{ house of style } sonia rykiel

sonia rykiel, spring 2008

last october, the designer sonia rykiel celebrated the 40th anniversary of her eponymous label with a rollicking runway reverie, culminating in a surprise 30-piece finale parade of tribute looks, designed by rykiel's top contemporaries (everyone from jean paul gaultier to ralph laruen to christian lacroix and martin margiela!).

it was a spontaneous style spectacular, and the party's far from over. this month, rizzoli launches a beautiful coffee table book celebrating sonia, who recently shared her '10 rules of style' with elle magazine:

1. know yourself
"what counts is how you look at yourself ~ what you should show and what you should hide. you have to spend time in front of a mirror. very few women pay attention to that."


sonia rykiel, photographed by andy warhol

2. use your head
"my style corresponds to the image i have of the left bank woman who pays attention to what's going on in the streets, in politics, in the world. clothing is also something that happens in your head."


the warhol portrait, reinterpreted as a dress by jean-charles de castelbajac, spring 2009

3. remember the power of black
"black is a magnificent color ~ it gives you an outline like a

pencil stroke."

4. add a little sparkle
"i love accessories ~ bags, shoes, brooches, necklaces. i even like to have a crystal comb or a flower in my hair. if you're wearing a little black dress, a sparkling detail adds a simple and pretty touch."

5. have a fail-safe outfit
"it's important to have an outfit that always works for you ~ one that you know looks good when you are in a rush."


martin margiela's riff on rykiel's distinctive look, spring 2009

6. learn the art of packing *
"i always travel with lots of long jackets, in black, brown, or navy blue, and matching trousers. then i mix and match the jackets and the trousers."

7. let your feet do the talking
"i love eccentric, quirky shoes with colors and very high heels that are gilded or extravagantly embellished with crystals. a pretty foot underlines a look. it's a way of defining a style."

8. dress for yourself
"of course fashion is important, but i think the way you live counts for more. a woman should be herself and dress according

to who she is."

9. seduce with your style
"it's very natural to be sexy, to be seductive ~ it's a way of being. you can do much by paying careful attention to your clothes, by knowing a length or a certain color that suits you."

10. ignore other people's advice
"you shouldn't ask for other people's advice, and certainly not your partner's. it's useless. you need to know yourself ~ that's enough."


sonia rykiel, fall 2008

* though i have my own staunch opinions on the art of packing, i certainly think rykiel's rules give a good, general foundation for building your individual look on.

what's the best bit of fashion advice you've ever received?