Earlier this month, four-time Grammy winner and soon-to-be grandpa Lionel Richie told Vanity Fair that daughter Sofia Richie Grainge is “getting antsy and bored” awaiting the birth of her first child with husband Elliot Grainge. Meanwhile, 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 style into yet another life stage.
Because back in January, Grainge inspired a new wave of maternity chic—and social media virality—with a swanky pregnancy announcement in Vogue, styled by former editor Emma Jade Morrison. She showcased her bump in more minimalist yet but striking looks, from a contoured open-back YSL gown by Anthony Vaccarello (and no shoes) to a crimson, collarless The Row jacket (and not much else), and a low-key ribbed white tank with slouchy cotton twill pants.
“We’re watching a girl grow up. Naturally, everything evolves,” says stylist and personal shopper Liat Baruch, who began working with Grainge in 2021. “[Her sister] Nicole [Richie] has been my best friend for over 20 years, so I’ve known Sofia most of her life.”
Baruch and Grainge collaboratively explored ways to establish and grow the music scion’s continuing sartorial expression, as a sort of neo-California cool: a mix of high-low, contemporary, and ultraluxury (often Chanel), youthful, but sophisticated and on-trend—or trend-making—but never trend-driven. “‘Quiet luxury’ is a played-out thing,” Baruch says, attempting to determine a tagline or quick description of Grainge’s aesthetic while also rejecting the word “timeless.” “I never thought of it in one specific box. It’s just many things.”
Baruch looks back to a favorite memory from March 2022, when she styled Grainge in a black sleeveless and boatneck Tom Ford gown for Elton John’s annual AIDS Foundation Oscar party. “[She and Elliot] looked so elegant. We were just dying about it,” Baruch says about the duo’s enthusiasm about the moment, while comparing the excitement to a more casual, relaxed look that’s also Grainge’s signature. “It can even be a good pair of jeans from The Row, a tank top, and a pair of sandals.”
The duo’s collaborative ethos culminated in Grainge’s three-day South of France wedding in April 2023, which broke the internet, spiked interest in multi-event wedding celebrations, and still populates Pinterest mood boards with the fashion—beyond her wedding-day custom-Chanel hat trick. “We stay away from doing anything too literal or loud,” Baruch adds. “We both agree that subtlety sometimes speaks more and [they] are louder messages than things that are just more in your face.”
Baruch emphasizes that she approached the job as a fashion, not a bridal, stylist. “I’m not so literal, so it wasn’t, like, ‘We’re doing all white because she’s the bride,’’ says Baruch, who did incorporate a “something blue:” a periwinkle sheer mock neck and long fluted-sleeve dress by Khaite, one of Grainge’s go-to labels, accessorized by Manolo Blahnik crystal-buckle pumps and an on-theme Van Gogh’s Olive Trees book clutch by Olympia Le-Tan.
Baruch and Grainge held comprehensive fittings for every single outfit, down to shoes, bags, and sunglasses to meticulously document for reference. “We had albums done and it was no stress. It was so fun. We got there and we had everything preplanned,” Baruch says. But, appropriate to the breezy South of France vibe, spontaneity was always welcome.
“She’s, like, ‘Well, what about the scarf in my hair?’” Baruch says about the Chanel-logo flourish to Grainge’s monochrome linen vest and maxiskirt outfit by Aussie label Posse, The Row sandals, and Chanel bag. “‘Yeah, let’s do it!’ So we added that touch at the end.”
The social media storm expanded into the rollout of Grainge’s Maldives honeymoon ’fits. Her luxury tropical vacation-inspiring looks included a blue and white poplin striped shirtdress and mesh bag—both by Prada—Celine sunnies, and The Row strappy sandals; and a cheeky crochet bustier-embellished white T-shirt with coordinating miniskirt by Magda Butrym, The Row thong sandals, and Instagram-friendly floral-framed Loewe Paula’s Ibiza sunnies.
“The looks leading up to the wedding, the wedding, and the honeymoon—every one of them was like a home run to me. She wore it perfectly—and that was us together,” says Baruch, who compiled another look book and tentative schedule for Grainge to pack for the Maldives.
“I’ve watched her style as she grew up,” Baruch adds. “We’ve been together for some pretty big moments, and I wanted the clothes—and so did she—to represent that.”
Quickly following the now iconic nuptials, and the ensuing fashion frenzy, Grainge jetted over to the pond to support her father’s performance at the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. She made a statement in a bold fuchsia Victorian-inspired puff-sleeve cropped-jacket-and-trouser outfit by Paris-based Destree, founded by Central Saint Martins-grad Géraldine Guyot and Laetitia Lumbroso. “It’s London. It’s British royalty. Everyone’s wearing fascinators that are colors. It was fun,” Baruch says about selecting the deep jewel-toned ensemble for the history-making milestone. “Color was appropriate.”
Much ado has been made of Grainge and her style “rebrand,” as many headlines have screamed. But perhaps she’s just progressing into exciting new life stages and taking her fashion along with her self-exploration and expression—as we’re all wont to do. “She’s growing up. She’s now a wife, and she’s going to be a mom, and with that, you start to evolve in all aspects of your life and your style,” Baruch says.
But whether Grainge is putting her stamp on impending motherhood dressing in slinky black Yves Saint Laurent for the Grammys (styled by Morrison, whom she’s been working with since late 2023), or posing in the backyard in a dove gray puff-sleeve Dôen sweater, black Re/Done straight-leg jeans, and pumps that are, albeit, Chanel, her looks offer a throughline hinting to what’s next.
“She’s accessible in a way that’s not overused or overdone,” Baruch says. “She toes the line between being someone you aspire to be and someone who you can actually maybe one day [be].”
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