Ralph Lauren, the most talented storyteller in fashion, has produced a number of magnificent runway shows, such as those at his own garage in Bedford, New York, and his Fifth Avenue apartment (or a facsimile of it) at the Museum of Modern Art.
He has performed in opulent venues such as Central Park for his fiftieth anniversary, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California. In each venue, he has meticulously recreated various aspects of his life, right down to the chandeliers and Double RL steaks.
However, for autumn 2024, he scaled things down and presented his most recent collection in his offices, realizing that perhaps a certain amount of fatigue had set in around his runway shows and the fashion circus around them (not to mention the carbon footprint).
“My goal was to create something straightforward and uncomplicated, as the modern world is so small that you can reach many people in a different way,” he stated at a sneak peek of the collection, which will be shown to 100 guests at 650 Madison on Monday night, including Jessica Chastain, Kerry Washington, Hannah Einbinder, and Glenn Close. “It’s important to have the mix for me because the diverse sensibility and the clothing details are what make it.”
Since the beginning, Ralph Lauren has contributed to numerous memorable themed collections, such as the 1978 western collection, the 1981 Santa Fe collection, the 1984 safari collection, and so forth. It felt like a constraint at times, leading him down the costume show route.
Like many other designers, he has, however, recently become increasingly focused on providing women with the means to express their own unique sense of style through exquisite yet distinctly Ralph Lauren clothing. He has designed American sportswear for 57 years, and he has a large toolkit.
He clarified, “It’s not one story, not one statement.” “I don’t think anyone, let alone young women, dress like that these days. They want to have a voice, be eclectic and easygoing, and mix things up.
I would recommend menswear and neckties. Lauren gave birth to his company all those years ago, and lately, it has been reviving, giving women in the US a sense of power at a time when it seems like they are losing it quickly. Neckties are becoming popular among next-generation celebrities like Ayo Edebiri and Billie Eilish, and they were seen all over the Paris runways (including the hair braid version at Schiaparelli).
Naturally, Ralph Lauren has been responsible for this look from the beginning, having dressed Madonna, Janelle Monáe, Diane Keaton in slouchy khakis, vests, and ties for the 1977 film “Annie Hall,” to dressing Zendaya in an old 1992 necktie and blazer worn as a minidress for an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” earlier this month.
He assumed responsibility for the contribution for Ralph Lauren fall 2024, serving up a number of exquisite interpretations with an approachable charm. These included a gray pin-stripe suit paired with a shearling bomber, a taupe tonal satin shirt and tie, and a liquid-y maxi skirt.
Ralph Lauren Fall 2024
Ralph Lauren smiled, “There’s nothing here that I couldn’t wear before; in fact, I went through my closet and did the same clothes again.”
He was able to.
However, he also served as a reminder of his past, which predates Beyoncé’s haute “Cowboy Carter” ensemble, of incorporating Western attire into high fashion with the use of rancher coats, cowboy hats, and silver belt buckles that complemented rather than defined the appearance.
“I don’t make trendy claims. We’ve always lived in luxury and peace. We’ve also always worn menswear, which includes Western dress, cowboy hats, and large clothing, he added.
The muted color scheme, which featured twelve different tones of taupe, made the viewer focus on the details. That would be the ultra-chic combination of soft and cuddly outerwear and lovely tulle with easygoing cable knits—a look that’s all the rage right now yet is so classically American and Ralph. The brand elevation approach, which has enabled the company to surpass earnings expectations, is further reinforced by the opulent handicraft of a jacket created from twelve materials sewed like intarsia, and a suede and shearling crochet vest.
Lauren’s continuous success is largely attributed to her consistent and unobtrusive progress. It’s also wise business in these turbulent times. (Talking about which, CEO Patrice Louvet, who was in the office for fittings prior to the show, declined to comment on a report from WWD stating that Michael Rider, the creative director of the well-liked and youthful-leaning Polo Ralph Lauren collection, is leaving the company to rejoin Celine, where he served for ten years as the ready-to-wear design director from 2008 to 2018. Louvet referred to it as “a rumor.
Perusing the tea leaves, Lauren’s return to the office appears to be a complete circle. He staged his personal space, complete with black-and-white photos, trinkets, and Italian-made leather armchairs from his growing home collection, in one of the company showrooms, making it appear like his office.
“In my first show, which was a very different world, I had all the editors come up to me with my arm on the mantle in my office and I described the garments.”I had a feeling like Mr. Couture,” he recalled. It was interesting, but I wasn’t sure what to be nervous about. I explain to everyone that’s how I began and concluded.
Come to an end? Is Lauren arranging his own succession plan, given the buzz around Dries Van Noten, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, and other fashion houses?
“I’m happy where I am, and I always think about that,” he remarked. “As long as I’m attractive and powerful.”
