Virginie Viard has left Chanel due to lackluster collections and a dull communication style. The news of her departure came as a shock to the fashion world, just three weeks before the upcoming haute couture show and shortly after record-breaking results were announced for the 2023 fiscal year. This sudden move has all the markings of a dismissal rather than a smooth transition. Viard had been with Chanel for over 30 years, forming a close creative partnership with Karl Lagerfeld. However, despite her success in increasing ready-to-wear sales since taking over from Lagerfeld in 2019, there were concerns about the declining desirability of the brand under her leadership. Viard’s reserved nature and reluctance to engage with the media also contributed to her departure. The search for her successor is already underway, with names like Hedi Slimane, Haider Ackermann, Jeremy Scott, Sarah Burton, and Pierpaolo Piccioli being mentioned as potential candidates. The next creative director of Chanel will need to have a strong vision and creative sensibility to uphold the brand’s legacy and adapt to the demands of a digitally connected world. It remains to be seen who will step into this prestigious role and lead Chanel into a new chapter of fashion history.
