Ralph Lauren's Pre-Fall collection was born the day he strode into the design studio in his own pair of fringed suede pants. The proof was in the slimmed-down style in a warm shade of camel that hung from the racks of his Madison Avenue flagship, where the brand held an informal presentation this morning. Next to it: a double-breasted cashmere jacket, also in camel, with a matching fringed scarf slung over the shoulders. The blazer was a little bit country and a little bit city. It's tempting to summarize the whole lineup that way, but in the end Lauren's urban inclinations won the day (and night). The Western influence really only extended as far as the fringe, which also showed up as a detail on cozy sweaters, at the hem of a fun crocheted knit dress, and as a decoration on practical bucket bags. His other embellishment of choice was beads: Embroidered in a glittering Art Deco motif on a wisp of a top, they held the promise of a glamorous evening. Otherwise the designer was thinking sleek and streamlined, with, among other things, a collarless cashmere coat, wide-leg trousers with vents above the knees, and a plonge leather shirtdress. A strict palette of ivory and camel added to the feeling of elegant, uptown restraint.
Lauren's PR team wouldn't say which stars they're working with for the Golden Globes on Sunday, but if we were a celebrity stylist, we'd get the silk cady evening column with the delicately beaded lace sleeves and open back on the next flight to L.A. It would look sensational on nominee Robin Wright.
