Karl Lagerfeld awarded legion d'honneur

Lagerfeld received his award in the company of the Parisian glitterati, from President Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni, to Carine Roitfeld, LVMH director Delphine Arnault, and Chanel muse Amanda Harlech, all of whom celebrated with a garden party in the presidential grounds.

Sarkozy and Lagerfeld were heard comparing notes on their mutual tendency towards hyperactivity; with Sarkozy remarking to the latter that "frankly, I really enjoy your company because next to you, I feel calm, quiet and a bit of a drudge.” In keeping with Lagerfeld's discriminating aesthetic standards, his medal was a one-off, created for the designer by the French mint in collaboration with Chanel's own jewellery house.

Those anticipating one of Lagerfeld's pithy epigrams to mark the occasion, however, were disappointed; with the designer making a low key acceptance speech: "I am much better at making small talk than at giving speeches"

Click here to see the Chanel Spring Summer catwalk show...