Simone Rocha Threw A Couture Party For Her Girl Guides-Themed Moncler Collab

Moncler has always launched its Genius collections, which are created in collaboration with eight major designers, to much fanfare. There have been parties, installations and exhibitions to fete Pierpaolo Piccioli, Palm Angels, Craig Green, Kei Ninomiya, Hiroshi Fujiwara and Simone Rocha’s reworked interpretations of Moncler’s house signatures. For the launch of the latter creative’s diffusion line, the brands partnered with e-tailer MyTheresa to throw a Couture Fashion Week dinner that took the Girl Guides theme and ran with it via food installations from Laila Gohar and floral displays by Mary Lennox.

“The ideas of foraging, survival and exploration in the wilderness created a playful and engaging atmosphere,” Rocha told Vogue after the outdoor Paris event, which saw Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful congratulate the Irish designer, along with models Maria Borges and Cindy Bruna, who wore pieces from the al fresco clothing edit.

“Moncler feels like protection from the outdoors, and I wanted the collaboration to be another layer of strength and protection to add to my own femininity,” Rocha elaborated of the messaging behind the union. Moncler’s classic jacket, for example, has been reimagined to voluminous effect with ruffles and embellishment. And the “hero” piece is a puffer cape with ropes that can be tied to reduce its size.

How does a brand synonymous with functional outerwear begin to comprehend Rocha’s romantic vision? The union has been quite harmonious, according to the two parties, who maintain that the collection strikes a balance between utility and decoration.

“Seeing how the technical elements of outerwear can inform my aesthetic has been an exciting process,” explained Rocha. “To work with experts, integrate with a new team and be out of my comfort zone has been a real pleasure.”

Why should a Vogue reader invest? “The pieces are extremely functional and timeless,” persuades Rocha. “They will complement an existing wardrobe while adding a new dimension.” Your teenage self would find it quite hard to resist the Guides-inspired badges boasting both labels’ names.