Ralph Lauren has always seen fashion as a form of adventure—as evidenced by both his rough-and-ready Western looks and his rugged outdoor wear. For fall 2026, the designer said in his show notes that he was inspired by the “renegade spirit” of an adventurous woman whose “style is not defined by time. It’s enduring.”

Tonight, he welcomed a crowd that included Anne Hathaway, Morgan Spector, and Lana Del Rey to a downtown venue that was transformed into a Lauren-style manor. The show began with the dramatic raising of a curtain, and Gigi Hadid emerged onto the carpeted runway in a brown tweed ensemble.

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What followed was a wide-ranging interpretation of adventure that, just like the designer’s dream heroine, defied eras. For the outdoorswoman, there was an urbane take on wader boots and some Amelia Earhart-worthy hand-distressed leather jackets. Touches of Katharine Hepburn showed up in the wide-leg trousers and menswear-style suiting, and there was even a hint of Joan of Arc in the glittering “chainmail” mesh accents that offered a medievalcore moment.

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Lauren’s pursuit of New World toughness has always existed alongside his reverence for English gentry styles and Old Hollywood glamour, and this collection included plenty of both. In the former camp, he turned out tweedy capes fastened with brooches, newsboy caps, and antique floral prints. In the latter: velvet gowns, shoulder-brushing earrings, lush textures, and metallic skirts.

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For anyone hunting for the solution to dressing amid New York City’s ongoing polar vortex without going full Jeremiah Johnson, these were clothes that proved that function and luxury can absolutely coexist.

All photos: Launchmetrics.com/spotlight

This article was first seen on ELLE US.