January 4, 2007 - Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, has been awarded France’s highest honor, Commandant de la Légion d’Honneur, by the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry for service to his country.

Lanvin’s Creative Director, Alber Elbaz, will be knighted Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and decorated at a ceremony on January 25th during the Paris Haute Couture shows.

Fashionlines Favorite Alber Elbaz with Chloe Sevigny
Fashionlines file photo

Meanwhile, men’s wear designer Kris Van Ascche, the heir apparent to the Dior Homme throne, has found his ascendancy put on hold. WWD reports that although Hedi Slimane has not sorted out a final contract, a women’s line being the sticking point, he is still in charge of Dior Homme and scheduled to show the Winter 2008 collection in Paris on January 30. Sources at LVMH, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said that Bernard Arnault and his daughter, Delphine, are two of the designer’s supporters. Arnault was responsible for Slimane’s initial appointment as Creative Director of the Dior Homme label over the objections of Dior Couture President, Sydney Toledano, concerned over the financial risk involved.