True Romance: 14 Whimsical Dresses To Wear in Celebration of Simone Rocha’s Upcoming H&M Collab

Between the Regency-era romance in Netflix’s Bridgerton and this week’s news that Simone Rocha will be H&M’s new designer collaborator, I’m pining for a new dream wardrobe filled with whimsical dresses. The enchantment that Simone brings to her collections is both alluring and iconic–her handcrafted, voluminous silhouettes and embellishments of delicate pearl and lace are unequivocally swoon-worthy. Similarly, Los Angeles based cult favorite fashion darlings Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte make ethereal, fairy tale-esque dresses season after season. Despite the rise of streetwear and loungewear in recent years, the Mulleavy sisters know that those who buy their pieces are committed to fanciful dresses no matter what’s trending.

As a lover of all things fashion, I’m thrilled by the fact that the zeitgeist seems to be pointing me in a new direction as of late, one that involves rekindling my adoration for pouf sleeves and pretty embroidery. Nothing makes me feel as feminine and inspired than a whimsical dress, even if it means, as is the case these days, wearing one barefoot at home, possibly while watching the entanglements unfold between Daphne Bridgerton and The Duke of Hastings. And thanks to Simone Rocha and H&M, I’ll soon have a more affordable way to feed my desire for romantic fashion when the collection is released in March. There’s just something about the ease of slipping on a whimsical dress in a soft hue and finishing off the look with a piece of antique jewelry. I find it to be an optimistic gesture, something that reminds us that even in the murkiest of times, a little romance–and a lot of flounce–can go a long way.

Here are a few of my favorite whimsical dresses, in case you too are in the mood to fall back in love with fashion again.