French Designer Sonia Rykiel Passes Away at 86

published 25 August 2016

Sad news from Paris this morning: Legendary French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel has died at age 86, WWD reports. She had battled with Parkinson's disease. Affectionately known as the "Queen of Knitwear," Rykiel was particularly known for her brand's signature striped sweaters, and counted none other than Audrey Hepburn and Lauren Bacall as early fans.

Designer Jean Paul Gaultier wrote a touching note dedicated to Rykiel on Instagram, saying, "All my admiration for the revolutionary work that you gave to women. Thank you for the inspiration and style that you gave to all of us." Another French designer, Christian Lacroix, was similarly enchanted by Rykiel. “She was the link in between Vionnet, Schiaparelli, Chanel and her generation of women designers, with a modern, feminist, optimistic and free approach to fashion, the world and the times,” Lacroix told WWD.

Scroll down to see how the fashion industry is paying tribute to Sonia Rykiel.

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How will you be paying tribute to the French icon? Tell us in the comments below, and then shop her namesake brand in her memory.

Opening image: Getty Images

Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern in 2011—back when the site only published a single story per day. (We have since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC and lives in Los Angeles. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2015, where she is now the Associate Director of Fashion News. From the Oscars to the Met Gala, she leads the site's entire red carpet coverage strategy. She specializes in celebrity and fashion news but also enjoys writing travel features and runway reports. She frequently contributes to WWW's social accounts and has a sizable following on her personal TikTok.