Ralph Lauren's recently debuted resort collection has several themes. It starts with a khaki/brown phase — wearable separates, sleeveless shifts and casual jackets and capes— before shifting into a dressier black-and-white motif, with a sleek ivory sheath knotted at the waist, full-length black gowns and a chic white blouse with a long black skirt.
But the biggest message from fashion's venerable designer: It's back to elegant basics.
Resort, or "pre-spring," looks bridge the gap from fall to spring and tend to have a longer period selling season (from November to March), so they tend to be more wearable than many of the creations that go down the runway during New York fashion week to attract the attention of the fashion press. But that doesn't mean that the quality and attention to detail aren't there.
Sure, there are pieces to work into a woman's wardrobe — crisp blouses in purple or orange, tailored pantsuits, a terrific double-breasted cropped trench — but there are also some edgy styles that stand alone in the Lauren collection. A sheer black blouse with a satin bib and a chic sleeveless jumpsuit, also in black, shows that Lauren retains a sophisticated edge that few designers can match.
Ralph Lauren lavender cashmere silk sweater, sand cavalry twill skirt, vintage saddle burnished vachetta medium cartridge bag and tan burnished calf equestrian bootie.
At the sale, shoppers can expect to find 68 racks of costumes and hundreds of hats, shoes, and other props.Courtesy of Houston Grand Opera 
Items will range in price from $1 to $200, with the majority in the under-$50 range.Courtesy of Houston Grand Opera