# Chanel: creative directors and runway casting

> Matthieu Blazy is Chanel’s artistic director of fashion activities, a role announced in December 2024. Before: Virginie Viard (2019–2024). Checked 22 October 2026. Chanel has had 4 creative leads since 1910, each sourced on this page. The Cast Index ledger records 4 verified runway walks for Chanel, by models including Anok Yai, Vittoria Ceretti and Alex Consani.

- Canonical: https://thecastindex.com/houses/chanel
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- Author: Kaiser Khan (Founder & Editor)
- Based in: Paris, France
- House tier (methodology Appendix A): A
- Identifiers: [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218115) · [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanel)
- Creative-director record checked: 22 October 2026

## Who is the creative director of Chanel?

Matthieu Blazy is Chanel’s artistic director of fashion activities, a role announced in December 2024. Before: Virginie Viard (2019–2024). Checked 22 October 2026.

Blazy joined the house in 2025 and showed his first collection, spring/summer 2026, at the Grand Palais in October 2025. He is responsible for haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories.

Previously: Virginie Viard (2019–2024).

## Who have been Chanel’s creative directors?

In order: Gabrielle Chanel (founder, 1910–1971), Studio designers (1971–1983), Karl Lagerfeld (1983–2019), Virginie Viard (2019–2024), Matthieu Blazy (2025–present). Each entry in the timeline on this page links its source.

| Years | Name | Role | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1910–1971 | Gabrielle Chanel | Founder and designer (couture house closed 1939–1954) | [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 1910](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/1910/); [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 1970s](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/1970/) |
| 1971–1983 | Studio designers | In-house teams after Gabrielle Chanel’s death, including Gaston Berthelot, Ramon Esparza and Philippe Guibourgé | [Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion — Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel](https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/chanel-gabrielle-coco-0) |
| 1983–2019 | Karl Lagerfeld | Artistic director | [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 1980s](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/1980/); [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 2010s](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/2010/) |
| 2019–2024 | Virginie Viard | Artistic director of fashion collections | [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 2010s](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/2010/); [CNN — Virginie Viard leaves Chanel (6 June 2024)](https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/06/style/virginie-viard-artistic-director-chanel-exit) |
| 2025–present (current) | Matthieu Blazy | Artistic director of fashion activities | [CHANEL — Matthieu Blazy, Fashion Artistic Director](https://www.chanel.com/au/fashion/event/chanel-fashion-new-artistic-director/) |

## Which models have walked for Chanel?

The Cast Index ledger records 4 verified walks for Chanel, including Anok Yai, Vittoria Ceretti, Alex Consani, Liu Wen.

| Season | Role | Model | Show | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AW26 Couture | Walked | [Anok Yai](https://thecastindex.com/models/anok-yai) | [Paris Haute Couture Week AW26](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-haute-couture-week-2026) | [source](https://models.com/models/anok-yai) |
| AW26 Couture | Walked | [Vittoria Ceretti](https://thecastindex.com/models/vittoria-ceretti) | [Paris Haute Couture Week AW26](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-haute-couture-week-2026) | [source](https://models.com/models/vittoria-ceretti) |
| AW26 | Walked | [Alex Consani](https://thecastindex.com/models/alex-consani) | [Paris Fashion Week AW26](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-fashion-week-2026) | [source](https://models.com/models/alex-consani) |
| AW26 Couture | Walked | [Liu Wen](https://thecastindex.com/models/liu-wen) | [Paris Haute Couture Week AW26](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-haute-couture-week-2026) | [source](https://models.com/models/liu-wen) |

## Common questions

### Who is the creative director of Chanel?

Matthieu Blazy is Chanel’s artistic director of fashion activities, a role announced in December 2024. Before: Virginie Viard (2019–2024). Checked 22 October 2026.

### Who was the creative director of Chanel before Matthieu Blazy?

Matthieu Blazy succeeded Virginie Viard (artistic director of fashion collections, 2019–2024). The full timeline is on this page, with a source for each term.

### Who have been Chanel’s creative directors?

In order: Gabrielle Chanel (founder, 1910–1971), Studio designers (1971–1983), Karl Lagerfeld (1983–2019), Virginie Viard (2019–2024), Matthieu Blazy (2025–present). Each entry in the timeline on this page links its source.

### Which models have walked for Chanel?

The Cast Index ledger records 4 verified walks for Chanel, including Anok Yai, Vittoria Ceretti, Alex Consani, Liu Wen.

## Sources

- [CHANEL — Financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025 (19 May 2026)](https://www.chanel.com/puls-img/1779118002743-fy25-results-press-release-en-final.pdf)
- [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 1910](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/1910/)
- [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 1970s](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/1970/)
- [Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion — Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel](https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/chanel-gabrielle-coco-0)
- [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 1980s](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/1980/)
- [CHANEL — The House of CHANEL, 2010s](https://www.chanel.com/gb/about-chanel/the-house-of-chanel/2010/)
- [CNN — Virginie Viard leaves Chanel (6 June 2024)](https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/06/style/virginie-viard-artistic-director-chanel-exit)
- [CHANEL — Matthieu Blazy, Fashion Artistic Director](https://www.chanel.com/au/fashion/event/chanel-fashion-new-artistic-director/)

Each ledger walk links its own published source. Walks are recorded only when a source names the model, the house and the show; the ledger is incomplete by design.

Cite as: The Cast Index, "Chanel", https://thecastindex.com/houses/chanel.