors, including actresses Kristen Stewart, Keira Knightley, Penelope Cruz and Lily-Rose Depp, Blackpink member Jennie, actor Timothée Chalamet and most recently, actress-singer Riley Keough.

Chanel’s haute couture Autumn/Winter 2024/25 collection will still be presented as planned on June 25 at the Opéra Garnier in Paris.