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Natali RikelModel, designer, perfumer, actress, art director and heir to the famous French brand Sonia Rykiel
Country:
 France |
Content:
- From the Bolshoi Theater to the Femme Rykiel-XXI
- The Lessons from Sonia Rykiel
- The Slavic Soul in Natalie Rykiel
- The Bold Actions of Natalie Rykiel
- Dealing with Bad Habits
- From the Sweater to Rykiel-XXI
Natalie Rykiel: Model, Designer, Perfumer, Actress, Art Director and Heiress
Natalie Rykiel, a model, designer, perfumer, actress, art director, and heiress of the famous French brand Sonia Rykiel, has arrived in Moscow. She is considered to be one of the true stylish Parisian women, often referred to as "femme chic".
From the Bolshoi Theater to the Femme Rykiel-XXI
During her visit, Natalie Rykiel shared her perspective on what it means to be a Rykiel woman in an interview with Lydia Shamina from "Izvestiya". She began her visit by exploring the Bolshoi Theater store, known for its ballet items. Natalie's eldest daughter, Tatiana, is passionate about dance, and she had heard that the ballet shoes in Moscow are of excellent quality. Natalie appreciates anything that is done professionally.
The Rykiel-XXI woman, according to Natalie, is a woman who always moves forward, lives with love, tenderness, and values family. At the same time, she is alluring, knows how to present herself, and is capable of being frivolous. This glamorous woman is also practical. By Parisian standards, she belongs to the Left Bank, meaning she is a bit bohemian, extremely elegant, highly sensitive, and far from bourgeois. She may do crazy things, like spending all her money on a pair of shoes, but it is not her priority. She is willing to give her last possession to someone in need. Clothing is just an accessory for her.
The Lessons from Sonia Rykiel
Natalie Rykiel learned valuable lessons from her famous mother, Sonia Rykiel. From her early childhood, her mother made her feel like the most important person in the world. Sonia never sacrificed things like travel or love stories for her children. This feeling stayed with Natalie throughout her life and helped her navigate through difficult moments. Recently, Natalie and her brother had a conversation about it, and her brother admitted that he also felt like the most important person to their mother. They were both amazed at how their mother managed to convey this sense of uniqueness to both of her children. This lesson, according to Natalie, is something she will carry with her for life: one can deceive and still be truly honest.
The Slavic Soul in Natalie Rykiel
Natalie Rykiel has a deep appreciation for Moscow. She has visited the city five times and always discovers something astonishing. She feels at home in Moscow, and her emotional impulses are very Russian. She experiences deep melancholy that can quickly turn into joy and vice versa. However, her Slavic soul is also characterized by an incredible interest in everything happening around her. This curiosity is typical of Russians, as Natalie observes each time she visits Moscow.
The Bold Actions of Natalie Rykiel
Natalie Rykiel has made numerous bold moves in her life. The most recent one was coming to Moscow during a period of mourning. She could have stayed in Paris, which would also have been a protest. However, she decided to come to show that she is not afraid.
Dealing with Bad Habits
Natalie Rykiel acknowledges that she has some bad habits. One of the main ones is her bad parking skills. She never has enough time to park her car properly. She describes herself as a spontaneous and undisciplined person. She can eat from morning till evening, indulging in unhealthy salads or staying up all night reading. She tries to fight against these habits. For instance, she attempts to quit smoking but ends up starting again. She blames her Slavic soul, as she does everything wholeheartedly. Her children often get annoyed because they can never reach her on the phone. Once again, someone is calling her.
From the Sweater to Rykiel-XXI
The Sonia Rykiel fashion house began in 1962 with a simple gray sweater that Sonia Rykiel created for her husband. Sonia recalls her career's beginnings, saying that fashion was a blank page for her. She never followed the accepted trends and preferred to adhere to her own philosophy, which could be summed up in one word: antifashion. The first models by Sonia Rykiel, influenced by the student revolution in 1968, became iconic. They included wide trousers, loose knitted sweaters, and open tops. Later, striped sweaters, sets with matching berets, and voluminous graphic pattern knits were added, becoming symbols of the anti-bourgeois chic known as Parisian style worldwide. The Sonia Rykiel style is easily recognizable with its saturated black color, visible seams, lack of lining and shoulder pads, unfinished edges, and fringed sweaters with inscriptions. Layering is a key aspect of their clothing.
Today, under the Sonia Rykiel brand, they produce collections of women's, men's, and children's clothing, as well as footwear, accessories, toys, perfumes, and cosmetics. It is a family-owned, "100% French" enterprise, with all activities, from creative to financial, concentrated in the hands of Sonia Rykiel, her daughter Natalie, and son-in-law Simon Bernstein.
Sonia Rykiel is considered a national treasure in France. She was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor and is a Commander of the National Order of Merit. She served as the vice-president of the Pret-a-Porter syndicate for twenty years. Additionally, a special breed of rose was named after her by French botanists. Natalie Rykiel started working in the company at the age of twenty, stepping onto the runway. Both mother and daughter made appearances in the film industry. Sonia Rykiel became the prototype for the main character in Robert Altman's famous film "Pret-a-Porter" (1993), portrayed by Anouk Aimée. Natalie Rykiel worked as Altman's artistic assistant and played herself in the movie.
