It’s Ready to Wear by Sonia Rykiel

Over the holidays, I enjoyed viewing the Jacqueline Kennedy exhibit at the Musee de la Mode.  With quiet reflection on that time period, I followed the stairs to the next floor thinking there was a continuation of the Kennedy exhibit.  What I found, instead, was another exhibit of designer clothing from the 60’s.  Though only a teenager in Gary, Indiana in the 60’s and not very exposed to Paris designers at that time, I certainly remember a lot of the trends of that time. 

However, it wasn’t until the 70’s working at I. Magnin in Chicago that I started to really know the names of the designers represented in this exhibit.  Then in the 80’s when I started to come to Paris, I discovered with delight the fabrics, colors, textures and forms of many more of the designers displayed in the exhibit. 

One of my favorite designers from the time of my first introduction of designer ready-to-wear was and still is Sonia Rykiel.  I made a point to find some of her clothing in this exhibit curious to see her vision of those times.  And when I did, I was fascinated at how the sweaters she created then could still be worn today…40-some years later.

My own introduction to Sonia Rykiel came through my cousin, Leslie, who had been coming to France for many years and would come home with some of Sonia Rykiel’s clothing.  Leslie is definitely a woman of style and she wore Sonia Rykiel very well.  I loved the sweater outfits that she wore but also admired the feel, colors and style of the Sonia Rykiel velour outfits.  I was determined on my first trip to Paris to come home with an outfit.  That is exactly what I did.  And I worn it, and worn it…it was so comfortable, dressed up, dressed down, while traveling and I was amazed the lasting power of the fabric.  To this day, I have a velour top that I purchased in 1989.  Ok, so I wear it around the house with my comfy clothes.  But it is pretty amazing to think that it still holds up.  In fact, I like that after my SR velours become a little faded and worn,they can have a new life as my comfy clothes to wear around the house!

Finally, when I got remarried in 2000, it became very clear, after looking at suits and dresses by other ready-to-wear designers, that I was going to be married wearing a suit by Sonia Rykiel.  I spent a fortune (for my current pocket) but I know that I will wear that suit again as long as I keep the numbers on the bathroom scale the same!  The suit was perfect, dressy, classic, feminine and it had flair.

Ok, so I clearly like this woman’s clothes.  But why do I find her designs so appealing?  I have read a few publication about Sonia Rykiel and what I have read makes me like wearing her clothes even more.  I now see who she is reflected in the clothes she designs.  She is a woman who blends liberation, with intellect, with femininity and with sensuality.  Her interests and approach to life encompass her family, home, the world, politics and pleasure.  I also find it elevating that while other designers have allowed themselves to be gobbled up by big luxury conglomerates, this woman has stayed independent. I can clearly translate her own characteristics in wearing her clothes. They are liberating, feminine, sensual and yet intelligent.  She is the personification of the definition of style.  And stylish is how I want to feel and look in my clothes.  

My understanding is that she started her career in the 60’s just when a woman’s roles were changing.   She had not been able to find just the right sweater for herself so she had a Venice manufacturer that worked with her husband make a sweater for her that she designed.  The magazine Elle featured this sweater and her career was launched.  She also had great timing as the 60’s were a time when woman were leaving haute couture behind in favor of designer ready-to-wear that was affordable but of quality.