Chanel names Virginie Viard as new creative director after Karl Lagerfeld's death

Virginie Viard first joined Chanel as an intern in 1987

Wednesday 20 February 2019 09:11 GMT

✕

Karl Lagerfeld: "My childhood was very simple"

Virginie Viard has been named as Karl Lagerfeld’s successor at Chanel following news of the former creative director’s death on Tuesday.

Dubbed Lagerfeld’s “right hand woman”, Viard previously held the role of fashion creation studio director at the French fashion house.

Viard has been by Lagerfeld’s side at Chanel for more than three decades, ensuring that the label runs smoothly.

She first joined the luxury label in 1987 as an intern, four years after Lagerfeld.

Chanel confirmed that Viard had been named Lagerfeld’s successor in a statement released following the 85-year-old fashion icon’s death.

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

Show all 13

1/13Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

70s chic at Chloé

Before he worked at Chanel, Lagerfeld designed for bohemian-inspired label Chloé. Here, he's pictured alongside a model ahead of showcasing his spring ready-to-wear collection in 1974 for the French fashion house. While there, Lagerfeld became renowned for cementing the label's romantic roots via bold prints and flowing dresses.

Rex Features

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

His first collection for Chanel

Lagerfeld presented his first collection for Chanel in January 1983, which was widely praised by the press at the time for reinvigorating the brand by bringing hemlines up and adding some pizzazz to the label's accessory line.

AFP/Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The power suit

Thanks to Chanel, the suit has become one of the most adored silhouettes during the 21st Century, with a focus on bolero jackets, tweeds, and chiffons. Following years experimenting with denim, faux rips, hot pants, and concrete beads on the suits, for his spring/summer 2016 haute couture collection the designer hinted at the brand’s focus on sustainability, adorning one suit from the collect with finely cut pieces of wood.

AFP/Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The interlocking logo

It's one of the most recognisable logos in the world, but the famous interlocking "C" logo might not be on Chanel's products today had it not been for Lagerfeld. The designer modernised the label when he took over as artistic director in 1983, proceeding to put the now-iconic logo on a whole host of Chanel garments and accessories. Some believe the double "c" stands for Coco Chanel, in reference to the brand's founder. But others claim it was inspired by a visit by Chanel herself to Château de Crémat in Nice, where she's believed to have attended several parties hosted by her friend, socialite Irene Brez. Here, the logo is seen on one of Chanel's most sought-after products: the chain-strap handbag.

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The pink ruffle gown

It was the gown that sparked a thousand "oohs" and "aahs". Lagerfeld ended his spring/summer 2017 show with a thrilling ruffled pink gown as modeled by Lily Rose Depp, whose casting in the show was made all the more significant given that her mother, Vanessa Paradis, was also a model for the brand.

Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The Fendi 'baguette'

It is probably Fendi's most famous item. The slim, baguette bag was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, who is the only family member still working at the Italian label. But under Lagerfeld's reign, it has become a cult fashion item, having been reworked season to season with new designs continuously emerging.

Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

CC-logo-ed guitar

At Chanel's spring/summer 2009 ready-to-wear collection, the designer sent one model down the runway carrying a CC-logo-ed guitar and matching case.

AFP/Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The Dying Swan dress

Lagerfeld might be better-known for his fashion designs, but he also dabbled in costume and produced this tutu for the English National Ballet in 2009 as part of a special production by the dance company Ballets Russes, for whom Coco Chanel was a benefactor.

Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The 'lampshade' dress

Keira Knightley struck a distinctive silhouette in this Chanel dress, which she wore to Paris Fashion Week in 2014 to attend the brand's autumn/winter show. The corseted layer dress was from the brand's couture spring 2014 collection.

AFP/Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The multi-layered pearl necklace

One of Lagerfeld's most contemporary contributions to Chanel was accessories. The multi-layered pearl necklace continues to be a prominent feature of his collections, and have been firm favourites among celebrities, too. In 2006, it even made an appearance in the cult fashion film "The Devil Wears Prada", in which it was worn by lead actor Anne Hathaway to illustrate her character's newfound fashionable taste.

Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The Karl Lagerfeld x H&M collaboration

In 2004, Lagerfeld was the first designer to collaborate with the Swedish retailer, who has been partnering with major fashion brands ever since. The collection prompted huge excitement among Lagerfeld's fans as they reveled in the fact that they could now purchase his designs as a lower price point.

Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

The pregnant bride

For the Chanel autumn 2014 couture show finale, Largerfeld walked hand-in-hand with a seven-month pregnant model down the catwalk. The model was dressed in a crêpe de Chine dress with a gold, brocade cape and a line of buttons along the bodice. The model’s hair was teased into a quiff.

AFP/Getty Images

Karl Lagerfeld's most iconic designs

Cara Delevigne's space-age outfit for the Met Gala

The model has been a Chanel muse for several years and chose to support the brand at the 2017 Met Gala by wearing a dramatic sci-fi-inspired suit. The suit featured a plunging neckline and bold shoulders, contrasting with the star's smooth metallic-painted silver bald head. The model-turned-actor accessorised the look with a dusting of silver body glitter and a wide silver belt at the waist.

“Virginie Viard, Director of Chanel’s Fashion Creation Studio and Karl Lagerfeld’s closest collaborator for more than 30 years, has been entrusted by Alain Wertheimer with the creative work for the collections, so that the legacy of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld can live on,” the statement read.

Soon after joining Chanel, Viard was put in charge of embroidery at the brand.

She’s been working at the brand ever since, with the exception of a five-year gap in the 1990s when she moved to Chloé with Lagerfeld.

As part of her role as director of Studio Chanel, Viard would oversee eight Chanel collections a year.

Virginie Viard and Karl Lagerfeld (Getty Images)

“I make the collections come to life with the ateliers and the Métiers d’Art houses, based on Karl’s sketches,” Viard said in 2017.

“I coordinate the teams, liaise with suppliers and choose fabrics. Then, of course, I do fittings with Karl. As soon as I receive his sketches, the process begins. I try to please him, but I like to surprise him too.”

Lagerfeld once described their working relationship as “essential, doubled by a very real friendship and affection”.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Following the news of Viard’s appointment as the new creative director of Chanel, several people have been sharing messages of support for her as she takes on the new role.

“If anyone knows Chanel, it’s Virginie Viard,” one person tweeted.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies