Statement sleeves and ruffles galore! How luxury Simone Rocha designs are now the hottest look on the High Street thanks to a H&M collaboration
- H&M launched collaboration with cult favourite Simone Rocha earlier this week
- Brand is loved by royals including Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, both 39
- Irish designer is known for her feminine aesthetic with voluminous silhouettes
The first glimmers of spring and the promise of future freedoms has sparked a renewed sense of hope for many of us — and a flurry of excitement at the prospect of getting dressed up again.
And now the first thrilling British high street-designer collaboration of the year is here – finally a green shoot of positivity for the fashion industry – with the launch of the Simone Rocha x H&M collection.
The Irish designer, daughter of celebrated fashion designer John Rocha, is known for her feminine aesthetic with voluminous silhouettes and beautiful embellishments.
Celebrating ten years since she first launched her label, Rocha is the latest in a long line of designers — Lanvin, Balmain, Kenzo, Erdem, Moschino — to collaborate with H&M, and this joyful collection will undoubtedly be another sell-out hit.
Dress, £139.99, skirt, £59.99, headband, £39.99, hair clip, £24.99 for pack of 3, and boots, £39.99, hm.com
Dress, £199.99, hair clip, £24.99 for pack of 3, and shoes, £24.99, hm.com
There are so many gorgeous clothes to choose from, with over 65 pieces of womenswear (there’s also a smaller range of menswear and childrenswear).
Think romantic dresses, pretty spring coats, ruffled blouses, knitwear adorned with faux pearls (a trademark Simone Rocha flourish), and a sprinkling of charming accessories, from cherry-red hair bows to statement earrings with clusters of glistening paillettes.
Sustainability is at the heart of Rocha’s own label and translating this to work for the high street at an affordable price point is no mean feat.
Coat, £139.99, dress, £149.99, and hair clip, £24.99 for pack of 3, hm.com; boots, £250, jigsaw-online.com; earrings, £55, salomedesigns.co.uk
Dress, £139.99, and hair slides, £24.99 for pack of 3, hm.com; shoes, £195, russellandbromley.co.uk; earrings, £35, jigsaw-online.com
She’s worked with H&M to source organic cotton, recycled polyester and a compostable yarn to use in the collection.
Having combed through her own archives for inspiration, the lovely dresses incorporate many of Rocha’s signature shapes: balloon sleeves, nipped in waists, full, swishy skirts.
Prices range from £49.99 to £199.99, a snip compared to buying from her label’s spring-summer collection, where dresses start at a much steeper £1,295.
Floral motifs and sheer fabrics are often combined — a dandelion print on floaty peach net, red roses embroidered on black lace.
Blouse, £59.99, and trousers, £79.99, hm.com; shoes, £95, stories.com; earrings, £65, salomedesigns.co.uk
Dress, £119.99, bag, £49.99, hair slides, £24.99 for pack of 3, earrings, £34.99, and shoes, £24.99, hm.com
Rocha’s coats are outfits in themselves and with all the sunny walks, picnics and al fresco drinks we’re planning, it’s worth investing in some beautiful outerwear.
Rocha has cleverly reinvented a classic trench with ruched shoulders and statement sleeves, cutting it with an A-line flare. A similar shape adds drama to a double-breasted dress coat in fondant pink.
Despite the size of the collection, every piece feels considered and unique with playful details and unexpected twists. A white shirt has dainty faux pearls studded along the collar and some fantastically puffy sleeves. A bag strap is transformed with plump, bejewelled bows.
Jumper, £69.99, skirt, £59.99, hair clip, £24.99 for pack of 3, and shoes, £24.99, hm.com; earrings, £55, salomedesigns.co.uk
Coat, £149.99, headband, £39.99, and earrings, £34.99; shoes, £195, russellandbromley.co.uk
The vibe is unapologetically feminine (even a pair of cropped tartan trousers are embellished with ruffles) and Rocha’s added a dinky compact of pink lip and cheek balm (£12.99) to the collection, if you want to go for the full, whimsical look.
You can undercut the romance in places, say by pairing the pleated tulle skirt with a big slouchy knit, or wearing stompy black boots with one of the delicate floral dresses, but really, this is about revelling in the joy of getting properly dressed up.
Frankly, it’s a welcome change to all the low key loungewear we’ve been living in. It feels like a breath of fresh air to finally indulge in something pretty and fun, to start putting together outfits to be seen and admired out in the world.
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