Knitty Gritty: Sonia Rykiel Style ( A Tribute To The Queen of Knitwear) The French designer, and notorious redhead, Sonia Rykiel (May 25, 1930-August 25, 2016), famous for her inadvertent debut as a designer by selling a popular poor boy sweater from her Paris boutique (modelled by French pop idol Francoise Hardy on the cover of Elle, December 1963); is gone but will never be forgotten in the fashion world. Christian Lacroix said he associates her name with: a very precise, sinuous silhouette, knitwear forever, stripes, sequins, fedoras, Twenties makeup, black and beige. [Rykiel favored a red, blue, white, and black color palette.] She was the link in between Vionnet, Schiaparelli, Chanel and her generation of women designers, with a modern, feminist, optimistic and free approach to fashion, the world and the times, he declared on the day of her funeral. This parade will showcase authentic items labelled "Rykiel," but also derivative fashion pieces which were a breath of fresh air for the modern woman of style in her time -- something we now take for granted: loose culottes, striped sweaters, ribbed sweaters, motif sweaters, unstructured skirts, pants, coats, along with berets and other chic headwear; soft jersey dresses, reversible dresses. In addition to knitwear, parade out garments made to be worn with the seams intentionally showing on the outside, faux fur jackets, big capes, and minimalist 1970s garb that are no-frills, wearable pieces. (Upper right) Polaroid photo of Sonia Rykiel by Andy Warhol, 1986
From my sold archives: 1970s culottes / knickerbockers & sweater top pattern Burda 68013 1970s wide tunic dress pattern Tina 2810 1970s culottes jumpsuit pattern Ullstein 8258 From my shop: 1970s pant skirt / culottes / maxi skirt pattern Vogue 8155 1970s wide-legged jumpsuit and collarless jacket pattern Vogue 8444
Vintage Sweater Dress - 70s Cotton Knit for Fall & Winter - Burgundy Maroon V Neck Vintage Tea Length Dress - 80s Lesley Fay Midi T Shirt Dress - New with Tags - 10 70s Boho Tweed Sweater - Vintage Zip Up Cardigan - Big Collar - Short Heather Cardigan
1990s Sonia Rykiel Black Faux Fur and Satin Reversible Coat 1980s Sonia Rykiel Silk Crepe Wrap Dress 1980s Black and Purple Wool Sweater by Sonia Rykiel
Black and white stripes 70s sweater rhinestones size S 34-36" bust Becky Bisoulis 80s dress black jersey size XXS 32-34" bust 23" waist Black knit 1980s sweater dress rhinestones size S 36" bust From our archives: green wool knit 80s Sonia Rykiel cape with tassels