Chanel announces Karl Lagerfeld’s trusted collaborator, Virginie Viard as his successor
Viard Has Reportedly Worked As Lagerfeld’s Companion For More Than 30 Years And Is Viewed By Many As Lagerfeld’s Most Trusted Aide And Protege.
Chanel has named Virginie Viard, Karl Lagerfeld’s trusted collaborator to take over the late artistic designer’s spotlight. The announcement was made by the French fashion house on Tuesday, following the death of the legendary designer. Viard has reportedly worked as Lagerfeld’s companion for more than 30 years and is viewed by many as Lagerfeld’s most trusted aide and protege – or, as Chanel put it, 'his closest collaborator'.Â
For most of his time as the artistic director at Chanel, Lagerfeld had worked alongside Viard and has also taken bows alongside him at the end of many recent shows, including the Spring 2019 haute couture collection. The announcement of Viard as Lagerfeld’s next in line was posted on the official handle of the French fashion line account that read, ‘’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’.
LVMH-owned Italian house Fendi, where Lagerfeld was the artistic director of women's ready-to-wear and couture collections, is, however, yet to announce a succession plan sating that it intends to takes its time paying respect first of all to the legendary designer.Â