It was business as usual at Polo, where the design team was continuing its exploration of Ralph Lauren’s signature Americana. For spring it was injected with a slight nod to traveling and to exploration—whether to far-flung destinations or simply, the Cape. A short-sleeve dress with an asymmetrical draped hem in an indigo floral print, tie-dye cable-knit sweaters, and madras plaids, complemented by easy denim in both light and dark washes, were asking for warm summer days in a tropical setting. Elsewhere, practical khaki separates—including a terrific pair of jodhpur-esque pants with a wrap waist, and a handsome simple suede jacket—hinted at fantasies of travel made accessible by simply dressing the part.
There was a bit of a ’90s undercurrent in the lookbook; not the grunge ’90s or the minimal ’90s, but the new American working woman ’90s. An undersung yet no less visually rich moment in time when ties and vests ruled. And guess what, it was a really great-looking proposition—whether the oversized Oxford worn with a nature-print tie and layered underneath a light blue cotton vest, the navy Hawaiian floral tie worn with a silk blouse, a double breasted navy blazer with gold buttons and red Hawaiian print surf shorts, or the knit Yves Klein Blue tie worn with a yellow linen shirt (with turquoise Polo insignia). Cardigans made from signature pique Polo shirt material were a hip update to a classic style, while the color palette—which added acid yellow, kelly green, and the purest reds and blues to the collection—added a bit of razzle-dazzle. Boxing-style sneakers in both a lo-top and hi-top style had the capacity to become a runaway item next season, ditto the carry-all leather shopping bags that will be available in a myriad sizes and colors.