(NEW YORK) France presented Gaby Aghion with a stylish salute: The Chloé founder was honored as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor for her bountiful contributions to fashion. Aurélie Filippetti, the French culture and communications minister, adorned Aghion with the red medal, while praising her modernization of prêt-à-porter as we know it today.
Clare Waight Keller, the current creative director of the label, was on hand to congratulate Aghion, along with a slew of the label’s head honchos, including Chloé CEO Geoffroy de la Bourdonnaye. At 92 years old, Aghion joins the ranks of Azzedine Alaïa, Valentino Garavani, Cecil Beaton, and Josephine Baker as a recipient of the prestigious medal.
Aghion created Chloé in 1952; the Egyptian-born designer debuted her first collection in 1956 at Café de Flore in Paris’ Left Bank with her partner, Jacques Lenoir. The brand filled the gap between unattainable couture designs and basic collections. The luxurious and feminine wardrobes she began producing were later accredited as the première ready-to-wear collections. In 1986, Aghion and Lenoir retired from the label, from their respective posts as vice president and president. The brand is now owned by Richemont. Throughout the label’s history, the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, and Phoebe Philo have done stints as Chloé’s head designer.
Recent Legion of Honor inductees have included Hermès International artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Harper’s Bazaar EIC Glenda Bailey, and Vogue Italia’s Franca Sozzani.
