Simone Rocha FW25 Turns Back Time
From the schoolyard to the runway, the London-based designer used a famous childhood tale to reevaluate nostalgia for her latest collection.
“Not attached to today, solace in your own time and space,” said Simone Rocha in the show notes for her Fall/Winter 2025 collection. Old becomes new, while new continually references the old. Turning the clock backward, Rocha reflected on her childhood and the famous story of haste and waste, “The Tortoise & The Hare,” creating a world of decontextualized nostalgia for her latest collection.
Motifs borrowed from childhood were abundant and clear. Bike shed locks formed belts wrapping around models’ waists, and hares bounced across different looks, from furry hand-held stuffed animals to beaded embroideries on varsity polos.
Many looks slowed time to re-appreciate some of Rocha’s most coveted designs. A ribbon top was reimagined cascading over faux fur micro shorts, synched paper bag dresses received the bike lock treatment, and egg bags of seasons past were transformed into pearly tortoises, nodding once again to the childhood tale.
Transforming youth into nostalgic young adulthood, the collection’s florals were balanced with bloomers and fun ribbon-laced sneakers, while prominently featured faux fur stoles and bandeaus added touches of old Hollywood glamour to tweeds and gowns. Timeless it-girl Alexa Chung walked the runway sporting a leather jacket and faux fur top combo paired with a slit skirt and belted handbag.
The collection also devoted time to expanding its menswear offering. Duffle jackets, pleated knee-length shorts, fur-trimmed knits, and bejeweled socks were reminiscent of schoolyard uniforms that were given the signature Simone Rocha twist.
After nearly 15 years of intricately delicate design, Simone Rocha has once again reminded us why she is London Fashion Week’s venerated darling.
See Simone Rocha’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection in the gallery above, and stay tuned to Hypebeast for more London Fashion Week coverage.
