Simone Rocha SS26: Pillows, Pearls & Plastic
- Sep 22, 2025
- 3 min read
At Simone Rocha today, we got exactly what we expected, and that’s not a bad thing. A packed, deliberate, and dramatically cohesive collection, delivered in classic Rocha fashion: full of bows, tulle, red silks, and emotional storytelling.
The venue itself was London’s Mansion House, it was regal, moody, and the perfect match for Rocha’s night-themed dreamscape. The theme? Pillow talk, meets princess, and a post-party melancholy. Think: sheer slips, satin bedsheets turned dresses, and actual ruffled pillows held that hinted to late-night vulnerability.
The crowd was just as on-brand. British fashion royalty like Vogue’s Julia Hobbs (wearing a divine Simone Rocha slip dress) rubbed shoulders with international icons like Julia Fox. The room buzzed with energy, anticipation, and admiration. Simone Rocha isn’t just a British fave, she’s global. Known for her intricate and unapologetically feminine aesthetic, she continues to draw from deeply emotional narratives, creating collections that feel like beautiful, cinematic heartbreak.
And from Mimi herself? I’m obsessed. Rocha has been one of my favourite British designers for years - and she’s lovely in person, too. My claim to fame? Once at a casting, she referred to me as “the girl in the big boots.” Then proceeded to not book me. Classic.
Let’s get into the show -
Favourite Looks: 1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 19, 20, 32, 33, 34, 38, 41, 44, 50, 53, 54
Colour Palette: Silver, Pink, Beige, Lime, Mint, Red, Blue
See the full collection here -
The SS26 collection brought Rocha’s signatures front and centre: bow motifs, delicate florals, and her staple palette of rich reds and romantic pinks. But this season also introduced new textures and layers. Sequins and silvers brought a glimmering, moonlit energy, paired with mountains of tulle and soft pastel sheers. There was something strikingly beautiful about seeing a traditionally masculine man in silver micro-shorts and a frilly, pearl-embellished blouse.
What truly stood out was Rocha’s use of plastic. Yes, plastic, but this was plastic done her way. Transparent trench coats were layered over floral jackets and sheer lace dresses, adorned with pearls, glitter, and subtle sparkle. Somehow, she made PVC feel romantic. It didn’t look cheap, but instead it looked elevated, protective, almost like a glass case guarding a precious piece underneath.
ABOVE - LOOKS (in order) 44,11, 9
The colour palette echoed Rocha’s emotional range: soft pinks, beiges, and mints sat beside moody reds, icy blues, and plenty of shimmering silver. Lime made a surprise appearance too, injecting a hit of boldness amid the softness, which also worked beautifully with the real lilies that showed up in many of the tailored looks in this collection - tucked into shirt pockets or hanging from the waist perfectly - Loved this detail!
But Rocha isn’t all about aesthetics. Her work constantly tugs at something deeper - emotion, gender fluidity, romance, fragility. This season especially felt like a love letter to vulnerability and softness, in all its forms. It played with the contrast of strength and delicacy: men in lace, women in structured tailoring softened by tulle, everyone somewhere between dreaming and waking.
And yes, the new ballerina platform Crocs collaboration made their way in, styled perfectly beneath ornate gowns. Somehow, it worked. Simone Rocha can make both rubber shoes and plastic feel runway-worthy.
Rocha stayed defiantly in her own world. Once again reminding us that vulnerability can be powerful, and that fashion, when done right, can feel like poetry.
With love,
Mimi x
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