Sophie Fontanel receives the Legion of Honor

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

Presented inside the Left Bank's busiest art space, Nemmours Gallery, there was virtually a deadlock of designers at the event: with Jean Charles de Castelbajac, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Alexandre Mattiussi, Rabih Kayrouz, Elite Top and Ines de la Fressange in attendance.

After celebrating her 21 published books, dating back to her 1995 debut, Sacré Paul, French costume designer and film producer Rosalie Varda placed the famous medal on the lapel of the classic two-button black Yves Saint Laurent jacket that Fontanel wore with white sailor pants.

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

In a novel touch, the new gentleman posted personal notes to dozens of guests on the gallery's white walls. “Honor to Veronique Nichanian for our very French and countryless travels,” said one, referring to Hermès, who will soon stop being a men's clothing designer. “Honor to Simone Porte Jacquemus, for a respect that says it all,” or “Honor to (the documentary filmmaker) Loïc Prigent for the fraternity carried out up to this point.” While De Castelbajac was praised for his “true nobility. A smile.”

Colleagues were also treated kindly: Madame Figaro's fashion editor Delphine Perroy praised “for the all-healing smile,” while this server had a note that read: “Honor to Godfrey Deeny for his tender authority.”

In an impressive career, Fontanel has been editor-in-chief of the French magazine Cosmopolitan; TV star Nulle part ailleurs: France's number one talk show in the 90s; Great Elle reporter; and, for the last decade, a columnist for the weekly news magazine L'Obs. Additionally, her pithy commentary on all things fashion has earned her 489,000 followers on Instagram.

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