“Liberté, Égalitié et Fraternité” – France’s national motto – was the thread running through Diane von Furstenberg’s Légion d’Honneur ceremony at the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs in Paris. On Friday, the designer, icon, and former CFDA Chairwoman was awarded the prestigious Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by her longtime friend and mentor Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Bank. Needless to say, this was a celebration of von Furstenberg, and also of female achievement, power and women who are, as DVF herself likes to put it, #InCharge.

Hosted by Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, guests were greeted outside by the Republican Guard, which lined the stairs that led into a salon fit for Versailles – replete with a string quartet and a charming house cat. The guest list featured lifelong friends from fashion, art and literary circles; her close family, and many more, and included Anna Wintour, Betty Catroux, Christian Louboutin, Jeff Bezos, Gabriela Hearst, Ines de la Fressange, Antoine Arnault and Natalia Vodianova, Anne McNally, Suzy Menkes, and Jonathan Newhouse.

Lagarde took the stage and spoke about von Furstenberg’s life, comparing her tireless work for the Statue of Liberty to the strong Franco-American friendship.

She recounted meeting her at school in Geneva, her family’s struggles through the Holocaust, her life in New York; landing the cover of Newsweek, and her support of the arts and her philanthropy.

“She wasn’t sure what she wanted to be,” Lagarde said, “but she was sure she wanted to be in charge.”

Von Furstenberg recalled the moment she found out about this prestigious honor. “I was on a boat with a group of friends and family, reading about four tomes on Napoleon when I received the news from Francoise de Lac, the secretaire general de Nice that I was to get this honor. So thank you Francoise, Monsieur Le Drian and Napoleon for this award.”

She thanked Lagarde and Lady Liberty. “It was  officially named Liberty Enlightening the World and god knows right now we need it,” she said. “When you have a voice, it is our duty and privilege to use that voice for those who have none.”

Here, DVF’s friends and fans shared their stories about Diane:

Gad Elmaleh: “She is  my guardian angel. When I moved to the U.S. for the show, she was very helpful and important to my work there.  She’s the ‘Gadmother’ – we have a pun! My first American television appearance with Seth Meyers was because of her, then came Jimmy Fallon. She helped me out and really looked after me. I am very happy that I met her.”

Suzy Menkes: “The extraordinary thing about Diane is that she seems to have had so many lives. She had her earlier life and then a later life in fashion. I really started to cover her clothes when she relaunched at the end of the last millennium. It was extraordinary to me how the same idea she had the all that time – something that was elegant, sexy, and easy to wear – was still so relevant. She understands modern women’s lives and she understood it ahead of anyone.”

Ines de la Fressange: “We always see each other when she comes to Paris. I really admire her so much because she has so much energy and benevolence. She’s bright, she’s quick, and she’s friendly and faithful. I’m happy to be here!”

Jonathan Newhouse: “Diane is a brilliant, talented, and accomplished designer and her personality has contributed so much the fashion industry and culture in general. She is deeply deserving of this award.”

Antoine Arnault: “I met Diane when I met my wife Natalia. She told me, ‘Diane is my fashion godmother.’ We became close friends and I always seek her advice on fashion. She is like my personal HR secret weapon!”

Betty Catroux: “We were friends through the years. Diane is my husband’s best friend. We had our babies together at the same time and we never left each other  She is so extraordinary and brilliant. She is the ideal woman. She is so clever. She is the way one should be; positive and full of energy with a kind heart. She deserves everything good that happens to her.”

Christian Louboutin: “She is like family to me! I’ve known her more than 30 years, we always have fun together.”

Carine Roitfeld: “She is positive, creative and energetic! I love her impact on the fashion community. She is like family to me.”