A single yellow chalk mark tracked the catwalk at Sonia Rykiel's spring summer 2012 show at Paris fashion week, evidence of the tennis theme to follow.
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/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/sonia-rykiel/spring-summer-2012/collection/rykiel-rs12-0029-sonia-rykiel-paris-spring-summer-2012/7372379-1-eng-GB/rykiel-rs12-0029_CC.jpg /var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/sonia-rykiel/spring-summer-2012/collection/rykiel-rs12-0029-sonia-rykiel-paris-spring-summer-2012/7372379-1-eng-GB/rykiel-rs12-0029_C0.jpg iMAXTREE
/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/sonia-rykiel/spring-summer-2012/collection/rykiel-rs12-0048-sonia-rykiel-paris-spring-summer-2012/7372372-1-eng-GB/rykiel-rs12-0048_CC.jpg /var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/sonia-rykiel/spring-summer-2012/collection/rykiel-rs12-0048-sonia-rykiel-paris-spring-summer-2012/7372372-1-eng-GB/rykiel-rs12-0048_C0.jpg iMAXTREE
/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/sonia-rykiel/spring-summer-2012/collection/rykiel-rs12-0068-sonia-rykiel-paris-spring-summer-2012/7372365-1-eng-GB/rykiel-rs12-0068_CC.jpg /var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/sonia-rykiel/spring-summer-2012/collection/rykiel-rs12-0068-sonia-rykiel-paris-spring-summer-2012/7372365-1-eng-GB/rykiel-rs12-0068_C0.jpg iMAXTREE The 40s, with a hint of 70s, was the inspiration behind drop-waisted pleat dresses, polo knits with wide leg pants, deep v-neck cable knits and flat wedge espadrilles. All in tennis whites of course. This being Rykiel though you couldn't go too far down the path without showing us a few house stripes. Before long, balance was restored with stripy tube dresses and onesies. A very pretty poppy print was used on bib-fronted dresses and below-the-knee culottes.
True to form, an upbeat collection to make Sonia, sitting front row, proud as her daughter Nathalie and new design cohort Scot April Crichton took their bow.