The headmaster of American fashion design, Ralph Lauren, unveiled a “see-now, buy-now” 50th anniversary collection that embodies the casual elegance he helped coin.
The landmark 50th anniversary celebration took place in New York City’s Central Park Friday with a star-studded guest list spanning Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Oprah Winfrey, to Hillary Clinton.
The collection is an homage to the designer’s signature timeworn fabrics, collegiate details and Western styling.
“My 50th Anniversary Collection is inspired by the timeless heroine who thrives on originality, creating her own personal style through an eclectic combination of influences, from a romantic kind of vintage to a bold modern sophistication,” Ralph Lauren said in a statement. “In celebration of 50 years, I celebrate a woman’s freedom of expression, her strength and individuality.”
Key items include an aged buffalo leather vest hand-embellished with silver charms and burnished leather buttons; a head-to-toe patchwork gown; and one of Lauren’s favorite pieces, the Barrick jacket, which required 170 hours to embellish the silhouette’s gold bullion and embroidery with antiqued crystals, beads and emerald-like stones.
Emerald, plum and rose velvet added romance to the line. The fabrics are manually washed down and then hand-painted and dyed in Italy, meaning no two velvets are alike.
Cargo pockets, camouflage and denim grounded the collection. Jeans looked worn-in with patchwork, mending and paint splatter. A tweed blazer was worn over denim overalls, high-waisted pleated denim trousers were cinched with Western-inspired belts, and Lauren’s signature look—a tuxedo jacket and bow tie—was paired with vintage jeans.
The collection is available online now.
