Paris, Oct 11, 2001/ FWD/ --- Sonia Rykiel's Thursday afternoon showing of her Spring 2002 collection at the Louvre proved that little has changed in the almost 40 years that she's been designing.

Her sweaters, slim and fitted with raised armholes and narrowed shoulders (a style that revolutionized women's fashion and crowned her the Queen of Knits) are still so. Her love for scrawling random words across a chest or down an arm endures, as does her signature print: stripes.

Not that anyone minds. In fact, a whole new generation has discovered Rykiel and her colorful, sometimes kooky, yet altogether classic French fashions. Of late, her studded black leather "Domino" bag has been seen on the most stylish shoulders, and her old-stock "Modern Vintage" line sells out at stores like Barney's, Colette in Paris, and Milan's 10 Corso Como.

So it was all but a given that this season's show would be another resounding hit. And Rykiel delivered. Skinny, striped sweaters abounded, some emblazoned with words like "Forget Me Not" and "Bloody Mary," others hugging the figure even more and offset by wrapped brown belts.

Sweaters tucked tightly into high-waisted slacks created a narrow silhouette, while frilly, feminine silk georgette wrap dresses, sometimes paired over narrow trousers, other times adorned with girly pom-poms, were whimsically sexy.

Extra-baggy trousers were also big, so to speak. It's a style that Gucci showed for its Spring collection as well, and raised doubts over whether or not women will want to buy such shapeless pieces. But, paired with super-high strappy stilettos and skinny poorboys à la Rykiel, the look was slouchy and casual, yet still entirely sexy.

And, thanks to Rykiel, next season the fashion crowd will surely find themselves whipping out their Visa's for one very special brown suede fringed bag.

Sonia Rykiel Fashion

Sonia Rykiel Fashion

Sonia Rykiel Fashion

Sonia Rykiel Fashion

Sonia Rykiel Fashion

Sonia Rykiel Fashion

Sonia Rykiel Fashion