https://www.essence.com/essencefestival2023/
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AN ELEGANT SOIRÉECHEZ RALPH LAUREN




By MARC KARIMZADEH


What would a soiree chez Ralph Lauren at his Fifth Avenue home – one that most only know from photos – be like? Those who ever wondered had a glimpse on Tuesday evening, when Mr. Lauren and his team transformed a space at the Museum of Modern Art into a chic runway set inspired by the designer’s abode – replete with furniture from the Ralph Lauren Home collection, including cozy white banquettes and coffee tables topped with objets d’art, art books and bowls filled with colorful M&Ms, and faux windows looking onto the Manhattan vista.















In doing so, the designer served a special tribute to New York— think glamour, drama, sleek and plenty of sizzle. It’s the city he’s called home since birth and where he went from selling ties out of a drawer to become one of the world’s most famous designers. It’s the city he loves and is always inspired by, just like we all are, and on this night, there was a special reason for this native New Yorker to pull out all the stops. It was his first in-person fashion show since 2019, and it was worth the wait. “My Fall/Winter 2022 Collection is a celebration of the timeless style of black and white emboldened in the sleek lines of tailored silhouettes for both men and women,” Lauren said. “As we come back together, I wanted to share it in an intimate environment within the iconic beauty of The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.” Several original top models – Tyson Beckford, Shalom Harlow, Laetitia Casta among them – joined the impressive casting, making their way past the audience, which, in two shows, included friends and family of the designer, retailers, and celebrities including Jessica Chastain, Lily Collins, Janelle Monáe, Rachel Brosnahan, Henry Golding, Jeremy Strong, and Euphoria superstar Angus Cloud, whose Polo Ralph Lauren windbreaker and Polo Bear beanie we must all have. The lineup – Women’s Collection and Men’s Purple Label – was mostly black and white which bold reds adding extra zip. Case in point, the dramatic black evening dress with a giant red bow and train, sequined fair isle patterns, and the shimmering Manhattan skyline up from the hem of a gown. In the perfect nod to his roots, a Ralph Lauren Yankees baseball jacket teamed with a black tuxedo. Lily Collins, Rachel Brosnahan, and Janelle Monáe. It was elegant and it was elevated as only Ralph Lauren can—and it felt special, perhaps even more so now that the world is in a very different place now than it was when Mr. Lauren began to conceive this moment. “When I decided months ago to share my Fall/Winter 2022 Collection in this intimate experience, there was no war in Ukraine,” Lauren said. “The tragedy and devastation we are witnessing now was unthinkable. Back then all I could think about was coming back together with my teams and all of you to share the hopefulness that collaboration and creativity can inspire. So, in the midst of this sadness, we go forward united in our hope for peace, and our hope for the end of this pandemic and a return to being together. I am so proud to be with you again sharing not only a collection, but an optimism for living that respects the dignity of all.” Thank you, Ralph. It’s what we all needed to hear. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RALPH LAUREN COMPANY

  • AMERICAN COLLECTIONS CALENDAR

  • MOMA

  • MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

  • NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

  • NYFW

  • RALPH LAUREN

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