Sonia Rykiel is the latest guest designer for H&M.

The collaboration, which debuts in stores worldwide on December 5th, represents the high street chain’s first designer foray into lingerie and accessories, with the garments also being sold in major Sonia Rykiel boutiques around the world.

In addition, the designer will collaborate on a second collection for Spring/Summer ‘10, featuring knitwear for women and girls. The line will launch in February next year.

H&M have praised the “joyful chic” of their newest collaborator. The store’s creative advisor Margarets van den Bosch said, “Sonia Rykiel is a true fashion icon who invented a signature style around femininity, Parisian chic and modernity—as well as functional, comfortable, wearable clothes. She has an attitude that inspires admiration among women of all ages around the world. We loved the joyful chic of Sonia Rykiel’s 40th anniversary runway show—and in that spirit this collection is all about reveling in great lingerie for its own sake. This is a totally modern, new kind of lingerie look, and when we started to work together with Rykiel on it, we just couldn’t stop. It’s a wonderful highlight for our main collection.”

Nathalie Rykiel, president and artistic director of Sonia Rykiel, added, “It is a hallmark of Sonia Rykiel to think of all women because fashion is about a certain spirit more than a question of means. This collaboration fits perfectly with our philosophy. The Sonia Rykiel for H&M lingerie collection is the ideal way to offer the essence of Rykiel to a great number of women around the world, and a beautiful way to close the year. The knitwear collection is perfect for welcoming a colourful new season.”