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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…)

Simon Porte Jacquemus
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.