Sep 8, 2019
Ralph Lauren’s got a brand new club
Sep 8, 2019
Papa’s got a brand new bag, or rather Ralph Lauren’s got a brand new club. The designer inaugurated his new Ralph’s Club by presenting his Fall 2019 collection on Saturday night – on that bastion of global finance Wall Street.
"I felt like it was the one thing we were missing," cracked Lauren, attired in a white double-breasted tuxedo, worthy of Johnny Fontaine.
Though only built for one night, the place looked very much like the real thing. One almost expected Duke Ellington or Barry Manilow to come on stage. Instead, the designer got Janelle Monáe to sing, and the gal from Kansas City put in a stunning performance.
A 12-piece jazz band set the scene, as several score of waiters served special cocktails with names like Brown Derby or Tequila Ricky. Linen napkins, matchboxes and even the liveried waiters' breast pockets all carried the Ralph’s Club logo.
Eventually, Gigi Hadid opened the action in a hyper-glam silver redingote over flared tuxedo pants and cummerbund, vamping around between tables before strolling over to the bar to order a cocktail.
Classical clothes – perfectly draped velvet smoking jackets, divine anthracite wool suits with grosgrain trim, classy jackets paired with jodhpurs or cobalt-blue silk jackets.
But mixed in with nicely steamier twists this season, from the saucily cut, slinky, russet screen goddess column worn by Bella Hadid to the really brilliant canary-yellow halterneck gown seen on one stunning blonde model that caused several gents to gasp.
The audience of some 300 rose to applaud Ralph when he marched up a huge marble staircase into the club, built in the former headquarters of a giant bank. While, outside on Wall Street, three times as many people craned their heads to catch glimpses of entering stars – from Cate Blanchett to Henry Golding of Crazy Rich Asians fame.
In a live wire jazz performance, Monáe danced on tables, tossed champagne into the air; rolled around on the floor and even got Ralph to sing along.
Even if it is only for one night, Ralph’s Club sure had a hell of a reign.
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