Virginie Viard appointed Chanel creative director following death of former brand head Karl Lagerfeld
At his last Paris show in October, Karl Lagerfeld had gone out of his way to acknowledge Virginie Viard, one of the behind-the-scenes heroines at the luxury label, for her years of support.
Paris: Virginie Viard, who was the late Karl Lagerfeld's "right and left hand" for more than 30 years, is stepping out from the legendary designer's formidable shadow to take over as Chanel's creative director.
Chanel announced Viard's nomination "so that the legacy of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld can live on" at the same time as it confirmed Lagerfeld's death on Tuesday aged 85.
Virginie Viard, the late Karl Lagerfeld's closest collaborator for more than 30 years, will succeed him as Chanel's creative director. Image from Facebook
The smoky-eyed designer who will take the spotlight after shunning it for decades was described by her mentor as "my right and left hand".
Related Articles
He told Netflix's 7 Days Out documentary series: "Virginie is the most important person, not only for me but also for the atelier, for everything."
Viard declines to reveal her age, as is common in the fashion world.
She joined Chanel as an intern in haute couture embroidery in 1987, four years after Lagerfeld took charge, after being recommended by a neighbour of her parents who was close to Monaco's Prince Rainier.
"I imagine we are complementary," Viard said of her relationship with Lagerfeld as Chanel's head of studio. "I understand where he wants to take Chanel, but I can't really explain it, it's like that," she told AFP in a 2015 interview.
"He doesn't spend three hours on a dress. He sees right away if it works well or not."
In November 2017, she told the London Telegraph that she tries "to please him, but I also like to surprise him."
When Lagerfeld missed Chanel's Paris haute couture show on 22 January, with the brand saying he "was tired", it was Viard who took a bow.
"Virginie Viard and Eric Pfrunder, Chanel's director of image, will continue to work alongside him and follow up the collection and the brand's publicity campaigns," Chanel added at the time.
That set off speculation that the man nicknamed "the Kaiser", who has ruled over fashion for a large part of the past half century, may be about to step back.
At his last Paris show in October, Lagerfeld had gone out of his way to acknowledge Viard, one of the behind-the-scenes heroines at the luxury label, for her years of support.
Often seen wearing a jacket over slim black trousers, Viard says she likes "fashion that lasts... clothes that actually aren't in style".
It is an echo of the famous dictum of Coco Chanel:"Fashion changes, but style endures", a fitting mantra for Viard in her new role.
Viard's baptism of fire will come on 5 March, when she unveils Chanel's Autum-Winter 2019-2020 ready-to-wear collection in Paris.
also read
Priyanka Chopra: 'Ryan Gosling is one of those guys that will be eternally hot'
When asked about the recent controversy surrounding Ryan Gosling being too old to plan Ken, she completely disagreed. Priyanka said, "Ryan Gosling will eternally be one of those guys who are hot!"
Diamond jewellery stolen from actor Salman Khan's sister Arpita's house; police arrest her domestic help
The incident took place on Monday and the 30-year-old accused was arrested the next day from neighbouring Thane district, he said
Esha Gupta is all set to debut at the Festival De Cannes this year
This year, Esha Gupta shall walk the red carpet in a specially curated designation led by Union Minister of State Dr. L Murugan.