• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Shopping
  • Design Hunting
  • New York Weddings
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • Motherhood
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Science of Us
  • Horoscopes
  • Ask Polly
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • The Cut Shop
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
nyfw spring 2019
September 8, 2018

This Is What Aspiration Looks Like: Inside Ralph Lauren's 50th Anniversary Extravaganza

By Emilia Petrarca Photograph By Victor Llorente

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
Oprah Winfrey with Ryan Lally, VP of Communications at Ralph Lauren. Photo: Victor Llorente

Everything about Ralph Lauren’s 50th anniversary extravaganza, which took place Friday night during New York Fashion Week at Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain terrace, was rich. The runway looks — of which there were 111 — were made in rich fabrics like velvet, tweed, and leather. The approximately 200 some guests, who were instructed to wear black-tie, could afford to ditch their last names: Oprah, Kanye, Hillary. And even the food was rare: Steaks were flown in from Lauren’s own ranch in Colorado.

For 50 years, Ralph Lauren has been synonymous with American aspiration. Even if you could only afford a bandana or a whiff of his perfume, being a part of his world makes you feel like a million bucks. “Your work these past 50 years has told the story of lives, the lives that we live and the lives that we aspire to,” said Oprah in a heartfelt speech directed at the designer, who is now 78 years old. “My idea of acknowledging my success, the fact that I had made it, was Ralph Lauren towels … I had been aspiring to that idea for over 10 years.”

The night began with a fashion show that combined all of Ralph Lauren’s different collections under one roof: ready-to-wear, Purple Label, Double RL, and Polo. Supermodels Gigi Hadid and Kaia Gerber both walked, but the cast was a diverse mix of ages and ethnicities. The front row showed equal range, with American designers like Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger sitting next to musical artists like Chance the Rapper and actors like Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro. And then, of course, there was Anna Wintour. Like any Ralph Lauren space, the event had everything. Below, your ticket inside New York Fashion Week’s most glamorous night.

View
1 / 25 Photos
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
Photo: Victor Llorente
1 / 25

Tags:

  • image gallery
  • cut homepage lede
  • gallery
  • fashion
  • style
  • nyfw spring 2019

More Galleries

campaign trail Apr. 12, 2021
7 Women on Where They’re Finding Hope These Days  A new fashion campaign that focuses on the positive. 
fashion Mar. 15, 2021
Dramatic Wedding Gowns Inspired by Flowers  Danielle Frankel bridges the gap between bridal and fashion. 
campaign trail Jan. 28, 2021
 The Best Fashion Campaigns From Spring 2021  This season’s best from Prada, Versace, Miu Miu, and more. 
By Florence O'Connor
in memoriam Dec. 30, 2020
30 Incredible Fashion Moments From Pierre Cardin  Remembering a creative visionary. 
By Andrew Nguyen
rest in power Dec. 23, 2020
A Photo Memorial for an Iconic Model  She passed away suddenly at the age of 50 this week. 
campaign trail Nov. 18, 2020
‘Tis the Season for New Fashion Ads  See the best ones from Gucci, Prada, Versace, and more. 
By Emily Burns
nyfw spring 2021 Oct. 26, 2020
How a Great Collection Comes Alive  Christopher John Rogers launched its first-ever online shop, along with a new campaign. 
By Andrew Nguyen
campaign trail Sept. 24, 2020
See the Fashion Campaigns for Fall 2020  From Prada, Michael Kors, Celine, Louis Vuitton, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
nyfw spring 2021 Sept. 22, 2020
See the Coach Spring 2021 Collection  Worn by Megan Thee Stallion, Kate Moss, Cole Sprouse, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
fashion Sept. 16, 2020
The Stunning Awkwardness of Face Masks on the Red Carpet  Celebrities tried to make the best of a strange situation at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. 
one word one shot Sept. 15, 2020
72 Designers on Their Spring/Summer Inspirations  Just in time for Fashion Week. 
By the Cut
red carpet Sept. 8, 2020
This Red Carpet Was Totally Surreal  But also amazing. See all the looks at the Venice Film Festival. 
By Emilia Petrarca and Andrew Nguyen
in memoriam Aug. 31, 2020
Remembering Chadwick Boseman on the Red Carpet  His style was bold, risk-taking, and always impeccable. 
the wedding files Aug. 21, 2020
The Design-Minded Couple Who Didn’t Want to Try Too Hard  The bride got a wonderful surprise the morning of her wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 14, 2020
A Costa Rica Wedding During the Rainy Season  Thunder roared during the toasts. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 7, 2020
A San Francisco Wedding at a Big, Empty Pier  The bride changed into crushed-velvet pants for the disco-infused reception. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 31, 2020
An Elopement Among the Lupines in Iceland  The late afternoon was spent snapping photos near waterfalls and black beaches. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 24, 2020
A Pennsylvania Potluck for 280 People  “I looked at her for the first time and had this feeling like, You. I know you.” 
By Kaitlin Menza
milan fashion week July 22, 2020
Behind the Scenes at Gucci’s Virtual Show  Instead of models, members of the design team sported the eccentric collection. 
By Andrew Nguyen
the wedding files July 17, 2020
A Dance Party Under Puerto Rican Palm Trees  Bad Bunny blasted and pitorro flowed. 
By Kaitlin Menza
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Trademark
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2021 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.