John Rocha’s Breezy Chic
Written by: Godfrey Deeny
Photos by Gruber-FWD
LONDON, Feb 25, 2002/ FWD/ --- The first good thing you noticed about this John Rocha collection
was just how happy the models looked wearing the clothes.
Smiling models are certainly nothing new, but there was an artily carefree mood about this
fashion show in London’s Porchester Hall that was very appealing.
Rocha, a Chinese man who has adopted Dublin as his home but generally shows in London, has
developed a loyal following with ingeniously crafted clothes in a collage of fabrics that
manage to be arty yet practical.
For fall 2002, John’s gals will don ripped up lace and chiffon dresses and tops, or black
leather cocktail dresses with lumpy inserts.
The designer has that rare ability to mix fabrics together in novel forms and proportions.
Thus a white chiffon top comes with a crocheted insert and a superb roll neck made of
Arran-style knitted wool.
Rocha can also cut a cool suit with billowing pants and wrap-around jackets that flatter a
variety of figures.
His clothes would not seem out of place either at any awards ceremony, especially a black
batwing jacket with cable wool trim.
And, unlike a lot of London designers who work with far too experimental hair and makeup artists,
Rocha gets the total picture right.
The romantic warrior princess hair by Luke Hersheson from Smile was excellent, as were the
ergonomic boots from Robert Clergerie.
The ever-relaxed Rocha took his bow smoking a cigarillo. After this performance, the man
deserves an eight-inch Havana.
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