Chanel’s Virginie Viard on the Future: “Truthfulness and Realness Will Be Leading Me Going Forward”

Virginie Viard directs Chanel. She submitted a self-portrait and was interviewed for Vogue’s June/July portfolio. Her conversation with Hamish Bowles has been condensed and edited.

During these days, I have had a lot of time to think. Like everyone else, I had a lot of memories which came to my mind, I especially thought of people who are not with us anymore. I have been thinking of Karl [Lagerfeld] even more (even though I did think of him every day even when I could go to work too), wondering what he would do or say during these times.

And, with the outbreak of the health crisis and the critical situations in the hospitals, I couldn’t help thinking of my father—of what he would do or say. You might know that both my parents were doctors. My father has always been very comforting to me, very compassionate with his patients, always smiling despite the hard situations he might have been facing at the hospital. All my young years, I have the memory of patient’s families calling home daily to ask how the surgery went and my parents taking the time to talk to everyone. Every Sunday afternoon, as a child, I would dress up as a nurse/doctor with one of my siblings and accompany my father to the hospital to meet and cheer up some of his patients. Those were special moments of my childhood. I guess my love for doctors dates back to that time, really doctors and nurses have been always my favorite.

I chose this photograph in particular because I love this image of my father surrounded by so many young and smiling faces. Not to mention in this picture he makes me think of French actor Michel Piccoli in the movie Les Choses de la Vie (The Things of Life) by Claude Sautet. There are other images of the past I have been looking at. For example, I recently did some research on the net and ran into so many images of Karl with models and friends at different parties, in the early 2000s. Those were also comforting and heart-lifting, in a different way.

I have worked with my team for so long; we have such strong relationships and understanding. I have no doubt we will be able to find new ways of working, depending on the evolution of the situation.

I am staying home safe with my family. Since the beginning of the lockdown, we have been in the countryside. Personally, I miss going to work, I especially miss the studio. Within the world of Chanel, it is certainly one of my favorite things. I have been going there for over 30 years. It was Karl’s and Gabrielle Chanel’s studio—to me it has never been an ordinary workplace. I was able to progress on the themes of the cruise collection before the outbreak; all the details are clear in my head and we are perfectly aligned with the teams. I speak with them daily to continue to exchange ideas, discuss projects, and obviously make sure everyone is well. I have worked with my team for so long; we have such strong relationships and understanding. I have no doubt we will be able to find new ways of working, depending on the evolution of the situation. Personally, I am taking it day by day, I am ready to readjust and change habits and routines, as the situation requires it.

My approach to work has always been rather simple and pragmatic, but more than ever, I feel truthfulness and a realness will be leading me going forward. I will be focusing on the essential and even though I know it will be different, I am confident it will still be good. I am impressed and inspired by so many responsible behaviors and by the generosity of all people working to help others, often at their own risk. When I think of my parents, when I see all the efforts made in the hospitals, I still have hope for the future. Life inspires me in general. I guess spending so much time in my countryside house gives me ideas I wouldn’t have had if I had stayed and worked in Paris.

Originally Appeared on Vogue