Ralph Lauren returns home with minimalist Spring 2026 collection

Fragile in age but still at the forefront, Ralph Lauren has returned home: for Spring 2026, the 85-year-old designer, one of the few remaining from the old guard, invited attendees to focus on the clothes by presenting the new collection in his Madison Avenue showroom in a minimalist setting: white walls, soft sofas, and a curved staircase reminiscent of the Guggenheim.

Hollywood front row: Laura Dern, Oprah Winfrey, Usher, Jessica Chastain, Naomi Watts, Mindy Kaling, Ariana DeBose, and the recent astronaut on Jeff Bezos’ flight, Gayle King, applauded the new line, where tailoring in a bold palette of white, black, and touches of red intersects with fluid lines, CE Report quotes ANSA.

Lauren, whose son David on the eve of the show brought the brand into the world of artificial intelligence with the app “Ask Ralph,” envisioned a woman suspended between the two poles of strength and sensuality—dreamer and pragmatist—whose style choices reflect both rigor and softness.

Silhouettes oscillate between fitted bodies and spectacular volumes, while accessories—sculptural silver jewelry, wide-brimmed hats, woven bags evoking market baskets—add an aura of romanticism.

The collection draws from Ralph Lauren’s menswear heritage reinterpreted for women: white coats paired with minimalist tops, suits in multiple variations—from utility jackets with oversized pockets to balloon pants tapered at the ankle—to poetic reinterpretations of shirts, oversized and with unexpected details such as a large red bow at the neck reminiscent of a 19th-century artist.

The clothes multiply facets: a red sundress with corset construction plays with flirtation; a structured black mini layered over a long pleated skirt becomes urban; a retro floral maxi recalls the 1940s. There is a jumpsuit made from white fabric scraps worn over a metallic top. Leatherwork demands close attention, such as a stretch leather bustier with ruched edges or a lightweight suit as delicate as parchment. For evening wear, the focus is on a relaxed allure: red and black dresses with wide volumes and sinuous lines, with touches of sporty glamour, like a black T-shirt paired with a sequined embroidered skirt.

In a challenging sector, Ralph Lauren’s brand, at the forefront since 1967 when it started with a tie line, is experiencing continuous growth, with sales particularly increasing in Asia after the first show in Shanghai last spring. The turnaround has been driven since 2017 by new CEO Patrice Louvet, who reduced outlets and discounts, redefined the distribution strategy by closing two-thirds of the wholesale network, and lessened supply chain dependence on China—a particularly relevant move given the trade war.