Karl Lagerfeld held a prolific tenure at the helm of Chanel from 1983 to his final days in 2019. Who could possibly follow in the revolutionary designer's footsteps? The French fashion house announced today that Virginie Viard, Lagerfeld's right-hand, will take over the creative operations for the brand following the designer's passing "so that the legacy of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld can live on."
Getty Images Pascal Le Segretain
Here's what you need to know about the new designer leading Chanel.
She stepped in for his final bow at January’s couture show.
Last month, Lagerfeld was absent from Chanel’s couture shows in Paris because he “was feeling tired,” according to a statement from the French brand at the time. Viard took the final bow in his place, accompanied by model Vittoria Ceretti, who donned the final look: an embellished bridal swimsuit.
She’s also joined Lagerfeld for final bows at the Chanel Metiers D’Art 2018/2019 show in New York in December and the beach-themed Spring/Summer 2019 show in Paris in October.
Viard at the Spring 2019 couture show, Getty Images Estrop
