Shoe Stalking Simone Rocha's NYC Store Manager
Shoe Stalking Simone Rocha's NYC Store Manager
I need her gold ballet flats!
At a Hanukkah party last year hosted by my friend, the incredibly stylish and talented Sam Herzog, I spent most of the night talking to Simone Rocha’s NYC store manager, Ashley Johnson. She immediately caught my eye as one of the best dressed people in the room, which is saying a lot, given the crowd, and I followed her on Instagram as soon as I got home.
Last week, I saw that Ashley flew to London to see Simone Rocha’s SS24 runway show during London Fashion Week. (Very cool that the brand invites its global retail teams as well.) I love living vicariously through her, and seeing how she styles Simone Rocha pieces in her everyday life. Clearly, she’s very good at her job, because when she shared a photo of herself wearing these gold Simone Rocha ballet flats around London, I said to myself: I think I need them, too.
When I saw the shoes on Ashley’s Instagram again the next day, it sealed the deal. I added them to my cart without hesitation. (And texted my Simone Rocha enabler, Allison for approval.) Worn with socks, they looked comfortable and somehow casual, despite their flashiness, and the crinkled leather gave them a more punk, less precious adult toddler look.
By the time I DM’ed Ashley about them, they were already in a box on their way to my house. (Admittedly purchased on a website where I get a press discount.) But I still had questions about what Ashley liked about them, how she styled them, and what she thought of Simone Rocha’s latest collection.
Emilia: What made you want to have these flats? What do you love about them?
Ashley: They’re the perfect balance of “look at me” and understated. I love that the gold foil is so reflective but looks a little worn-in. I also feel like they’re a pretty joyous shoe.
How did you style them in London?
In the first photo, I’m wearing them with Simone Rocha socks and a Simone Rocha SS22 dress. [Similar, here.] And in the second photo, I’m wearing them with Oliver Peoples x Khaite sunglasses; a red Andersen Andersen scarf; a Simone Rocha crossbody bag; and a Simone Rocha FW23 cotton poplin smock dress. [Similar shorts, here.]
What are some other looks you packed in your suitcase?
I tried to go for a Roman Catholic clergy moment, so I packed a FW19 floral printed long silk dress with bows; a white cotton poplin collared shirt dress with these pressed roses, which Simone brought back this season (!); our new Venetian wool wide leg trousers [also here in navy]; a bubble knit turtleneck; a red cotton poplin shirt (for my cardinal-in-Rome inspired looks), and a men’s beaded blazer for when it gets chilly but not cold.
What were your favorite looks from the SS24 show?
Looks 29, 30, 49, and 50: decadent, poetic, and somehow easy! Also pretty joyous! Like really good dessert.
Agreed! Looks 49 and 50 with the roses embedded inside them are incredible.
What are you lusting after in the store right now?
We have this floor-length lace dress that’s actually perfect and ethereal—I’d probably wear it every day.
We also have a women’s leather jacket that comes in chocolate with beads on the bust that I’d give a firstborn for!
Plus, this tweed men’s coat that Perry Ogden wore on the runway for AW23 🥵
…and these earrings are just eleganza!
Since chatting with Ashley, I have, of course, spent a great deal of time going down a Simone Rocha rabbit hole on The RealReal. Someone please get this dress now!!! And this. And this, too.
Allora. On Monday, we move on to Milan.
Haha “I think I need them too” running thru my brain daily re one thing or another. Would use italics but comments section devoid of same