Sonia Rykiel, with her flaming red hair and platform heels, is an icon of Paris’ arty Saint Germain neighborhood. As a lover of literature and art, she has remained faithful to the Left Bank enclave for years. She hangs out so often at Café de Flore, where Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir used to talk philosophy over cigarettes and espresso, that she has a special sandwich named after her. So there’s no question Rykiel has a special connection to Paris and finds ample inspiration in the cobblestone streets, jazz cafes and intellectual history. As the designer celebrates the 40th anniversary of the house she made famous for insouciant knitwear, stripes, sexy dresses and, of course, sparkling rhinestones, Rykiel shares her favorite Paris addresses with WWDScoop.
This story first appeared in the September 29, 2008 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
