Simone Rocha makes Paris her own: Stars turn out for Dubliner's stylish show

Irish designers who have shown collections at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week are few are far between.

But on Wednesday, Dubliner Simone Rocha, 37, joined that select group when she debuted her haute couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier as guest designer.

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The team-up drew a starry audience including Kylie Jenner, Anna Wintour, Bella Thorne and Kelly Rutherford, with many in attendance sporting Rocha designs.

Kylie Jenner and Kelly Rutherford attend the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show. Pic: WireImage

Gaultier, 71, presented his final show in 2020 and since then various designers have taken the creative helm to present their interpretation of his look, including Haider Ackermann, Olivier Rousteing and Chitose Abe.

Ms Rocha has worked previously with brands such as J Brand, Moncler and H&M – but this collaboration was at a different level.

Actress Bella Thorne attends the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show. Pic: WireImage

Her collection fused her usual feminine approach with key Gaultier signatures, including lacing, corsetry, the striped marinière top, conical breasts and jaunty sailor hats.

A model wearing an original creation from the summer 2024 Haute Couture collections from the house of Jean Paul Gaultier x Simone Rocha. Pic: REX

Of the opportunity to work on a Gaultier couture collection, Ms Rocha told UK Vogue: ‘To be a guest is a real gift, to identify with Mr Gaultier and his archive, and then to see what your spirit does in response is so interesting and exciting.’

Model wearing an original creation from the summer 2024 Haute Couture collections from the house of Jean Paul Gaultier x Simone Rocha. Pic: REX

She continued: ‘I wanted to make something that was attractive, provocative, playful, sensual, feminine and strong. Haute couture is historical and romantic, and even some of my collections play on these qualities, so it’s about introducing modernity, reality, an almost scientific approach to this project, to push it forward for today.’

Fashion designer Simone Rocha walks the runway during the Jean Paul Gaultier by Simone Rocha Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 fashion show as part of Paris Fashion Week. Pic: Getty Images

Gaultier congratulated the Irish designer profusely at the end of the show and seemed delighted with her personal vision for his brand.

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