Sonia Rykiel took inspiration from the Côte d'Azur this season, specifically an Art Deco hotel in the town of Juan-les-Pins, where she vacations. On the surface, the collection looked like classic Rykiel: an abundance of knits, trompe l'oeil touches, and a jumpsuit or two. But, more than ever, these clothes were designed with ease in mind. The knits were a mix of ultra-lightweight 16-ply cashmere and fine-gauge merino wool, and a blush-hued jumpsuit—it actually looked like a two-piece suit—was cut in comfy stretch wool. To impart a sense of girlishness, the designer mixed in plenty of zigzag trims. The best was the grosgrain detail on a pair of cropped tuxedo trousers. As for the season's print? "175 Boulevard Saint-Germain," the address of Rykiel's Paris boutique, was splashed across a crepe frock. Not that her loyal customers would need a reminder.
