NEW YORK — Wonder if the frigid weather that has gripped the East Coast this winter sent Ralph Lauren's imagination toward bundled-up clothes? Just about every look in his toasty fall collection features layers of luxurious fabrics piled atop one another. Now that's a great way to stay warm.
There are lots of furry-looking pieces in the collection, but everything was made from shearling as the company has a longstanding policy of not using fur.
Lauren opened his show, held in a jewel-box setting under gigantic crystal chandeliers, with a model in a heath cashmere turtleneck and mid-calf skirt and peeptoe suede platforms — no toes exposed, only wooly stockings.
From there, the layering grew more pronounced, with shearling caplets and coats, some dripping in fringe, along with patchwork ponchos and embroidered coats over suede skirts and chunky sweaters or smartly-cut wool trousers and tweed jackets.
There are lots of furry-looking pieces in the collection, which will be available at Elizabeth Anthony in the fall, but as Lauren noted in his program, everything was made from shearling as the company has a longstanding policy of not using fur in apparel and accessories.
Amid the muted color palette of taupe, cream, black and bronze, Lauren adds a touch of sparkle, in skirts with shiny beading or feathers, and a shearling evening jacket embroidered with glittery beaded designs. A few evening gowns also shimmer in bronze beading, although the loveliest look is a simple cream floral lace evening dress.
And no one does menswear looks for women better than Lauren, who showcased a number of options, from a full-on formal tux jacket, white tux shirt and trousers to a shiny leather blazer, vest and slacks with white shirt and tie.
In the front row, Kanye West, in camouflage pants and without wife Kim and baby North, was on his best behavior.
Ralph Lauren multi-shearling vest, dark taupe cashmere turtleneck, worsted wool skirt, suede dinner bag with fringe and calf suede platform boot.
