Few brands have been able to bring a bevy of A-list stars to the depths of Brooklyn during a particularly hot and humid New York Fashion Week, but Ralph Lauren did just that for its grand return to the New York Fashion Week runway. On September 8, Jennifer Lopez, Julianne Moore, Diane Keaton, Laura Dern, Gabrielle Union and Amanda Seyfried could be found inside an abandoned warehouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard that was converted into a ranch-style barn, very much reimagined by Ralph Lauren. This is where the spring 2024 show will take place – the brand’s first show on the official schedule since 2019.
Many of Ralph Lauren’s staple models appeared on the runway. There were white or striped button-downs, printed blazers to match the jeans, pinstriped suits and faded maxi skirts with decadent denim corsets. The label also put a big emphasis on the bohemian side of Ralph Lauren’s aesthetic, with woven fringe cardigans unbuttoned over black jumpsuits, neatly accessorized with jet black sunglasses, a large Western logo belt, and a gold necklace. Denim has been given an upscale look through embroidery and intricate hand beading.
The iconoclastic look was revived with a gold polo shirt, black sequin floor-length tulle skirt and the aforementioned belt. Paired with a Polo baseball cap, gold jumpsuit and open shirt, the look felt a little more grown-up.
Ralph wowed with a selection of red carpet-ready dresses, from a black maxi with cutouts to a gilded draped dress tied at the top with a knot. Towards the end of the show, some colorful touches were added: bright dresses in rich shades of plum, saffron and turquoise, as well as beaded looks with floor-length fringe, layered necklaces and earrings.
“My spring 2024 women’s collection is a new kind of romance—cool and sophisticated,” the designer said in the show notes. Lauren often weaves into her collections the stories of her main characters: the bohemian, the ranch cowgirl, the glamorous Western siren. This time, he conveyed that message through the cowboy hats and snake necklace that Mariacarla Boscano wore with a pair of gold pants and a black jacket. All American military blazers, stetsons, and one white prairie dress proved that not many designers can pull off such a dictionary-definition American style without making it feel like camp. The thing about Ralph Lauren is that he always embodies pure elegance. An incredibly glamorous Christy Turlington closed the show in a form-fitting Grecian gold lamé dress, her hair slicked back to reveal chandelier earrings.
