Supermodel and entrepreneur Coco Rocha has criticised the obsession with seasonal fashion trends, encouraging women to embrace individuality instead of simply copying whatever styles are currently popular.
The 38-year-old model shared her views in an interview with PEOPLE at the CLD PR NYFW Kickoff event at ModernHaus SoHo’s JIMMY in New York City.
Asked about the most overrated fall fashion trend, Rocha offered an unexpected response: the concept of trends itself.
“The [most overrated] fall fashion trend is the word trend,” Rocha said, describing many fashionable looks as “copycats”.
Coco Rocha urges women to embrace individuality
Rather than following every trend appearing on runways or social media, Rocha encouraged women to develop their own personal style and wear clothes that reflect their personalities.
“So, don’t go for the trends, girls. Just do you,” she said.
The model said she particularly enjoys seeing people in New York who have established distinctive looks instead of replicating popular fashion choices.
“Wear whatever you want to wear,” she said. “I think it’s so cute when I see someone with a very specific look — especially in New York — people are like, ‘Yes, that’s her thing.’ And you’ll see the next girl and she’s got her own thing going.”
For Rocha, individuality is what fashion should ultimately celebrate.
“That to me should be the trend, right? Be you,” she added.
Rocha shares personal fashion philosophy
Rocha has previously expressed a similar attitude towards fashion.
While speaking to PEOPLE at the Fashion Group International’s 30th Annual FGI Rising Star Awards, which she hosted in New York City in April, she encouraged people to wear whatever makes them feel confident, regardless of whether it is considered fashionable at the time.
“Whatever you want to wear, go wear it,” she said.
Rocha also argued that fashion should be an enjoyable form of self-expression rather than something people feel pressured to follow.
“We are not curing cancer, we’re not changing the world, we’re having fun,” she said. “So, enjoy wearing whatever you want to wear, if it’s trending or not.”
“The trend should be whatever you fabulously want,” she added.
Coco Rocha prepares new handbag launch
Alongside discussing fashion trends, Rocha revealed details of several projects she is working on.
Following the latest season of Project Runway Canada, the model said she is preparing to launch a new handbag created in collaboration with Baggallini.
Called the Super Bagg, the handbag is designed with busy women in mind and aims to combine practicality with fashion.
“It’s about helping the woman that does it all and [it’s] just a bag that she can carry everything — her whole life in,” Rocha explained.
Rocha to promote OFF/DUTY fashion label
The model also revealed plans to appear on QVC to promote her new ready-to-wear label, OFF/DUTY.
“So, I’m very excited. Lots going on,” Rocha said.
With a new handbag collaboration, a clothing line and other projects underway, Rocha continues to expand her work beyond modelling while maintaining the fashion philosophy she has repeatedly championed: personal style should not be dictated by trends.
For the supermodel, the message is simple — fashion should be about individuality, confidence and having fun, rather than becoming another exercise in following the crowd.