LFW Diary SS11: John Rocha

Citing the inspiration for his SS11 collection as the Grand Tour; the bohemian travellers of the last Century combined with images from Deborah Turbeville’s Past Imperfect, John Rocha darkly smudged the lines between fragility and strength, width and refrain, creating an atmosphere of curious beauty.

True to form Rocha’s colour palette remained as his trademark monochrome, utilising nude, rose and ivory hues taken from his favourite paintings to give garments further depth. With heavily textured summer bonnets, delicate knits, raw summer tweeds and tufted lace, woollen skirt suits in white were reminiscent of Coco Chanel’s trademark cardigan jackets, which also manifest in the form of a short shift-dress and a sweeping fishtail skirt.

The menswear conveyed a certain vagabond air with cut-away coats, drawstring details, high cropped trousers and exaggerated shirts, reminiscent of wayward pilgrims. Cocoon shaped backpacks in contrasting black and white flooded the catwalk sporadically, hinting at journeys to be taken, intriguingly teamed with even the smartest of dresses, creating an altogether modern aesthetic that may well just catch on.