One regular feature of the Chanel couture show was missing this time; Karl Lagerfeld. The fashion house’s creative director, who has appeared to take his finale bow for every show since he joined in 1983, was absent from the couture proceedings due to illness.
Instead, the bow at the Grand Palais was taken by his right-hand woman, studio director Virginie Viard. She appeared through a door in ‘Villa Chanel’ (this year’s spectacular show set), accompanied by model Vittoria Ceretti, who was the show’s finale bride, in a sparkling embellished swimsuit and veil.
According to the fashion house, Lagerfeld was “feeling tired” and asked Virginie Viard to step in for him.
“CHANEL presented its Spring-Summer 2019 Haute Couture collection this morning at the Grand Palais, in a Mediterranean garden setting,” as per sources “The collection, designed by Karl Lagerfeld, is inspired by his favorite period, the eighteenth century.”
“For the traditional greeting at the end of the show, Mr Lagerfeld, Artistic Director of CHANEL, who was feeling tired, asked Virginie Viard, Director of the Creative Studio of the House, to represent him and greet the guests alongside the bride,” the statement continues. “Virginie Viard as Creative Studio Director and Eric Pfrunder as CHANEL’s Director of Image continue to work with him and follow through with the brand’s collections and image campaigns.”
Kaia Gerber, who was among the models in Tuesday’s Chanel show, took to Instagram to thank the fashion house and Lagerfeld for their hard work.
