Is Jacquemus heading To Chanel?

by Stéphane Marquet

As Jacquemus presents its latest collection in Capri today, we can’t help but speculate that his next destination might be Chanel HQ. With Virginie Viard announcing her departure from Chanel, the fashion world is abuzz with the question of who will lead the iconic house into a successful future. For us, the answer seems clear: Simon Porte Jacquemus.

Jacquemus has not only led his own fashion house to elegance and global recognition, but his journey at Chanel would also be a natural progression in the world of fashion.

Fashion can be a playful business, and while watching the new Loic Prigent video yesterday (see below), I noticed what might be a significant clue. Although the general public remains in the dark about Chanel’s next creative director, there is likely a small circle of insiders who already know.

During a tour of Jacquemus’ new Parisian HQ, Simon and Loic stopped at a framed drawing made by Karl Lagerfeld and Simon—something Loic had orchestrated. If a Chanel-Jacquemus collaboration is in the works, I can envision Jacquemus setting the terms and timeline himself. The opening of this major headquarters in the heart of Paris was a milestone for the designer, possibly paving the way for an even bigger milestone. The new headquarters are also spacious enough to accommodate a design studio, allowing Simon to avoid traveling back and forth between Paris and London (where Chanel HQ is currently located).

Perhaps this is just wishful thinking, but consider this: Chanel’s latest runway took place in Marseille, a city deeply connected to Jacquemus’ roots. Could this be another subtle hint, a tribute to their potential new designer? It almost feels like a passing of the torch.

It’s likely only a matter of weeks or days until the official announcement is made. If Jacquemus indeed becomes Chanel’s new designer, the writing was literally on the wall …