Matthieu Blazy latest rumored candidate to helm Chanel

The latest rumored latest candidate to helm Chanel is Matthieu Blazy, the critically acclaimed Franco-Belgian designer of Bottega Veneta. With an appointment possibly announced in mid-December.

The post of designer at Chanel is the most coveted position in the fashion and luxury universe. And the house has been without a creative director since it dismissed Virginie Viard last June. Helping to build intense speculation about its future direction.

Since then, its two runway shows – haute couture in June and ready-to-wear in October have been created by an in-house design team.

Contacted by FashionNetwork.com, the house of Chanel fashion indicated that the announcement of its new creative director will likely take place before the end of this year. Almost certainly after its next Métiers d’Art show in China on December 3, a collection again designed by the in-house team.

The choice of Blazy would certainly be judged as very rational on Chanel’s part. His shows for Bottega Veneta in Milan have become highlights of the Italian season. He is a young designer, only 40 years old, rich in talent and according to many insiders has only just begun to fully express his fashion ideas. He also has a reputation of being very hard working, vital in a giant brand like Chanel with annual revenue approaching €20 billion.

Until recently, the favorite for the job has been Hedi Slimane, a far more experienced designer having led Celine, Dior, Saint Laurent. As well as being for a long time considered the spiritual son of Karl Lagerfeld, the Germany master designer who helmed Chanel from 1983 to 2019.

However, the following other names have also circulated at times – John Galliano, Sarah Burton, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Pieter Muller, Phoebe Philo or Simon Porte Jacquemus.

In Milan, Blazy has not been returning calls seeking comment.

Whoever takes over at Chanel will have to find the right balance between Chanel’s iconic codes and a new aesthetic, which will project the brand into the future.

Matthieu Blazy was born in Paris in 1984, with French and Belgian nationality, and lives between Antwerp and Milan. He has been the artistic director of Bottega Veneta since November 2021. Within the French-owned Kering group, BV has been the best performing fashion house in the past two years in terms of sales growth, image and desirability.

He recently launched the first perfume line conceived under his creative direction for the Venetian brand.

Stay tuned.