The most noteworthy takeaway from Ralph Lauren’s Spring Purple Label presentation today was the major uptick in sportswear—or, at least, the athletically inspired. Many (including this writer, until now) might only associate Lauren’s highest-end line with formal or evening codes. Such is no longer the case, and he’s been building toward this augmentation for a few seasons now. It’s a smart move, and one clearly aimed at providing the company’s top-tier clients with much more variety.
And variety they will find. In the arena there were knitted updates on vintage Tour de France biking jerseys, dress pants with racing stripes down the leg, and a dashing, ’90s-recalling jumper with an intarsia cyclist depicted in stark white-on-black. Dressier parts—Purple Label’s more familiar grounds—had an off-duty verve, too, perhaps fueled by Lauren’s athleisurely focus. A black-tie jacket was updated with cargo safari pockets on the chest—it sounds weird, but it looked awesome. Suit jackets were loosened and lightened (echoing what we saw earlier today at Kiton), and unexpected details, like a Bolivian blanket blazer or espadrilles with tuxedoes, sealed the deal: Purple Label’s product diversification mission has proven itself accomplished.
