Our Northern Hemisphere counterparts might have been too quick to declare the end of summer as the sun set on the balmy reign of little tank tops, bratty and bubble mini skirts and Bic lighters. Indeed, American label Ralph Lauren threw the official final soirée of the season last week on September 5th, inviting luminary fashion figures and political powerhouses alike out east to fête the bucolic ease the eponymous designer has been championing since the label’s inception in 1967.
Specifically, the presence of an exclusive cohort was requested at a 19-acre horse farm in Bridgehampton where a property called Khalily Stables was rendered into an immersive, tactile and theatrical extension of Ralph Lauren’s equestrian spirit. As the fashion designer said himself, the sprawling elegance and effortlessness of the Long Island enclave has been the backdrop to some of his most cherished memories with his family: “Driving in the open-air, embracing salty breezes, passing by vibrant farm stands, charming shingled cottages, sandy dunes, and the endless expanse of blue sky and ocean.”
So, for his Spring/Summer 2025 runway show, it was only fitting that the 84-year-old’s “home away from home” play host to a 100+ collection that celebrates breezy glamour, an all-American lifestyle and an adventurous spirit.
This was promised from the instance guests pulled in after the three-hour pilgrimage from the city. The concrete jungle was far behind the likes of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Laura Dern and Naomi Watts as vintage automobiles and waiters from the pop-up Polo Lounge restaurant, which was painstakingly reconstructed for one night only, greeted attendees upon arrival. Mingling at golden hour is a pre-requisite for a setting of this calibre, with the small cocktail party ushering the front row to the show space—a picturesque barn painted with a field illustration.
Over the next twenty minutes, Ralph Lauren concurrently presented the Ralph Lauren Collection, Purple Label and Polo Ralph Lauren lines for men, women and children. Despite the different ranges on show, the tether tying them all together was Ralph Lauren’s love for the Hamptons. Modern classics including tailored signatures, were rendered into a colour palette of of blue and white to echo the pristine sandy shores, expansive cerulean skies, and the depths of the Atlantic Ocean that hugs the coastline. Trademark shirting was elevated through metallic thread to give the effect of stargazing on a moonlight night. Eveningwear embraced after-dark gratefulness in navy chiffon, plunging crochet and molten silk that continued the designer’s connection to the coast.
Daywear was discernably driven by utility, with suede jackets, tan leather, sequin fringing and sumptuous linen especially perfect for perusing Main Street, shopping at Round Swamp Farm, sitting on the dunes in Montauk or, of course, spending a day on horseback. On the accessories front, a new style called “The Ralph” was introduced. Inspired by Ralph Lauren’s love of vintage cars, the pieces offer a structural shape constructed from supple leather and mixed polished metals.
However, it wasn’t just the clothes that piqued our interest, but the casting too. From Lucky Blue Smith’s returning to the catwalk, Native American model Quannah Chasinghorse closing the show and a runway reunion between iconic supermodels Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington, Ralph Lauren continued to ensure his shows are at the crossroads of culture.
Later, guests ended their evening in the cozy, intimate banquettes synonymous with Ralph Lauren’s coveted restaurants with just-caught local fish as well as the iconic Polo Bar Burger served on the eatery’s emblematic green and white dinnerware. As a typical visit to the Hamptons goes, it can’t get more opulent than this.
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This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.
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