Earlier this month, four-time Grammy winner and soon-to-be grandpa Lionel Richie instructed Vainness Truthful that daughter Sofia Richie Grainge is “getting antsy and bored” awaiting the start of her first baby with husband Elliot Grainge. In the meantime, her 11 million Instagram (and 3.7 million TikTok) followers wait on pins and needles to see how the 25-year-old model-influencer guides her trademark model into one more life stage.
As a result of again in January, Grainge impressed a brand new wave of maternity stylish—and social media virality—with a swanky being pregnant announcement in Vogue, styled by former editor Emma Jade Morrison. She showcased her bump in additional minimalist but however placing appears to be like, from a contoured open-back YSL robe by Anthony Vaccarello (and no sneakers) to a crimson, collarless The Row jacket (and never a lot else), and a low-key ribbed white tank with slouchy cotton twill pants.
“We’re watching a lady develop up. Naturally, all the pieces evolves,” says stylist and private shopper Liat Baruch, who started working with Grainge in 2021. “[Her sister] Nicole [Richie] has been my greatest buddy for over 20 years, so I’ve identified Sofia most of her life.”
Baruch and Grainge collaboratively explored methods to ascertain and develop the music scion’s persevering with sartorial expression, as a kind of neo-California cool: a mixture of high-low, up to date, and ultraluxury (usually Chanel), youthful, however refined and on-trend—or trend-making—however by no means trend-driven. “‘Quiet luxurious’ is a played-out factor,” Baruch says, making an attempt to find out a tagline or fast description of Grainge’s aesthetic whereas additionally rejecting the phrase “timeless.” “I by no means considered it in a single particular field. It’s simply many issues.”
Baruch appears to be like again to a favourite reminiscence from March 2022, when she styled Grainge in a black sleeveless and boatneck Tom Ford robe for Elton John’s annual AIDS Basis Oscar celebration. “[She and Elliot] seemed so elegant. We have been simply dying about it,” Baruch says in regards to the duo’s enthusiasm in regards to the second, whereas evaluating the joy to a extra informal, relaxed look that’s additionally Grainge’s signature. “It could possibly even be pair of denims from The Row, a tank prime, and a pair of sandals.”
The duo’s collaborative ethos culminated in Grainge’s three-day South of France marriage ceremony in April 2023, which broke the web, spiked curiosity in multi-event marriage ceremony celebrations, and nonetheless populates Pinterest temper boards with the style—past her wedding-day custom-Chanel hat trick. “We avoid doing something too literal or loud,” Baruch provides. “We each agree that subtlety typically speaks extra and [they] are louder messages than issues which might be simply extra in your face.”
Baruch emphasizes that she approached the job as a style, not a bridal, stylist. “I’m not so literal, so it wasn’t, like, ‘We’re doing all white as a result of she’s the bride,’’ says Baruch, who did incorporate a “one thing blue:” a periwinkle sheer mock neck and lengthy fluted-sleeve gown by Khaite, one in every of Grainge’s go-to labels, accessorized by Manolo Blahnik crystal-buckle pumps and an on-theme Van Gogh’s Olive Bushes guide clutch by Olympia Le-Tan.
Baruch and Grainge held complete fittings for each single outfit, right down to sneakers, luggage, and sun shades to meticulously doc for reference. “We had albums achieved and it was no stress. It was so enjoyable. We obtained there and we had all the pieces preplanned,” Baruch says. However, applicable to the breezy South of France vibe, spontaneity was all the time welcome.
