Karl Lagerfeld became Chanel’s artistic director in 1983.
His appointment came when the Chanel house needed to reconnect Gabrielle Chanel’s historic codes with contemporary fashion. Lagerfeld preserved recognizable elements such as tweed, chain details, quilting, camellias, and the interlocking-C identity while repeatedly reinterpreting them for new collections.
Lagerfeld had already held major positions at houses including Chloé and Fendi. At Chanel, he became one of the most visible figures in modern fashion and helped turn the brand into a global luxury powerhouse. A common mix-up is confusing his Chanel appointment with his work at Fendi: Lagerfeld began collaborating with Fendi in 1965, long before joining Chanel. He remained Chanel’s creative leader until his death in 2019, when Virginie Viard succeeded him.