Who was the creative director of Chanel from 1983 until his death?

Karl Lagerfeld was Chanel’s creative director from 1983 until his death in 2019. The German designer took charge of the house’s creative direction during a period when Chanel was widely viewed as a weakened, old-fashioned brand.

Lagerfeld revitalized Chanel by modernizing its ready-to-wear collections while preserving recognizable house signatures such as tweed, chains, gold accents and the interlocking CC logo. He also helped turn Chanel’s runway shows and advertising into major cultural events, photographing many of the campaigns himself and influencing store presentation.

The wording can cause a small mix-up: Lagerfeld was not Chanel’s founder. Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel established the house, while Lagerfeld became the leading designer decades later. He continued at Chanel while also serving as Fendi’s creative director and running his own label. After his death, Virginie Viard succeeded him as Chanel’s creative director.