The woman on Simone Rocha’s mind this season is someone who has truly lived. She has pushed through thorny rose bushes, crossed rain-soaked moors, and ridden a horse or two – beginning with Enbarr, the all-white horse of Irish mythology, the only means of reaching Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth. Yet Rocha’s protagonist does not dwell on the windswept pages of “Wuthering Heights“; she is far more grounded in reality than one might expect. Hence the variations of the MA-1 jacket in olive nylon, layered over rosette- and ribbon-trimmed dresses. A harness-evoking crinoline functions as armour, while the red tracksuit from the Adidas collaboration becomes a kind of modern hauberk. The collection’s “pretty” flourishes, set against a shaggy, almost animalistic roughness, imbue Rocha’s proposition with palpable tension and intrigue. Her signature of sorts.
Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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This holiday season, I’ll be sharing a series of dream gift guides to help you navigate – and filter – your way through the festivities with ease. Get ready for a curated selection of beautiful items designed to spark joy and stand the test of time, pieces sure to delight the senses and evoke truly heavenly feelings.
Whether you’re shopping for globetrotting adventurers, design-forward homebodies, or fashion lovers with a flair for glamour, this Christmas gift guide of timeless classics offers something special for everyone on your list. Treat your loved ones – and yourself – to the selections below, complete with shoppable links!
The Elder Statesman Strawberry Crocheted Cashmere Keychain
Hermès Silky Lipstick Shine Limited Edition
COS Belted Clutch Bag in Pony-Hair Leather
Simone Rocha Sleeveless Draped Peplum Top
“The Sartorialist. Milano” book by Scott Schuman
Dries Van Noten Floral-print Fleece Coat
Jil Sander Lace And Organza-blend Satin-twill Midi Skirt
Smythson 2026 Panama Weekly Diary In Cerulean
Prounis Aquamarine Chorda Hook Earrings
“It’s this slightly teenage, debutante feeling – when you’re on display and don’t really want to be there,” said Simone Rocha of her spring–summer 2026 collection. This season, the London-based designer marks 15 years of independent business, one deeply rooted in a women-centered vision.
Being “on display” carries many meanings for a contemporary fashion designer – especially a female one – and Rocha channeled that tension with a line-up that was at once vulnerable and resilient. Crinolined dresses swayed with a wonky gait; panniered skirts slouched loose and undone; draped tops tucked with flowers exuded an arty chaos. A black menswear suit, its jacket fitted with a built-in bouquet sash, struck a particularly cool note, amplified by the model’s crossed hands.
And the pillow clutches? Rocha’s eternal girl may drift through a dreamscape, but she is no Princess and the Pea.
Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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Design & Culture by Ed 