Lola Rykiel Teaches Us How to Be Parisian Chic

When it comes to fashion, Lola Rykiel doesn’t believe in playing by the rules. And as the granddaughter of revered French designer Sonia Rykiel, it’s not hard to see why. Sonia Rykiel, who recently passed away in August, was a pioneer in the fashion industry, revolutionizing women’s clothing with her knitwear and eccentric designs that eschewed traditional dressing during a period when women were expected to wear earnest styles.

Breaking style barriers is nothing new to this fashionable clan. “I’m from a family that’s only women. With my grandmother, her sisters, my mother, my sisters...I never grew up in a place where it’s not fair for women. Women equals power.” Being surrounded by a tribe of strong, independent women, has had an empowering effect on the younger Rykiel, and she continues this legacy through her NYC pr and consulting firm, Le Chocolat Noir, which includes her late grandmother’s clothing line, as well as French jeweler Marie-Hélène de Taillac.

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So what exactly does style mean to Lola Rykiel? From first glance, she epitomizes the oh so chic French-girl look that so many of us aspire to achieve. She has an effortless, “I woke up like this,” aesthetic that can only come from a true Parisian.

But it’s not the typical striped navy and white t-shirt or high waisted flares that we’re talking about—it’s the je ne sais quoi attitude that we admire most. Similar to her grandma, Rykiel gathers inspiration from everyday women on the street who aren’t afraid to experiment with style. Rykiel’s unexpected fashion tip? Walking straight. This easy move will make you command all of the attention in the room and lets your clothes do the talking. Now that’s power dressing.

Now, watch Lola Rykiel discuss her family's fashion legacy and the places she looks to most for style inspiration: