Rochas: Lap Of Luxury

Heading Rochas since 2014, Alessandro Dell’Acqua has brought to life the idea of an indestructible elegance and multidimensional femininity.

“I am addressing myself to a woman who has the attitude of an aristocrat, almost severe, elegant and austere. I keep in mind the essence of a modern Parisian woman,” Alessandro Dell’Acqua says. In just two phrases, he has painted a picture of a woman he has been dressing for almost four years now: the Rochas woman.

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Aristocracy, elegance, austerity — these are some rare terms from the ready-to-wear world’s vocabulary. “For me, the essence of Rochas represents pure luxury, the expertise, feminine silhouettes, attention to detail, the craft and an excellent quality of fabrics and production,” he says. One of the most characteristic qualities of Alessandro is best reflected in his work is his demanding nature.

It was this attitude that pushed him to leave the direction of his eponymous brand to others in 2009 because he could not speak for the quality of the products. At that time, it was a letter from the press that explained the details of why he left: “I had decided to set up a brand that permitted me to create something completely new, which would be tied to the past without compromising my ideals. That was a difficult time because of the economic crisis, but I really needed to insist on a brand that put the quality of clothes above all else while maintaining a reasonable price for them.” Today, as the head of a French house, Alessandro Dell’Acqua finally has the freedom to exercise his talent without betraying his conviction.

Nude colours, transparent materials, simplicity of lines, timeless elegance. Over the course of his work for Rochas, he has modernised the definition of luxury. “I look at representing a simplified version of the spirit of fashion,” he says. The materials remain exquisite, but they are presented in a more relaxed style of clothing. He creates refined collections that transpose the splendour of traditional designs with precision while maintaining relevant aesthetical context that also reflects the personality of the woman wearing them.

As is the case in the fashion industry, he too, is always questioning the significance of femininity and how it can be redefined. What are the expectations of the woman of today? “The standards of beauty have changed. The woman of the ’90s was definitely interested in the essentials, in well-defined lines. Today, women need to feel special. The contemporary standards of beauty are a reflection of our times, and I love to create pieces that allow a woman to feel beautiful and unique,” Alessandro says.

From the September 2017 issue of L’Officiel India.