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+ Individual stlye and inspiring women + I read an inspirational article about Sonia Rykiel in The Observer, Sun 5 Aug 2012, this weekend, extracts below: I've been sketching designs for my label, Sonia Rykiel, for more than 50 years and even now, at 82, that's how I spend my days... I was diagnosed with Parkinson's 15 years ago, when I was 66. I didn't tell a soul … but in private I was really frightened, because my mother contracted the disease when she was 70, and I had memories of her suffering … It didn't affect me too much at first. You couldn't tell at the time that I was ill just by looking at me … of course, the illness develops over time, and it becomes physically obvious. I could no longer keep it a secret. This year I finally wanted to tell people so I didn't feel that I was hiding away, and I wrote a book about it – N'oubliez Pas Que Je Joue (Don't Forget That I'm Acting)... Now when I go to the hospital, my doctor will say: "How is that bitch of Parkinson's?" Which is what I've always called it. Everyone calls it that now – the putain de Parkinson's, or p de P... I can't pretend that the p de P doesn't stop me from doing things. But I take the advice that various doctors have given me over the years: "Hang on in there." For a long time I could not figure out what they meant by that. How am I supposed to hang on in there? How am I supposed to hold on to the reins of my life? As I admit in the book, for me the worst thing is that I am in pain a lot of the time and I find myself shaking, which I hate... You have to realise that you need other people. You have to let them help you and be generous to you... My mother … I always remember her being so stylish. When she was in her 70s, she suffered so much because of the p de P. Her life was ruined. It made me so sad to see her like that... I never studied fashion – even now, it's always been about what I want to do at any given moment. I wanted to make a sweater for a specific woman – myself … Suddenly every woman had a Rykiel sweater. I was crowned "Queen of Knits" by Women's Wear Daily in 1972. I'm proud of what we have achieved since then... I still wear Rykiel every day. My own style has not changed in 40 years, no matter how tired or ill I feel. I try to wear dark green, dark brown, dark navy, but I prefer black. I hate wasting time getting dressed. I like to put something on and just think: "Yes. That's it." When I'm tired I like to dress very simply – perhaps a black crêpe jacket and black crêpe trousers. Of course, I always want any interest to be in me as a designer first and foremost. I have written several books about fashion, but the response in France to my book about Parkinson's has been incredible, and it has helped me on a personal level, too. I love it when people react to it as a piece of literature, or they find something clever or entertaining in the book. What I don't like is when they say: "Oh, isn't she fantastically brave?" I'm not brave, I'm not fantastic. I'm like any other woman. I'm unhappy. I'm difficult. I'm sad. Am I strong, too? Maybe, but not always. There are days when I don't want to see anyone. The most important thing you learn? You can live with it. (Unlike in my mother's day, it's still a difficult illness, but it's treatable. You have so many more things at your disposal to help you. The problem is very different.) I try to find things to do. I try to bear in mind that I need to rest, but I also want to work. Of course it's not easy. But what's easy in today's world? It's important to keep on keeping on, to feel good about yourself and be happy with who you are. I still love so many things: watching a good game of tennis, parties, the countryside, the sea, dancing, boys… Yes, I still love boys. My ambition? For everything to go on like it is right now. I have no regrets in life, and you know what? If I could, I'd go back and do it all again. Inspiring women of uniquely individual style - what's not to love?. Sonia Rykiel. Buy the book, read the full article and join me in celebrating life - hers, yours and mine - in all of its' glory. |
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