Victoria Beckham Receives French Knighthood, Stepping Out in Synchronized Style With Her Family
Almost a decade after her 2017 OBE, Victoria Beckham has added a new resume highlight—and this one’s extra personal. This afternoon, the designer received her flowers in her beloved city of Paris as she was honored 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 sleeve gown 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 honors, 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 honor, 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 honor 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 recognized 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 pop star’s journey to officially present her collections in the capital during the Paris Fashion Week calendar. “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 honor 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 honor.
Photo by: James D Kelly1/10Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham
Photo by: James D Kelly2/10Victoria Beckham
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