Virginie Viard

Virginie Viard is the unsung hero turned leading force behind Chanel, with a career that’s been steeped in the house’s DNA since 1987. The Lyon-born designer started in haute couture embroidery as an intern, working her way up under Karl Lagerfeld‘s tutelage until becoming his undisputed right-hand woman. Lagerfeld, never one for understatement, famously called Viard his “right arm and left arm,” a tribute to her invaluable role in his creative process. With Lagerfeld’s passing in 2019, Viard stepped into the spotlight, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for Chanel.

Her first collection as Artistic Director for Chanel debuted in March 2019, offering a seamless transition that held true to the house’s signature codes, but with a fresh, more personal approach. Where Lagerfeld delivered grand theatrics, Viard brought a softer, more intimate vision—a reflection of her deep connection to the atelier and the craftsmanship that defines Chanel. She wasn’t there to upend the institution; she was there to evolve it, to keep Chanel unmistakably Chanel, but with her own whisper of change.

Viard’s quiet rise through the ranks of the fashion world wasn’t about showmanship; it was about a genuine understanding of what Chanel is at its core. Her collections often favored a more laid-back luxury, making room for the kind of comfort that modern women crave, without losing an ounce of elegance. She kept the tweeds, the pearls, the unmistakable allure—but in her hands, they were softened, made a touch more approachable, a touch more human.

In June 2024, Viard stepped down from her role at Chanel, concluding a remarkable tenure that honored the brand’s past while steering it into the present. Her departure marked the end of a significant era for Chanel—one that saw the house retain its storied grandeur while embracing the nuanced needs of the contemporary world. Viard’s legacy remains in the collections she shaped and the subtle ways she transformed Chanel into a place where the history of haute couture meets the spirit of now.