Chanel’s New Kaiser

After a few twists and turns, Simon Porte Jacquemus has emerged as the leading contender to succeed Virginie Viard as the heir to the House of Lagerfeld. He’s now preparing to present to the Wertheimers. (But there are some backup plans, too…)

The name Simon Porte Jacquemus—proprietor of his own business, maker of magical fashion moments—was floated early in the process, but I was told that Pavlovsky, who was rooting for Jacquemus, was “strong-armed” into going another route for one reason or another. But it seems that Pavlovsky got his way after all. Photo: Arnold Jerocki/WireImage

Lauren Sherman

August 29, 2024

Virginie Viard needed to go—everyone at Chanel could agree on that. The sour taste left by her collections ran the risk of souring the overall brand, the most image-conscious of all the mega-luxury players, always the second-most popular girl in the high school, never as rich or confident as Hermès. Chanel is all about perception. So, yes, she had to go.

But the 30-year company veteran’s abrupt exit in June did not occur as expected, with the ejection occurring mid-afternoon on a Wednesday and the news dripping out mere hours later. As one person close to the company put it to me, succession had been discussed at length, and Viard was going to be extended a graceful departure befitting a longtime, loyal employee. Alas, for some reason—presumably Viard’s frustration, people being petty, etcetera—the news came out fast and furious and far more abruptly than planned.