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Tina And Nicolas Fete Armani’s Legion of Honor

Tina Turner serenaded Giorgio Armani with an impromptu version of “Simply the Best” at a Thursday night dinner to honor the Italian couturier becoming Officer of the Legion of Honor.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy had pinned the medal on Armani in a 6PM ceremony in the Elysees Palace, recalling in his discourse the key role of “America Gigolo” in the Italian’s career and wise cracking that he too was in the market for a few free clothes.

“That was a pleasantry. That was a pleasantry. You never know what people might say these days,” he said, gesturing to the bank of TV cameras, as the crowd of 150 roared with laughter in the Winter Garden in a joint Italian moment for Armani and actress Claudia Cardinale who reached the level of Commander.

“I had to go to Rome recently to see the Pope and booked lunch in a restaurant, and who should be sitting inside when I walked in? Claudia Cardinale. Plus I married a certain Italian; so I suppose there are worse lives,” beamed Sarkozy, who practically wrestled with a lectern underneath the splendid tapestries by Raphael, another lad from the peninsula.

Applauding the designer’s latest honor were Carla and Silvia Fendi, Nathalie Rykiel, Lady Helen Taylor, Eugenia Silva, Mafalda von Hessen and Oscar winner Helen Mirren, whom Armani had dressed in the 1990 film “The Comfort of Strangers.”

“It’s an immense honor for me, and one that reflects very well on all the great people we have at Giorgio Armani,” the designer told FWD later in the evening, as the 73-year-old circulated tables at the dinner for 80 guests in the Pavillon de Ledoyen.

Mirren, who had spent the week in Paris and attended the Armani Prive couture collection show on Monday, won her Oscar for “The Queen,” where she brilliantly mimicked both the accent and walk of Elizabeth II.

“She has a very particular walk. She stumps around, very determined, pushing forward, feet spread apart. I’d say it is be the exact opposite of a model’s walk, where they lean away back and cross over the feet all the time,” said the actress, doing an imitation of a super model catwalk stroll.

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