Ralph Lauren served Hollywood glamour last week during New York Fashion Week with an elegant black and gold Spring ’19 women’s collection. However, it’s the designer’s 50-year-old archive of Western-inspired American sportswear that’s influencing New York City street style this winter.
Blazers borrowed from the boys, modern interpretations of prairie skirts, blanket coats and pinstriped outerwear were among the Ralph Lauren-inspired pieces donned by fashion week goers. Suede fringe jackets, camel color knits and cozy turtlenecks evoked a feeling of luxurious glamping. And in true Ralph Lauren fashion, the statement pieces were paired with authentic denim.
The look skewed toward early ’90s Elaine Benes-style with relaxed fit jeans scrunched into mid-calf cowboy boots and menswear-inspired outerwear. Others added a colorful beaded front to softly shaped jean jackets. Bright knit beanies and tiny purses added a contemporary touch to the throwback look.
The designer’s influence was especially poignant in how garments were styled. Scarves wrapped around necks like kerchiefs, jade jewelry was worn over turtlenecks, preppy plaid scarves were mixed with camouflage and Western tooling was prominent across belts.
Boots are noticeably taller than the ankle-biting styles that have dominated women’s footwear retail and street style in recent fall and winter seasons. The transitional silo took a backseat to just-below-the-knee stack heel boots and ruched or slouchy ’80s-inspired boots—particularly in winter white. Low heels and a punch of color to satisfy millennials updated patchwork leather boots.
