Change is inevitable, in the fashion business, change is often. The news from New York took the industry by surprise. Calvin Klein announced the appointment of Veronica Leoni as creative head, the female to lead he label. The brand plans to return to the runway schedule. Why this change of strategy? Parent company owner PVH withdrew the fifty-six-year-old designer brand from the ready-to-wear runway shows, instead focusing on the label’s core sellers, underwear and jeans.
Little is known about Leoni other than the Italian designer worked for Celine and Jil Sander. Calvin Klein was once the crown of the fashion world with is minimal sensuality built around youth. Can Veronica Leoni bring the buzz back to an once New York Fashion Week marque? Curious choices are interesting.
The other news of the day report came from Paris. The Grand Dame of fashion labels released a statement stating Virginie Viard would resign as head of the Paris based house. After five years at the position inherited from Karl Lagerfeld. After 30 years with the brand Virginie’s stay comes to an end. What was the reason? Chanel plays its hand close to its chest. There were no rumors of strife or lower sales. The company recently paid big dividends to its owners.
However, Viard has some big shoes to fill. The larger-than-life Lagerfeld left his mark on the prestigious womenswear line. His magnificent shows, the sardonic wit filled pages of fashion reports. While The headline adverse French born designer was competent the grandiose excitement seemed missing. The airport runway sets or the multimillion-dollar celebrity commercials disappeared after 2019. After all, Chanel is really about classy sensations.
It is only halfway through 2024.