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It took seven months<\/strong> after Virginie Viard’s departure<\/strong> for Chanel to appoint her replacement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The day before, a legend – John Galliano, ex-Dior designer – left Maison Margiela. But this time, it’s up to a young prodigy to write his own at Chanel. Not bad for his fortieth birthday! Matthieu Blazy<\/strong> was born in 1984 – a year before Karl Lagerfeld took the helm at the Rue Cambon fashion house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On December 12<\/strong>, Chanel chose to induct a French-Belgian man, a Bottega Veneta defector<\/strong>: Matthieu Blazy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although speculation is over<\/strong>, patience is still required: he is not due to take up his post<\/strong> until April 2025<\/strong>. And her first collection<\/strong> will be unveiled next October<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I am delighted and honored to join the wonderful House of Chanel.<\/em> I look forward to meeting all the teams and writing this new chapter together,”<\/em> Matthieu Blazy said in a statement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just minutes after announcing his departure from Bottega Veneta<\/strong> after a successful tenure as Creative Director, the Franco-Belgian Parisian has been appointed to Chanel’s top creative post.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He faces a daunting challenge: to reinvigorate the House of Chanel<\/strong>, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, while at the same time establishing his own style in a way that sets him apart from the Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The polymath with the powdered catogan and tinted glasses had arrived at Chanel in 1983. He succeeded in reviving a faded old house, following the death of its founder in 1971, and remained the sole master on board, creating 17 annual collections over 36 years and making a lasting impression with his feminine, rock and… yet So Chanel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Following the Kaiser’s untimely death in February 2019<\/strong>, Virginie Viard, his right-hand woman for almost 30 years, made her his natural heir.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Under her tenure, the feminine took a more feminist turn with a more understated chic, described by some as \u201ctoo Coco Chanel\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Departed last June to the astonishment of the Fashion Sphere<\/strong> – despite successful sales – the loyal atelier designer was replaced for a time by the House’s in-house studio<\/strong>. This interim period led to the development of the Spring-Summer 2024-2025 collection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With Virginie Viard gone, Chanel’s creative throne was vacant for the first time in its history<\/strong>. So, like Virginie Viard’s lightning departure, the arrival of a new designer – rumored by some – came as a surprise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And the choice illustrates the luxury war that seems to be raging in these uncertain times: Chanel has snatched up a talent from Kering, the world’s number-two luxury brand, now in turmoil, with sales slowing at Gucci and stagnation at Saint Laurent.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \t\tA new chapter for Chanel<\/h2>\n