Fashion

Sitting with The Guild Team at New York Fashion Week SS/19: For NYFW, Ralph Lauren Celebrates 50th Anniversary as a Fashion Icon

Sitting with The Guild Team at New York Fashion Week SS/19: For NYFW, Ralph Lauren Celebrates 50th Anniversary as a Fashion Icon September 10, 2018
Hillary Clinton, Ralph Lauren, and Anna Wintour. NYFW / Photography and videos courtesy of Ralph Lauren and TVC.
Play Video
Play Video

Video: The celebration of Ralph Lauren – NYFW

Video: Ralph Lauren 50th Anniversary Runway Show – NYFW

For my 50th anniversary, I wanted to create and share a runway experience that was deeply personal and a summation of the style I’ve always believed in: personal, authentic, and forever, in a place so quintessentially New York and so special to me—Central Park.

– RALPH LAUREN

Ralph Lauren commemorated its 50th anniversary on Friday, September 7, 2018, with a spectacular event set against the backdrop of one of New York’s most iconic landmarks, Central Park’s Bethesda Terrace. The historic evening was composed of an expansive runway show, an immersive digital installation, and an elegant seated dinner, all seamlessly integrated into the dramatic setting.

Celebrating the multifaceted World of Ralph Lauren, the 50th Anniversary Collection articulated Mr. Lauren’s singular vision of American design and exemplified the themes and inspiration celebrated throughout his career. The cinematic runway show showcased his latest women’s collection alongside Polo Ralph Lauren and Double RL for the first time. The presentation featured more than 150 models from multiple generations, with iconic faces from the brand’s formative years mixing with of-the-moment models and children.

“For my 50th anniversary, I wanted to create and share a runway experience that was deeply personal and a summation of the style I’ve always believed in: personal, authentic, and forever, in a place so quintessentially New York and so special to me—Central Park,” said Mr. Lauren.

Countless celebrities attended the gala to celebrate the work, and life of Ralph Lauren.

Adjacent to the runway, a one-of-a-kind immersive digital installation honored milestones of the brand’s history and reflected Mr. Lauren’s pioneering creativity and enduring influence. Guests mingled alongside a series of monolithic LED sculptures, displaying video cuts from 50 years of unforgettable runway shows, which surrounded a large-scale mirrored structure in the middle of the courtyard. Stepping into 50 Years of Reflection—within the mirrored box—guests were transported into the cinematic World of Ralph Lauren as more than 400 images and video from the brand’s prolific archives moved across the walls.

Following the runway show, a seated dinner set around Bethesda Fountain transported guests to an elegant Parisian outdoor café, in a setting inspired by the sophisticated yet casual elegance of the courtyard at Ralph’s, Mr. Lauren’s celebrated restaurant on Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. The table settings were an eclectic mix of pattern, texture, and material, incorporating bespoke blue-and-white floral-patterned china, pewter flatware, and chargers, and simple crystal drinkware, mixed with striped textiles and handmade bread baskets. Select pieces from the Ralph Lauren Home collection were also featured. A classic American menu inspired by The Polo Bar, Mr. Lauren’s restaurant in New York, featured filet mignon from his Double RL Ranch in Ridgway, Colorado.

Over the past 50 years, Mr. Lauren has celebrated the iconography of America and defined American style, translating his vision and inspiration into one of the world’s most widely recognized brands. A prolific fashion designer, trailblazing entrepreneur, and dedicated philanthropist, he has made an indelible mark on the fashion industry at large—from his first menswear collection to pioneering lifestyle advertising campaigns, retail innovation, hospitality ventures, and philanthropic initiatives.

Items from the 50th Anniversary Collection are immediately available at RalphLauren.com and in global flagship stores, including New York, Beverly Hills, Dallas, Chicago, Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Paris, and Moscow, and through top retail partners including Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus.

The experience is also made available to consumers worldwide through a live stream on RalphLauren’s global social media platforms and at RalphLauren.com.

The stars arrive, and celebrate at the 50th Anniversary Gala of Ralph Lauren

The Ralph Lauren 50th Anniversary Collection

Ralph Lauren Collection and Double RL evoke a sense of romantic sophistication through bohemia, eclecticism, and poetic sensibility in day and eveningwear.

Women’s Collection is a celebration of the timeless heroines whose personal style is defined by strength and individuality, freedom of expression, and modern sophistication. Modern suiting, velvet gowns, and luxurious knits are infused with artisanal patchworks, eclectic beading, and hand-painted accents. A deep color palette contrasts with natural burnished leathers and leopard prints, celebrating a mix of old-world elegance and modern sportiness. Garments have been distressed to achieve the look of individually crafted contemporary heirlooms.

A sophisticated mix of utilitarian workwear and traditional tailoring, Double RL menswear is rooted in timeless style. The collection features eclectic layering of well-worn denim, British tweeds, traditional hand-knit sweaters, vintage patchwork, and leathers, evoking a feeling of being lived-in and well-traveled, having been collected and assembled over the years.

Authentic and iconic, Polo is the original symbol of the modern preppy lifestyle. Combining Ivy League classics and time-honored English haberdashery with downtown styles and all- American sporting looks, Polo sportswear, and tailored clothing present a one-of-a-kind vision of menswear that is stylish, timeless, and appealing to all generations of men. Youthful cues on preppy styling and urban-inspired accents are reinvented while staying true to the authenticity of the world of Polo. The collection is complemented by bright, bold, and graphic performance gear, inspired by ’90s vintage outerwear.

The Polo Ralph Lauren womenswear collection combines romantic bohemian with a cool sportiness, mixing iconic all-American style with an eclectic downtown edge that is easy, energetic, and free-spirited. Earth tones are juxtaposed with pops of vibrant color to create a feeling of playful sophistication. The youthful elegance of the collection is accentuated by statement accessories such as cuffed hats with pom-poms, logo-stamped berets, Western-inspired silver concho belts, and ranger boots with neon laces.

The Polo Ralph Lauren childrenswear collection reflects the timeless heritage and modern spirit of the menswear and womenswear collections, with bold pops of color, vintage-

inspired graphics, and an eclectic mix of iconic themes. The childrenswear is designed with the same level of craftsmanship, quality, and style as practiced across all brands; Polo Ralph Lauren can serve as a wardrobe for the whole family, from father and son to mother and daughter.

NYFW / Photography and videos courtesy of Ralph Lauren and TVC.

Share this article: