John Rocha

It’s easy to imagine that if John Rocha were marooned on a desert island with only a rope and some sails for company he would still deliver flawlessly cut clothes with unexpected details.

The man himself watched from the wings as his s/s 09 collection made its debut - and the clothes told three stories. The first series of looks are angelic: balletic chiffon dresses borrowed from a Degas painting and virginal crocheted shorts paired with peplumed jackets all in varying shades of nude. The second round of garments are more minimalist with a stark, simple palette of black and white but with the same crafty detailing; intricate textural touches unify the whole collection.

Tailoring is simple and clean. Mens' modish suits are finished with subtle eccentricities such as a jaunty mesh cap or yellow cuff details. Trouser lengths are cropped, jackets long. For womenswear the ever-present blazer was re-imagined with double lapels and reveres or with no sleeves at all.

For the final part of the John Rocha trilogy the theme was glamour. Delicate hues of rose instead become searing coral and deepest aquamarine and necks are adorned with bejeweled bibs and vestments.

Sharp and romantic, androgynous and feminine in equal measure it seems all bases were covered but next time we’d like to see part four of the story – more of that menswear which left us wanting more.

Words: Selene Pearson
Photos: Ian Gillett

www.johnrocha.ie