A Pilgrimage to the Land of Youth
When Simone Rocha calls, the fashion pack migrates. This season, the “Rocha-ites” made a sacred trek to the Alexandra Palace Theatre. Positioned high above London, the venue felt like a portal. We weren’t just attending a show; we were entering Tír na nÓg, the Land of the Young. For AW2026, Rocha delivered a collection that was both sexy and sophisticated. It breathed life into every age of the client. She thought of how a woman lives, dreams, and—crucially—how she moves.
Simone Rocha AW2026
The Narrative: Mythicism Meets the Asphalt
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The collection unfolded in three distinct acts. It was a visceral feast of Irish heritage and gritty realism.
PART I: Tír na nÓg (Land of the Young)
Inspired by Jack B. Yeats’s 1936 painting, Part I searched for the immortality of clothes. Rocha presented “hand-me-downed” shearlings and tinsel tweeds. Old tapestries were repurposed into florals that felt “loved and lived.” It was about the liminal body—caught between the “there” of legend and the “here” of now.
PART II: Pony Kids & the Adidas Reveal
Then came the realism. Rocha looked to Perry Ogden’s 1999 book Pony Kids. It documents Dublin youth on their horses amidst public housing estates. This sparked the Simone Rocha x Adidas Originals partnership. Think lace boiler suits and frills on your tracksuit. Track tops met tulle in a “cross-pollination” of archetypal sports garments.
III: The Weird Sisters
The finale nodded to the Yeats sisters, Elizabeth and Lily. James Joyce mockingly called them the “Weird Sisters.” Rocha celebrated their Cuala Press legacy with a “make and mend” philosophy. Monster ballgowns in peat green and cocktail dresses with grab pockets closed the circle.
Why Simone Rocha Owns London Fashion Week
Who is Simone Rocha?
Born in Dublin, Simone Rocha is the daughter of designer John Rocha. She has carved a path that is entirely her own. Her brand is a powerhouse of subversive femininity. She blends her Irish and Chinese heritage into a romantic, often gothic, vocabulary.
Why is she the darling of LFW?
Rocha doesn’t just design clothes; she builds worlds. Her shows are emotional experiences. She is a headline act because she stays true to her vision. Season after season, she lures the crowd to unexpected locations. Her consistency and storytelling make her a non-negotiable ticket.
Who is the Simone Rocha client?
The Rocha client is ageless. She is a woman who values the “sensibility of the hand.” Someone who might wear a sheer lace dress over a track top. She is sophisticated but has a “show pony” edge. She isn’t afraid of volume, nor is she afraid of a little “athletic rigour.”
Why are the Simone Rocha collaborations so cool?
From Crocs to Jean Paul Gaultier, and now Adidas, Rocha’s collaborations work because they feel authentic. She doesn’t just slap a logo on a product. She “Rocha-ifies” it. Adding pearls to sneakers and ribbons to the Trefoil logo isn’t just a trend. It’s a “kinship.”
Key Trends, Pieces and Accessories
- The Hybrid Sneaker: Low-profile ballet sneakers with ribbon laces and pearl studs.
- Centaur Bustles: Curly faux fur adds volume to tailored jackets.
- Monster Ballgowns: Taffeta gowns in “turf and peat” tones with oversized grab pockets.
- Pierced Silks: Silk taffeta dresses featuring metal loops and piercing bits.
- The Frilly Tracksuit: Adidas’s three-stripes reimagined with lace and ruffles.
- Prize Ribbons: Rosettes used as pins on men’s coats and as embellishments on bags.
A Full-Circle Moment
Simone Rocha AW2026 was a masterclass in balance. She managed to anchor the ethereal in the everyday. By grounding her monster ballgowns with Adidas runners, she reflected how we actually live in 2026. The show came full circle—just like the round runway at Ally Pally. It was a search for an “impossible thing” that felt entirely reachable.
Follow Style Cartel and leave a comment below. Will you be camping out for the Simone Rocha x Adidas drop this fall?
Photos: Simone Rocha Credit: Ben Broomfield
