Designer Sonia Rykiel, "Queen of Knitwear," Dead at 86

Designer Sonia Rykiel, “Queen of Knitwear,” Dead at 86

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Renee DeCoskey Last updated: August 25, 2016

French designer Sonia Rykiel, known to the fashion industry as the Queen of Knitware, has died at the age of 86.

Rykiel is known best for her contributions to liberate women’s fashion, especially following the 60s and 70s. Her “poor boy sweaters” with their multi-colored stripes and bold patterns gave women alternatives to the suits they had been wearing, allowing for a much more relaxed style.

She got her start when she became pregnant and designed knitwear for herself as maternity dresses. Following that, she began designing items for her husband’s boutique, and eventually opened her own store on the Left Bank in Paris in 1968. Women’s Wear Daily, a fashion trade publication, called her “the queen of knitwear.”

Designer Sonia Rykiel Dies; Social Media Responds:

I shall wear my Sonia Rykiel stripes with pride today. Here's to a truly brilliant woman. https://t.co/SYrcCBsKLf

— Hollie Newton (@HollieNuisance) August 25, 2016

RIP Sonia Rykiel, queen of knitwear, rule breaker, pioneer and visionary creative mind.

— Man Repeller (@ManRepeller) August 25, 2016

What an inspiration! She was simply fabulous & one of my favorite designers! Rest well Fashion Queen! #SoniaRykiel pic.twitter.com/m6xFe1SclN

— They're Just Clothes (@NekiBoshTJC) August 25, 2016

RIP designer Sonia Rykiel. @FLOTUS famously wore the French designer's plastic belt in 2009. https://t.co/xEtD4U6xEM pic.twitter.com/x04lwA3SFu

— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) August 25, 2016

A tribute to @soniarykiel's iconic catwalk moments: https://t.co/JHvpwpk3rr @VogueParis pic.twitter.com/Zw5anXVN7J

— Karen Karch (@KarenKarch) August 25, 2016

Sonia Rykiel: "How can you live the high life if you do not wear the high heels?" A great icon lost pic.twitter.com/7Oiu0jnFZf

— Maria Allen (@MariaJameel) August 25, 2016

Heard the horrible news that Sonia Rykiel has passed away, I'll apply an extra coat of her nail polish color for lancome in her honor today

— Abi (@abi_bistany) August 25, 2016

Source: Yahoo
Image source: By nicogenin (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons