Shortly after the designer's death, the French fashion house announced that Lagerfeld's longtime protg, Virginie Viard, will take his place as Chanel's creative director.
"Virginie Viard, Director of CHANELs Fashion Creation Studio and Karl Lagerfeld's closest collaborator for more than 30 years, has been entrusted by Alain Wertheimer [chairman of Chanel] with the creative work for the collections," a statement shared by the brand on Instagram read.
According to Chanel's statement, she was appointed "so that the legacy of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld can live on."
Viard has worked closely with Lagerfeld for over 30 years, starting out as an intern with Chanel in the 80s
Viard first joined Chanel as a haute-couture intern in 1987, just four years after Lagerfeld first joined the house. Between her early years with Chanel, her brief stint at Chlo beginning in 1992, and her return to the house as the coordinator for haute couture in 1997, Viard worked with the late Lagerfeld for more than 30 years.
During that span, she became "Lagerfelds closest collaborator," according to Chanel's statement.
Viard has stepped in before to represent Lagerfeld at work, and they were friends outside of work
In an interview with W Magazine,Viard shared some insight into her friendship with Lagerfeld, and revealed his quirky habit of texting her as his beloved cat, Choupette.
"He signs them, Your Choupette," she told W magazine in 2012 . "He might not like that Im saying this."
The ultimate manifestation of Lagerfeld's passing of the torch to Viard may have come in January 2019, when Lagerfeld skipped Chanels couture shows because he was feeling "tired." Fittingly, Viard stepped up to take the final bow in his absence.
Viard once told the French magazine Crash that she initially hoped to design theater costumes for a living , and added that she only began her career in couture after Lagerfeld suggested that she join Chanel.Over 30 years later, she will be responsible for securing Lagerfeld's legacy and guiding Chanel into the future.
Representatives for Chanel did not immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.