Stella McCartney Receives Legion of Honor From French President Emmanuel Macron
- Samantha Conti
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
McCartney was surrounded by family and friends, including Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Watts and Bianca Jagger, during Thursday night's ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris.
Stella McCartney and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
A STAR FOR STELLA: It was a family affair on Thursday night at the Élysée Palace in Paris, where President Emanuel Macron decorated Stella McCartney as a Knight of the Legion of Honor.
Macron pinned a red ribbon and green and white medallion to the front of McCartney’s dark blue, faux fur-trimmed skirt suit, in the presence of her father Sir Paul McCartney, husband Alasdhair Willis, sister Mary, brother James, and the designer’s two youngest children.
The French president spoke at length about McCartney’s fashion career, her efforts in sustainability, environmental conservation and animal rights, as well as her dedication to her family. He praised the “shared values” between McCartney and France. “You love France and our country loves you back,” Macron said.
He even joked that the honor was truly “limited-edition.” The Legion of Honor is the most prestigious French national order of merit, and was originally established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Stella McCartney with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace in Paris. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
McCartney, who received the honor the day after her fall 2026 show in Paris, said France “has shaped so much of my life and career. This city has always welcomed and supported me, but also challenged and inspired me. This recognition is not just for me, but for my family, my team, the innovators and the partners who have worked tirelessly and passionately to prove that fashion can be both desirable and responsible.”
She added: “It’s also recognition that luxury fashion houses can think about fashion in a conscious, passionate way without having to compromise on beauty – we are proof. There is still so much to do, but I am still hopeful – and still determined – that together we can reshape our industry to serve nature, all living creatures and future generations.”
McCartney spent much of her career in Paris, interning with Christian Lacroix when she was just getting started, and later serving as creative director of Chloé from 1997 until 2001, when she founded her namesake fashion house.
Over the years, she has partnered with Kering and LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and her brand is a fixture on the Paris Fashion Week calendar. McCartney remains a Global Ambassador on Sustainability for LVMH, advising its executive leadership on environmental strategy.
Naomi Watts with Stella McCartney at the Elysée Palace. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
Guests at the Élysée Palace reception included Macron’s wife Brigitte Macron, Stella McCartney’s new CEO Tom Mendenhall, Antoine Arnault, his wife Natalia Vodianova and sister Delphine Arnault. Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Bianca Jagger and Naomi Watts also attended.
McCartney was a little jittery before the ceremony, cracking jokes, offering to get people canapés and trying, at one point, to get everyone to sing “All You Need Is Love,” which starts with a few bars of La Marseillaise.
After the ceremony, McCartney said she was happy her father and her siblings could be there.
“I looked over to dad, and I suddenly realized that my husband and children have seen me get my other honors in England, but my father never managed to. It was also incredible to have it in a private room and have [the president] make a lengthy speech,” she said.
Nancy Shevell, Mary McCartney, Paul McCartney, Stella McCartney, Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron, Alasdhair Willis, James McCartney. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
In 2022 McCartney was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE. She received her OBE, or Order of the British Empire award, from the queen in 2013.
“The queen didn’t talk. She just said: ‘Nice to meet you,’ and then you kind of back off [backward] and hope you don’t fall over. It’s incredibly different,” she remarked.
It’s been a big year so far for McCartney. Last month, she was named an ambassador of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, which was set up by Britain’s King Charles to encourage world leaders and chief executive officers of private companies to put sustainability at the heart of global value creation.
“The Sustainable Markets Initiative is an organization I have proudly supported since its inception in 2020, and I am so grateful to His Majesty for this recognition. For me, the most important thing about the SMI is that its focus goes beyond discussion to driving action,” said McCartney.
Stella McCartney and Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, where the designer received her Legion of Honor. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
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