KNIGHT MOVES: Ever the multitasker, Pharrell Williams bookended men’s fashion week in Paris with his fall 2026 Louis Vuitton collection, and a Legion of Honor ceremony at the Élysée Palace, the official residence of French President Emmanuel Macron.
At a private ceremony, Macron decorated Williams as a Knight, placing a metal with a red ribbon on his French blue suit, which the designer wore with a white shirt and no tie.
Both Williams and Macron wore sunglasses, though surely for different reasons. (Macron is reportedly hiding a burst blood vessel in one eye and the sunglasses he wore as a result were the talk of the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzlerland.)
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Williams was notified of the civilian honor last July, awarded by the French state in recognition of his contributions to culture and the creative industries.
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Williams posed for photos with the likes of Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton; Pietro Beccari, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton and chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group, and France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron, who also wore blue.
The American performer has evolved into a global fashion force since taking the men’s creative reins at Vuitton in 2023, where he has plied his unique blend of streetwear, luxury, entertainment and celebrity power.
He has also collaborated with other LVMH-owned brands on projects, such as a limited-edition bottle for Moët & Chandon, and jewelry for the house of Tiffany.
Other fashion luminaries who have received the honor include Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix. Historically, Yves Saint Laurent was named a Grand Officer in 2007, while Karl Lagerfeld and Pierre Cardin were named Commanders in 1997 and 2001 respectively.