Victoria Beckham Receives French Knighthood In Synchronised Style With Her Family
Almost a decade after her 2017 OBE, Victoria Beckham has a new addition to her CV – and this one’s extra personal. On the opening day of Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, the designer received her flowers in her beloved city of Paris as she was honoured as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture at an intimate ceremony. “It’s been a long road to get here and I’m so grateful to you David – my husband and my original investor – for seeing my passion for this business and my determination to build something that we can both be really proud of. Thank you to my parents and to my children for always believing in my vision. Every single person in this room has been part of my journey and I am ever grateful to every single one of you.”
A few moments earlier, Beckham also acknowledged the support of her business partners David Bellhassen, Ralph Toledano and Neo Investment Partners, as well as her in-house teams “for their dedication, creativity and trust.”
For the occasion, Beckham opted for a sleek black long-sleeved dress with leg-baring high cuts on each side. She was joined by David, as well as their children Cruz, Romeo, and Harper Beckham – all dressed in equally dark tones. Also present at the ceremony were Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful, François-Henri Pinault, Antoine Arnault, Haider Ackermann and Helena Christensen.
The Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters award – Chevalière de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres – is one of the country’s most prestigious honours, traditionally awarded by the French government to those who have made significant contributions to the fields of arts, literature and culture in their own country and internationally.
Presenting her with the honour, French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati praised Beckham for staying true to her vision. “Over the years and through your fashion shows, you have invented your own unique language. Behind an apparent simplicity lies meticulous architectural work. A cut, a seam, a drape are enough to transform a piece. You have made this precision your DNA. You do not design to impress on the catwalk. You design clothes you would like to wear. For you, there is no gap between the catwalk and the boutique. It’s all about consistency and continuity. Ultimately, it’s this authenticity that makes luxury fairer, more legible and accessible.”
“For this honour and for your kind words, I am extremely grateful. I am deeply patriotic and so proud to be British, but France is one of the few places where fashion is treated with the seriousness it deserves – as a form of art,” Beckham continued. “I always greatly admired the French aesthetic and to be recognised here and embraced in this way is a profound privilege – one that reflects years of commitment and dedication.”
Beckham’s recent Netflix documentary focused on the former popstar’s journey to officially present her collections in the capital during Paris Fashion Week. “Showing on the most important stage in the fashion calendar and feeling such acceptance and belonging is something I really don’t take lightly, and I will continue to work very hard to honour it,” she said on Monday evening. “Fashion is never the achievement of just one person – from design to the atelier to the production and communications teams and the many minds and hands working together, it is a collaborative effort and this distinction isn’t mine alone.”
Post-ceremony, the Beckhams whisked past awaiting paparazzi to join friends, designers and editors for a private dinner party celebrating the honour.
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Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham.
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Victoria Beckham.
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Victoria Beckham.
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Juergen Teller, Victoria Beckham.
