The authentic and timeless world of Ralph Lauren
August 2025
RL/Women

Expect the Unexpected

A new spate of prints, patterns, and hues offers a clever take on prized collectibles and iconic pieces, reworked for the transitional pre-fall season
By Shannon Adducci
There are a few things that collectors and fans expect from Ralph Lauren. A focus on the classics and an enduring sense of style are musts, shown with iconic pieces that outlast trends and stand the test of time. But there is still plenty of room for surprise, and Mr. Lauren’s latest collection proves that even classic themes can come with unexpected details. Take the Diary print, a cream-and-brown pattern found on a series of silk garments in a twill weave. From afar, the look is somewhat equestrian, especially when styled with accessories in rich brown leathers. But a closer inspection of the diary-inspired print reveals not the equine but the sartorial: The pattern is made up of a mix of vintage accessories and sketches from the RL archives. Slingback heels, sunglasses, and luggage mingle with Collection sketches from the ’90s. Overtop a herringbone pattern, there are sample swatches and a drawstring pouch, out of which spills long chain-link jewelry. The Ricky bag makes an appearance here and there.
The Ralph Calfskin Tote
$3,800.00
Donnely 90 MM Calfskin Boot
$1,990.00
RL Betty Sunglasses
$250.00
The Pre-Fall Collection also includes a series of garments and accessories done in a distinctively sumptuous green. It’s not the color of Ralph’s Coffee or of the brand’s Wimbledon collaboration, but rather, Dark Racing Green, the exact hue that covers Mr. Lauren’s 1955 Jaguar XKD 505/601. While there have been previous homages to the automotive world, they have often leaned masculine. But the women’s Collection proves that there is femininity in the theme. Take the Kyler miniskirt, perfectly proportioned and finished in a matte nappa lambskin and antiquelike roller buckles to fasten it. Or the Korrina balmacaan coat, a loose-fitting style with raglan sleeves whose water-resistant patent fabric is meant to mimic the slick paint finish of the vintage Jaguar. The hue also shows up in a few new Ralph styles—a bag collection that also happens to take inspiration from sports cars, mainly in the bag’s burl wood–and-metal top handles, whose shape comes from a steering wheel. It’s further proof that the collection has a lot of unexpected oomph.
The Ralph Calfskin Tote
$3,800.00
SHANNON ADDUCCI is a writer and fashion editor based in New York. Her work has appeared in Elle, GQ, Departures, Robb Report, WWD, and T: The New York Times Style Magazine.
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