Fashion 30 Apr 2023

5 Things To Know About Vivienne Rohner

From the backstory of her name to a passion and obvious talent for photography

by Alyanna Raissa J. Payos

She is Chanel’s new muse

Creative director Virginie Viard has chosen Vivienne Rohner as the face of Chanel and the veritable muse of the Maison’s latest Spring/Summer 2023 pre-collection. Though she walked for Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel back in 2015, Rohner’s relationship with Viard and the brand truly began to blossom after modelling for the Chanel Autumn/Winter 2020 collection.

She was named after an iconic fashion designer

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vivienne (@viviennerohner)

In an interview with a daily Swiss newspaper 20 Minutes, Rohner reveals that her parents were inspired by the late British designer Vivienne Westwood when naming her. How serendipitous it was for her to not only open a Vivienne Westwood Paris fashion week show at the start of her career but to be named the face of the brand’s Anglomania Spring/Summer 2015 collection as well!

She has a multicultural background

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vivienne (@viviennerohner)

Vivienne Rohner was born in Switzerland to a Russian mother and an Argentinian and Swiss father. She spent the rest of her formative years in the Alpine country, until she moved to Paris to kickstart her modelling career, where she stayed for three years. Vivienne then moved to the cosmopolitan melting pot that is New York City, where she currently resides.

She started modelling at the age of 16

Vivienne Rohner participated in the Elite Model Look competition in 2013, and though she did not win, gained representation from the agency, catapulting her into the world of high fashion. Within a few years she had become a regular on Vivienne Westwood runways, walked for Phoebe Philo’s last Celine collection, shot for Vogue Netherlands and modelled for both Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard Chanel fashion shows.

She has a penchant for film photography

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vivienne (@viviennerohner)

Though an undeniable star in front of the camera, Vivienne Rohner is partial to a role behind the lens too. She bought her first point-and-shoot at the age of 19, taking care to document her work on her personal Instagram page. Last year, Rohner received the opportunity to take her hobby one step further by becoming the debut subject of Study magazine. The inaugural issue features a vast collection of images shot by the model, displaying her discerning eye for beauty amidst the mundane.