Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2025 show in New York marked a shift in the American fashion landscape as economic and political uncertainty cast a new light on traditional styles. The iconic designer’s latest collection, inspired by the moody vibes of the New Romantics, presented a more subdued approach to glamour.
Lauren’s 47 looks featured a mix of codes, from soft velvets and jodhpur shorts to worn flight jackets paired with poet blouses. The absence of an American flag sweater, a social media hit in previous seasons, was notable. Instead, the collection focused on pretty pieces like laces and frilly blouses, mixed confidently with eccentric leathers and velvets.
The show highlighted a conversation around what “glamour” means now, as designers grapple with the tension between nostalgic appeal and modernity. Lauren’s approach emphasized freedom and accessibility, offering ideas rather than just products. The designer’s clothes are often seen as costumes for American aspiration, but the latest collection felt like an escape from the current climate.
The presence of celebrities in the front row, including actresses Sadie Sink and Ariana DeBose, added to the sense of glamour. However, the show also raised questions about the origins of some garments, with the Jackie O-goes-attack-dog clothing worn by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sparking debate over its manufacturing country.
Lauren’s ease felt like a fantasy in this context, as the designer highlighted an ongoing conversation around what glamour means now. The show concluded with Lauren wearing a black turtleneck stitched with a cattle head flanked by two crosses, a striking contrast to the earlier optimism and freedom embodied in his designs.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/fashion/2025/04/18/raply-lauren-fall-2025-show