Alber Elbaz Has Been Awarded France’s Highest Honour

And his famous friends were in tow to celebrate

Lanvin’s former creative director Alber Elbaz has been honoured as a recipient of the Commander of the Legion of Honour, which is France’s highest honour. It has previously been awarded to the likes of Azzedine Alaia and Elizabeth Taylor.

“I’m still in love with fashion and I miss fashion and I miss you all. One day we may be back together, but maybe another place. It’s the people I miss,” the designer told the crowd, according to WWD. 

Alber left Lanvin last year, after 14 years at the helm, after a dispute with the brand’s parent company. The French minister of culture and communications Audrey Azoulay presented Alber the award and described his relationship with the brand as “the beginning of a great love affair, even if love affairs don’t always end well.” Alber himself joked with the crowd also saying, “Here I am during fashion week, inviting you to a show without dresses.”

Many of the designer’s long-time devotees like Demi Moore and Kristen Scott Thomas were present to see him receive the award, with Kristen telling press that she needs Alber to get back into designing. “He has to – I need more dresses!” she laughed.

There has been no word from Alber as to whether or not he will return to design, but he did announce his latest collaboration – a fragrance, called Superstitious, with perfume house Frédéric Malle, set to launch in March 2017.