Sophie Fontanel receives Legion of Honor

Le Tout Paris celebrated France’s most famous fashion writer Sophie Fontanel this weekend, when the noted scribe was awarded the Chevalier de Légion d’Honneur.

 
Presented inside the Left Bank’s most happening art space Nemmours Gallery, there was practically designer gridlock at the event: with Jean Charles de Castelbajac, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Alexandre Mattiussi, Rabih Kayrouz, Elite Top, and Ines de la Fressange all in attendance.
 
After celebrating her 21 published books, dating back to her 1995 debut Sacré Paul, French costume designer and film producer Rosalie Varda pinned the famed medal onto the lapel of the classic two-button black Yves Saint Laurent jacket Fontanel wore with white sailor pants.

 
“When I acquired this jacket in a vintage store, the boutique owner told me when I put it on that it would lead to something historic. And looks like he was right,” joked Fontanel, whose invitation read Sacré Sophie.

In a novel touch, the new chevalier pinned personal notes to scores of guests on the gallery’s white walls. “Honour to Veronique Nichanian for our so French stateless voyages,” read one referring to Hermès soon to depart menswear designer. “Honour to Simone Porte Jacquemus, for a regard that says everything,” or “Honour to (documentary filmmaker) Loïc Prigent for the fraternité carried out to this extent.” While de Castelbajac was lauded for his “true nobility. A smile.”

 
Colleagues were also kindly treated: Madame Figaro’s fashion editor Delphine Perroy praised “for the smile that heals everything,” while yours truly had a note that read: “Honour to Godfrey Deeny for the tender authority.”
 
In an impressive career, Fontanel has been editor in chief of French Cosmopolitan; TV star Nulle part ailleurs- France’s number one talk show of the 90s; Grand Reporter of Elle; and, for the past decade, columnist for news weekly L’Obs.  Plus, her pithy commentary on all things fashionable has won her 489K followers on Instagram.

 
Not bad going for a lady whose grandmother fled the Armenian genocide to France a century ago clutching, legend has it, a page of Vogue up her sleeve.