Jeez, I stay off the internet for more than 24 hours and when I log back on, I find this shocker staring back at me from vogue.co.uk. Rumours had been circulating but yes, it has now been confirmed that French fashion house Rochas is to close and has started a shutdown plan. I have a few post-flight, slightly incoherent thoughts. I had always wondered why Proctor & Gamble, whose core business is beauty, didn’t try to sell the fashion division of Rochas to a company who would be more willing to take on a fashion house like LVMH or PPR and why that still can’t be done. With Olivier Theyskens working his magic on what was a decrepid and stale fashion magic in just under three years, who is to say, the fashion business of Rochas would not start making a profit? Goddamnit I need answers!
I’m guessing Theyskens’ beautiful A/W06/07 collection, which will be Rochas’ last (THAT dress that Kirsten Dunst wore at Cannes has become so ‘it’ and name-dropped) will become collectors’ items. I expect manic buying come September from fashion vultures all over the world.
Still, whilst we mourn the loss of the fashion house, does not mean that Theyskens is going to suffer as the fashion world anxiously wonders where he will go next. I personally think he may have enough bravada and press backing to go solo and start his own label. What do you think?
Update: WWD clears things up a little!
Bond no.9……..
Is this the sort of thing High Street might knockoff? I love the water lily mermaid skirt.