Separate images of different models posing for a picture
(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Ralph Lauren shuffled his usual fashion week proceedings by splitting his show between Polo (his sporty, younger line) and Collection (his top-tier label that normally takes the brightly lit stage all on its own). Presenting Polo added a frisson of colour and youth, not to mention a kick of much needed energy on an otherwise dismal snowy day in New York. Ralph opened with a bereted trio of flirty girls in cap-sleeved baby doll dresses, their bare legs covered in saucy over-the-knee socks and slipped into shiny Mary Jane pumps. The frisky school girl mood continued with flared leather mini skirts paired with neon sweaters before moving into the Navajo territory this designer loves so much. Heavy blanket dresses and belted coats were paired with filmy printed dresses and worn with a wooly sock and sandals, or red laced hiking boots. For his main Collection, though, things took a more serious turn away from the country tweeds. Here the designer worked almost exclusively in monochromatic wools and cashmeres, wrapping his women up in tailored layers of creamy buttermilk, or soft pink. Fluttering shoulder trains or fluffy Mongolian wool coats in soft pastels kept the look light and feminine, before reaching a crescendo with his finale of full-length goddess gowns in blush pink, oyster, sage and light grey.

Photography: Jason Lloyd-Evans

Separate images of different models posing for a picture

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Separate images of different models posing for a picture

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Separate images of different models posing for a picture

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

Separate images of different models posing for a picture

(Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans)

JJ Martin