Fashion

Virginie Viard, the Woman Behind Chanel’s New Chapter

She wants her work to be in the light, rather than her,” the model and music producer Caroline de Maigret says of Viard. “I find it so modern….

Paris eventually beckoned, where—through her well-connected Lyonnais roommate—Viard found an internship with Jacqueline de Ribes, the city’s queen-bee socialite, who had recently decided to parlay her consummate taste and flair for fashion into a brand of her own. “We were working in her house,” Viard recalls, “all the fabrics were laid out on the bed, and the photocopy machine was in the bathroom. I was the assistant to three people—we were four in total.”

Soon she moved on to become an assistant to the costume designer Dominique Borg, acclaimed for her work on such movies as Bruno Nuytten’s Camille Claudel and Claude Lelouch’s Les Misérables, and discovered what she felt was her true calling. Her family, meanwhile, had long since moved to a country house in Burgundy, where their neighbor—the aide de camp of Monaco’s Prince Rainier—soon met Karl Lagerfeld, a Monegasque resident and intime of Princess Caroline, the prince’s daughter, and boldly asked him whether he needed an intern. Fatefully, he did. Viard duly went to rue Cambon to meet Lagerfeld’s aide de camp, the patrician Gilles Dufour, who hired her on the spot.

“Immediately Karl was asking me, ‘What do you think of this?’ ‘What do you think of that color?’ I was so embarrassed,” Viard recalls. Her internship soon morphed into a full-time job. “Karl clicked with Virginie immediately,” says Eric Wright, another pillar of Lagerfeld’s design team. “There’s always been this calmness to Virginie that’s very, very discreet, but her presence and her energy are very, very strong and very influential.”

At the time, the team was small: Besides Dufour and Wright, there was a ready-to-wear assistant, an accessories designer with an assistant, and Victoire de Castellane, Dufour’s high-spirited niece, then responsible for Chanel’s larger-than-life costume jewelry. Viard soon saw an opportunity that appealed to her training in costume design and her meticulous organizational skills.

“My chance was that nobody was in charge of the embroidery,” she says, and so she would be dispatched to work with the formidable François Lesage of the storied embroidery workshop. “He and Karl were two egos,” Viard recalls. “Ooh-la-la! I had to be diplomatic!”

Viard relished her interactions with the extraordinary characters who provided Chanel with a treasury of handcraft. The button-maker Monsieur Desrues, for instance, who would arrive every day at twelve, bringing his suitcase, which might be empty but for one jewellike example of his art, wrapped in a piece of paper, or Madame Pouzieux, who wove extraordinary braids for the Chanel suits in her atelier above her farmhouse stables in the depths of the French countryside. “I would receive her samples,” says Viard, “and they would smell of her horses…. Luckily, I love horses.” (In recent years, Chanel has acquired 38 of these endangered Maisons d’Art, or craft workshops—including feather- and artificial-flower-makers, custom milliners, glove-makers, pleaters, and textile and footwear designers—and 11 of them will soon be consolidated in 19M, a vast dedicated hub in the north of Paris scheduled to be unveiled next year.)

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Fashion

Hailey Bieber’s Pregnancy Glow at Paris Fashion Week

When Hailey Bieber showed up at Paris Fashion Week, she effortlessly drew the attention of fashion lovers and industry insiders. Her beautiful pregnancy glow made her appearance even more special, which highlighted her radiant skin and confidence, paired with her unique style that has become her trademark. This year, Hailey’s maternity outfits at this famous fashion event showcased her talent for mixing classy with trendy, challenging traditional ideas about how pregnant women should dress.

Typically, people expect pregnancy fashion to be more conservative and focused on comfort. However, Hailey used this opportunity to change the game. With her thoughtfully chosen outfits, she made bold fashion statements throughout Paris Fashion Week, showing that pregnant women can embrace high-fashion trends while celebrating their bodies.

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One of the standout features of Hailey’s style was her daring choice of bold shapes. Instead of wearing typical flowing dresses or loose outfits, she chose structured clothing that highlighted her figure and made a statement. Oversized blazers became a key part of her wardrobe, often paired with tailored pants or skirts. These blazers had unique designs with big shoulders or sharp lines, adding a modern twist to her looks.

She combined a sleek, oversized blazer with high-waisted trousers and a sheer lace top in one of her most memorable outfits, giving a chic and daring spin to classic fashion. The mix of strong styles with soft, feminine touches like lace showed her ability to balance powerful dressing with grace, proving that pregnancy fashion can be stylish and flattering.

Another exciting part of Hailey’s pregnancy style was her love for bold fabrics like sheer lace and sequins, often not seen in maternity wear. In one outfit that caught everyone’s eye, she wore a sheer lace ensemble that offered a glimpse of her baby bump while still keeping an air of sophistication. Layered with a sequined bralette underneath, this outfit struck a perfect balance between edgy and elegant. The sequins sparkled under the light, adding a touch of glamour to her black and white outfit and highlighting her confidence in embracing her pregnant body.

Accessories played a big role in enhancing her looks at Paris Fashion Week. Hailey didn’t hold back when adding glamorous jewelry and stylish bags to her ensembles. Oversized earrings and chunky necklaces brought a luxurious feel to her outfits, elevating them even further. She paired her outfits with high-end handbags and chic shoes that added to the overall elegance, showcasing that every detail mattered. Her stylish sunglasses, especially her beloved aviators, added a cool, confident vibe, blending her relaxed California roots with the high-fashion setting in Paris.

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Hailey Bieber’s appearance at Paris Fashion Week marked a significant moment for maternity fashion. Pregnant women were often pushed toward baggy dresses and comfortable shoes for years. While comfort is important, her choices demonstrated that pregnant women can feel powerful and stylish. She redefined maternity fashion by showing that pregnancy can be a time to celebrate one’s style. Her presence at the event also inspired many who might have felt pressured to tone down their fashion during pregnancy, encouraging them to embrace their style and confidence.

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Business

Kanye West’s Yeezy Brand Boosts Net Worth to $1.2 Billion

Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, is a well-known artist and entrepreneur who has recently reclaimed his status as a billionaire, with a net worth estimated at $1.2 billion. Much of his wealth comes from his music, but the biggest boost has come from his brand, Yeezy, which has changed the sneaker and fashion landscape. His journey from a famous rapper to a major player in the fashion world showcases his business talent and unique ability to connect with culture, allowing him to create a brand that holds significant financial value.

1. The Rise of Yeezy

Kanye started the Yeezy brand in 2009 through a partnership with Adidas. Over the years, it has become one of the most desirable and trendy sneaker and streetwear brands globally. What sets Yeezy apart is Kanye’s choice to take full ownership of the brand, allowing him to direct its creative vision completely. Unlike many other celebrities who collaborate with existing brands, he aimed to build something new that challenges the fashion industry’s norms.

Yeezy’s designs are noted for their simple yet modern look, and items like the Yeezy Boost 350, Yeezy 700, and Yeezy Foam Runner are now considered iconic. The brand’s success can be attributed to its scarcity, limited releases, and Kanye’s powerful presence on social media. These elements have helped Yeezy reach mainstream popularity, turning it into a symbol of luxury and style.

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2. The Financial Growth of Yeezy

Kanye has achieved a net worth of $1.2 billion mainly because of Yeezy’s impressive profits. After teaming up with Adidas, Kanye struck a deal that allowed him to keep a large slice of the profits, a rare arrangement in celebrity collaborations. As Yeezy has thrived, so has Kanye’s wealth.

In recent years, Yeezy has been valued at around $3 billion, and Kanye is believed to own anywhere from 80% to 100% of the brand. His decision to end his partnership with Adidas solidified his control, ensuring that all profits from Yeezy’s sales go directly to him. The brand’s global popularity, high prices, and limited releases have helped Yeezy dominate the sneaker market and attract wealthy customers.

Yeezy’s shoe collection brings in hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and the clothing line, including oversized jackets and sweatshirts, adds even more value. Fans of the brand, including many celebrities, keep demand high for these stylish and premium-priced items. Yeezy’s success has caught the eye of not just fashion fans but also investors and market experts. Despite some controversies surrounding Kanye’s behavior, Yeezy has consistently generated large amounts of revenue, making it a key part of his wealth.

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3. Other Sources of Wealth

While Yeezy is the main contributor to Kanye’s fortune, it’s not his only source of income. His music catalog, which includes influential albums, also plays a significant role. He earns money through licensing deals, royalties from his music, and live performances, providing him with a steady income that complements his profits from Yeezy and other ventures.

Kanye has also invested in real estate and technology, adding to his financial portfolio. Other business projects, like his Donda brand and his earlier work with Gap, have contributed to his wealth, although they haven’t been as successful as Yeezy. His ventures into technology, particularly in artificial intelligence and digital media, could also provide substantial returns in the future.

4. The Power of Kanye’s Personal Brand

A vital aspect of Kanye West’s financial success is the strength of his brand. Known for his bold creativity, outspoken personality, and often controversial statements, he has created an image that resonates with many supporters and critics. This unique presence has only enhanced his cultural influence, making him an important figure in music and fashion.