Strawberries and snakes: A whimsical spring for Sonia Rykiel

February 24, 2000
Web posted at: 9:31 a.m. EST (1431 GMT)

PARIS (CNN) -- The woman who steps out in Sonia Rykiel's warm-weather attire is strong, determined and unpredictable, someone at ease in clothing featuring everything from berries to serpents.

Catering to her, the Parisian designer focuses in her spring/summer 2000 collection on what she calls the five S's: sweaters, stripes, studs, strawberries and snakes.

Rykiel shows skinny sweaters in her signature mono- and multichromatic stripes. She adds gold studs to everything -- knit tops, loose and low-slung pants, bikinis, handbags, shoes. In a touch of whimsical variety, she appliques bright-red strawberries and slithering snakes to the apparel.

	GALLERY
Click through the collection
SPRING/ SUMMER 2000 Collections: Mischka and Badgley Bella Freud Alannah Hill De la Renta Randolph Duke Cynthia Rowley DKNY Vera Wang Calvin Klein Swimwear SS2000 Beene Men's shirts Shoes 2000 Valentino Narciso Rodriguez Versace Sonia Rykiel Balmain Badgley and Mischka ArmaniClements Ribiero Guinness purses Accessories 2000 Jewelry for 2000 Dries Van Noten Gucci Marc Jacobs Michael Kors Ralph Lauren Chanel Missoni Bill Blass

Rykiel dishes a multitude of sorbet colors for the runway, but doesn't neglect the classics -- black, white and pale gray. Knits, crepe, organza, muslin, linen, georgette and lace are her fabrics of choice.

Nor has Rykiel forgotten handbags. This season, her purses appear in fur or snakeskin, and with fringes.

Finally, Rykiel brings out every woman's staple, the black dress. She does five, each "very short, very sexy and very funny." And sexy, she adds, doesn't mean baring it all.

"Sexy is a question of attitude," Rykiel says.

Rykiel knits a comfy collection
November 26, 1999
Paris designer gives a kick to the end of the century
March 26, 1999
Fake fur and many models: Rykiel's 30 years in fashion
October 7, 1998
The Grande Dame of French Fashion
April 23, 1998
Sonya Rykiel: Sexy androgyny
October 8, 1997
Knit-wit Rykiel lights up the Paris runway
March 3, 1997

Sonia Rykiel

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