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French Culture minister Audrey Azoulay (L) awards fashion designer Alber Elbaz with the Officier de la Legion d'Honneur (Officer of the Legion of Honour) medal during a ceremony at the Culture Ministry in Paris, France, October 3, 2016. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen Image Credit: REUTERS

Former Lanvin designer and icon of fashion Alber Elbaz was awarded the French Legion of Honour, the country’s highest civilian distinction for his services to fashion. He was flanked by his celebrity friends, actresses Demi Moore and Kristin Scott Thomas, as he accepted the award.

France’s Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay presented the award to the famously effusive 55-year-old Moroccan-Israeli in a ceremony on Monday, in which Elbaz paid homage to the storied house he had successfully steered for fifteen years. He left Lanvin in October 2015.

“I want to thank all my collaborators from Lanvin who helped me to realize my dreams every day, day after day,” he said.

“You are the best orchestra I have ever had and one day we will maybe be back together but maybe in another place... I miss you all,” he added.