The Old Bailey as the Stage for Simone Rocha

Simone Rocha presented an intriguing collection at the Old Bailey in London, blending dance, flowers, and emotional nuances with great beauty.

The Old Bailey, the historic Central Criminal Court of London that is still in operation, served as the stage tonight for a Simone Rocha show. Her collection was deliberately designed to be far from simple. Instead, it was full of nuances, intrigue, and subtle hints. “When people see the collection, I want them to have the freedom to interpret it themselves,” Rocha mentioned in a preview, adding: “I’m not interested in fashion that defines a look or dictates how someone should feel.”

A clear influence was dance, with Michael Clark and Pina Bausch as references. Bausch’s Nelken, with its exploration of extreme love, brought its floral motif to the collection. Flowers appeared on dresses, handbags, and intimate garments, merging masculine formality with floral details.

Other features included wrap-around cardigans and wool coats, some with cut-out sections, embracing the models’ bodies as if they were dancers in mid-rehearsal. Throughout the show, characters adorned with carnations reminded us of the tension between the private and the performative.

However, the lack of body diversity among the models stood out. Despite this, the final verdict on the collection was clear: beautiful and full of meaning.