Ralph Lauren presented his fall/winter 2026 womenswear collection in New York in a show built around the idea of an adventurous, rebellious woman whose style “is not defined by time, it’s enduring.”
The collection imagined a heroine who moves freely between eras and worlds, fusing practicality with romance and high glamour.
Setting and front row
The show took place in a downtown space transformed into a grand, manor‑like environment, complete with carpeted runway and intimate, living‑room warmth rather than a stark industrial set.
Guests included high‑profile film and music stars such as Anne Hathaway, Morgan Spector, and Lana Del Rey, underscoring the event’s weight on the New York fashion calendar.
The presentation opened with a theatrical flourish: a heavy curtain lifted to reveal the scene, and Gigi Hadid stepped onto the carpeted runway in a brown tweed look that immediately set the tone of classic, rugged elegance.
Creative concept and “renegade spirit”
In his show notes, Lauren described being inspired by the “renegade spirit” of an adventurous woman whose style transcends specific decades and trends. This concept played out as a blending of references: the independent aviatrix, the old‑Hollywood star, the English country aristocrat, and the modern city woman all collapsed into one character.
The collection nodded to icons such as Amelia Earhart through aged‑looking leather aviator jackets, Katharine Hepburn through relaxed, wide‑leg tailoring, and even a Joan of Arc‑like toughness via metallic, chain‑like surfaces that suggested contemporary armor without losing femininity.
Key pieces, fabrics, and silhouettes
The palette leaned into deep browns, charcoal greys, forest greens, inky blacks, and occasional metallic shine, giving the clothes a grounded yet luminous winter mood. Tweed suits, fitted jackets with corset‑like seaming, and long velvet evening dresses formed the backbone of the collection, emphasizing a strong, sculpted shoulder and a defined waist.
There were dramatic capes in tweed fastened with metal brooches, slouchy “newsboy” caps, and delicate vintage‑style floral prints that softened the otherwise sturdy outerwear. Evening looks introduced liquid metallic skirts, embellished gowns, and statement earrings that brushed the shoulders, pushing the “adventurer” character into red‑carpet territory without losing her edge.
Luxury meets function
A central message of the show was that clothes built to withstand a harsh New York winter can still feel luxurious and emotionally resonant. Layering was carefully considered: substantial coats and leather pieces were matched with rich knits, silk blouses, and soft scarves so that practicality never looked bulky.
Boots referencing wading and hunting styles were reworked in refined leathers and finishes, translating outdoor functionality into polished city footwear. The overall effect was of a wardrobe that could move from countryside to private jet to gala dinner, always maintaining a coherent, self‑assured identity.
Brand image and timing
The show arrives at a moment when Ralph Lauren is leaning into its image as the benchmark of American classicism while also courting a younger, affluent audience that wants durability, narrative, and status in a single look.
The collection underlined that strategy, offering recognizable house codes—Western touches, English country references, Hollywood glamour—reframed for a generation that treats style as both adventure and armor.
