Published in conjunction with an exhibition at Paris's Musée des Arts Décoratifs, this handsome volume presents fashions by noted designer Sonia Rykiel. This sumptuous book is a celebration of the iconic fashion designer Sonia Rykiel s lifetime career. Included are photographs from 80 seasonal collections covering 40 years of fashion shows. Additionally, the book also includes personal anecdotes and reminiscences by Sonia Rykiel as well as candid photos of the designer by acclaimed photographers Dominique Issermann and Sarah Moon as well as images from the official Rykiel advertising campaigns. Sonia Rykiel celebrated her 40th anniversary in fashion in October 2008. Although she had been designing knitwear for other boutiques since 1962, she founded her own independent label in 1968 with her first boutique in Paris. She invented in quick succession inside-out stitching, no-hem, and unlined pieces that reflected a brand new philosophy: la démode, or un-fashion . By abolishing total-look diktats in favor of a wardrobe adapted to a woman s individual personality, she created a unique style that is recognized the world over, whose key words are black, stripes, lace and sweaters with written messages. She is also known for several other signature looks including long clinging sweaters, small cropped pullovers, large rolled-back cuffs, and long shawls usually in a spectrum of favoured colours (beige, grey, dark blue and charcoal).