French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel has sadly died today at the age of 86 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Rykiel, who also had a successful line of designer eyewear bearing her name, was known to many in the fashion world and beyond as a bold, trailblazing trendsetter.

This identity first showed up in 1962 when she created the fitted, extra long-sleeved “poor boy sweater,” which still thrives today on both men’s and women’s fashion week runways. Later, when the design trend was moving further into women’s suits, Sonia again went left with her iconic knitwear, which incorporated eye-popping design with unparalleled comfort.

Having dressed screen legends like Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn, Sonia Rykiel encouraged women to take chances and be themselves. And she will be much missed in the fashion world.

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