Designer Virginie Viard offers a rare account of her career at the top of Chanel

Posted on October 4, 2026
By Le Monde
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In brief

Virginie Viard breaks her silence following her unexpected departure from Chanel in 2024. In her forthcoming memoir, the acclaimed designer explores her transformative five-year tenure as creative director, navigating the monumental challenge of succeeding Karl Lagerfeld's legendary legacy. She candidly discusses the emotional impact of her abrupt dismissal and reveals intimate insights into her collaborative relationship with the iconic German couturier, offering fashion industry professionals and enthusiasts an unprecedented behind-the-scenes perspective on one of luxury's most prestigious houses.

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Designer Virginie Viard offers a rare account of her career at the top of Chanel

After being abruptly dismissed as artistic director of Chanel in 2024, the designer – who succeeded the famously media-savvy Karl Lagerfeld following his death in 2019 – is breaking her silence. In a new book, she recounts the shock of her ousting, her time at the luxury fashion house and especially her long relationship with the German couturier.