Chanel opts for craft over celebrity in choice of new creative chief

By choosing Matthieu Blazy, the luxury fashion house has prioritised taste and design over showmanship and name recognition

The most glamorous job hunt in fashion is over. Chanel has announced the appointment of the 40-year-old French-Belgian designer Matthieu Blazy to the role of creative director, bringing to an end a six-month recruitment campaign during which almost every top tier name in fashion has been linked to the role.

Blazy joins Chanel from Bottega Veneta, which has become an insider favourite during his three-year tenure. He previously held senior roles at Calvin Klein, Celine and Maison Margiela. Little known outside of the industry, he was considered an underdog in a field thought to have included Marc Jacobs, Jeremy Scott, Hedi Slimane, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Pieter Mulier of Azzedine Alaïa and Pierpaolo Piccioli, whose acclaimed run at Fendi ended recently.