Pop princess Ciara ditched boyfriend, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, for a few minutes at the presentation of the Polo Ralph Lauren collection Friday to get down with a group of male models and an Irish setter named Rory.
The actress, dressed in Lauren denim to match her boyfriend's attire, posed with the men in the Ralph Lauren offices that resemble a clubby room, with paintings of horses on the walls, tufted sofas and a fully-stocked bar. At one corner of the room, a Polo Ralph Lauren storefront was constructed especially for the occasion, but it wasn't open and only provided an opportunity for window shopping.
The men, artfully arranged in settings around sofas or the bar, showcased looks that include three-piece suites in faded denim and heritage cord, sometimes matched with sweats instead of slacks, military jackets with removable linings, sweater-like sport coats and chunky sweaters. The traditional camel topcoat has a slightly more unconstructed look and tartan slacks paired with a dark velvet jacket jazz up traditional formal attire.
Most of the menswear looks are in dark colors — when I was taking notes on my phone, it autocorrected to "bark colors," no doubt in tribute to Rory, who seemed a bit bored with the proceedings.
The rooms showcasing the Polo Ralph Lauren's womenswear looks for fall were considerably more uptown, in a tableau that resembled a glittery New York highrise apartment.
And the color palate was a bit lighter, too, with lots of grays and creme colors in the mix, along with some sparkly metallics for the nighttime party girl. Looks in the collection range from a light gray flight suit and wool ponchos, some with a Southwestern flair, paired with skinny jeans in gunmetal shades to menswear-inspired jackets and slacks.
Perhaps the most striking thing about the diverse set of models — men and women — was their range of hairstyles, from braids on women to shoulder-length hair on men. The Polo Ralph Lauren aficionado might dress in a conservative fashion, but he or she no doubt is ready to show more personality in grooming habits.
Ciara poses with Polo Ralph Lauren models and an Irish Setter named Rory.
