Fashion is a fickle beast at the best of times, but it’s never been more in flux than now. Just last week, Chanel announced the departure of Virginie Viard – the latest in the many comings and goings of creative directors. This slightly dizzying game of fashion musical chairs began at the tail-end of 2022, when Kering confirmed that creative director Alessandro Michele would be leaving Gucci.
Many were shocked; after all, his seven-year tenure has been transformative – not just in terms of the house itself but in pioneering an eccentric, kitsch aesthetic that transcended the Gucci catwalk. As it turns out, fashion’s reset had just begun; in the last couple of years, some of the most iconic luxury houses have appointed new creative directors, rerouting established names and crowning emerging talent. From Chloé to , Valentino to Lacoste, everyone’s at it.
With all the changes, it’s easy to lose track – that’s why we’ve compiled a handy guide to the great fashion switch-up, below. TBC Virginie Viard (2019 – 2024) Hedi Slimane, , Phoebe Philo, Marc Jacobs Chanel is yet to announce a replacement for creative director Virginie Viard, whose departure from the house was confirmed last week. The rumour mill is swirling with names of potential successors, including Hedi Slimane (currently at Celine), Sarah Burton (formerly at Alexander McQueen) and Phoebe Philo, who launched her eponymous brand in September.
Viard, who first joined Chanel in 1987, took the reins o.