Ralph Lauren returned to Manhattan on Thursday for his fall 2025 collection runway show, departing from his usual nighttime extravaganzas to present the Edwardian-infused lineup midday inside the grandiose, new Jack Shainman Gallery flagship in TriBeCa.

While spring was all about the designer’s family of brands, his 104th women’s show homed in on the luxe expression of Ralph Lauren Collection, complete with a star-studded front row including the likes of Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sadie Sink, Naomi Watts, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Ariana Debose, Andra Day, Kasey Musgraves, Ryan Destiny and Eiza Gonzalez.

“There’s a certain moodiness to this collection and I thought it would be nice to show the collection during the day with good light to convey the juxtapositions you see in this collection,” the iconic American designer told WWD of fall’s “Modern Romantics” inspiration.

“She’s a confident woman who dresses for herself and her mood. She isn’t bound by any rules when it comes to dressing,” he said, evidenced by his plays of masculine and feminine with the rugged and refined, heightened with heirloom level craft and heritage brand codes. 

“The Ralph Lauren woman doesn’t fit into just one box — she is multifaceted. She’s whimsical and dresses based on how she feels and where she’s going. I just want to make pieces that women can wear in their everyday lives, something that makes them feel confident,” Lauren said of his wide offering.

This sensibility started with daywear, opening with an Edwardian frilled white shirt, fastened with an ornate brooch and styled with a vintage-inspired, hand-distressed brown leather jacket; black cardigan, and tailored balloon pants (a signature bottom of the season) tucked into leather boots.

He continued to push this strong, youthful edge with darker, Gothic romanticism throughout the latter half of the show, styling the ruffled tops with many looks, including a hand-distressed leather boiler suit, sharp riding coats and great leather tailoring, which followed an array of new takes on brand signatures such as roomy frocks, sportswear and leather outerwear.

In between were standout styles that evoked an appealing lived-in, vintage feel through hand-done techniques, as seen through an airbrushed corded paisley belted blazer and softly pleated maxi skirt and must-have leather and suede degrade aviator jacket, crafted via a hand-brushed treatment, making each piece one of a kind. 

Lauren said holding shows remains important to him, as “every collection has a story that allows me to build a setting and bring the collection to life, like a movie,” he said. “It’s dreamy and hopefully inspiring for the Ralph Lauren woman. She can aspire to be anyone she wishes to be through my clothes and staging a show is my way of storytelling.”

His strong, romantic cinematic lineup continued to be enriched with craft, as seen through a laser-cut leather bustier jacket and Victorian beaded version; intriguing crinoline lace dresses, and head-turning, sensual halter gowns cut for the modern Hollywood siren.

“Last year was an incredible year for the brand with our two runway shows — first at my office at 650 [Madison Avenue] and then in the Hamptons — as well as the Olympics, Wimbledon, etc. But I am always looking to the future, and we have a lot of exciting things happening in 2025,” Lauren said.

He’s off to a strong start.