Ralph Lauren - Spring 2016 Review

Ralph Lauren. The billion dollar fashion brand, the world renowned maker of Polo, the fashion empire which consists of everything from perfumes and accessories to beach towels and iphone cases and of course, the incredible man himself, Mr Ralph Lauren. I love this brand, especially the womenswear collections, just because they always tell such a glamorous story and are so differnt to all the other young designers on the New York scene at the moment.There is always a touch of class and sophistication of a bygone era lost to us now.

This spring/summer 2016 show, streamed live in Picadilly Circus at 3pm this afternoon, was another fabulous collection which had the fashion press in fits of rapturous applause. There was a nautical feel at the beggining of the show - think Grace Kelly just setting off on her private yacht around Monaco. White tailored trousers were paired with pristine shirts, midi skirts made of light materials such as linen and cotton-stretch looked stylish and sophisticated with the navy buttoned jackets paired with them while the beautiful wedge sandals all the models wore are sure to be an instant sell out once this collection hits the shops. As models strolled down the runway, all glossy blow dried hair and large black sunglasses, colour was introduced in the form of light tan leather jackets and skirts, complimenting sun tans and adding a sense of luxury to the already chic clothes. It was simple dressing at its finest. One of my stand out pieces was a white midi dress, with a halter neck and no sleeves; it looked oh so summery and elegant that you really didn't need any accessories to take away from the glamour of this dress.

As the show went on, bright pops of vibrant colour were thrown into the mix, splattering the clinically white base of the collection. Red and blue stripes with skirts made of duchess satin were lovely as were the geometric prints on jackets and coats, taking us on a trip back to the 80's when loud and proud prints ruled the roost. Yet, these bold prints were given a 21st century makeover, with little fuss and a more minimal approach. Swirls and squares, triangles and trapezes... Ralph experimented cleverly with his colour combinations consisting around the main primary colours - blue, yellow and red.

What I have always admired about the Ralph Lauren catwalk shows is the styling. I don't know who it is who decides on these fundamental issues of which look each model should wear but taking into account body shape, skin tone and hair colour all the clothes looked absolutely ravashing on each and every girl. If you have darker skin, opt for a bold statement colour such as red or yellow, Mr Lauren seemed to say, whereas if you have lighter skin, its best to opt for a neutral white to show off your tan and add extra sparkle to a minimal look. It was all thought out so wonderfully!

Hollywood and the glamour of the old actresses of the Golden Era have always been a huge inspiration for Lauren. At the end of the show, long maxi dresses cum ball gowns were presented, again featuring nautical prints and with flowing skirts. I loved the red and white dress which the model showed off elegantly with her hand placed on her hip as well as the blue and white floral halter neck dress. Every piece was divine and overall another fantastic show for Ralph Lauren, proving once again why he is indeed the best in the business.