Ralph Lauren Celebrates 40 Years in Fashion With Style

America's celebrated fashion designer Ralph Lauren has finally reached his ripe 40th anniversary in the fashion industry and he is celebrating it with pomp and style at the recent New York Fashion Week.

Held at the Central Park Conservatory, New York, the evening of glitz and glamor was attended by fashion bigwigs, cutting-edge fashionistas, international jetsetters, America's creme de la creme, and of course, global media members.

Guests were there do not only present to celebrate his achievement as one of the best yet iconic fashion designers in the global fashion society who elevated American sportswear and style to a new level but also to witness the staging of its new and upcoming Spring/Summer 2008 ready-to-wear collection that will hit stores early next year.

Compiling his signature looks - haberdashery, equestrian theme, and Anglophilia - into one great collection that exudes sexiness, sophistication and audacity.

The compilation is then blended with fashion elements borrowed from the Victorian period such as ruffled-hemmed gown with high frontal cutout, as worn by Barbra Streisand in her renowned musical movie Dolly, with big hats and a classic coordination of working palettes in dominating black and white, some red, yellow, purple, green, bright yet electrifying blue and pink, orange and of course, the print plethora.

Like viewing a fashion timeline, the pieces are paraded as if they were presenting the history of fashion, starting with Victorian-inspired pieces interlaced with silhouettes of the 40's, 50's, and 60's, back to the Victorian time, and ended with a modern early 90's look.

Multi-tiered hems, one of the common feature of any Victorian period grabs, are obviously featured in the latest collection, with some are made floor sweeping. Simple evening wears such as black strapless gown with embellished bodice and knee-length sheer tulle skirt with underlayering, is truly a show-stealer.

As for the boys, Ralph Lauren's Purple label defines the true meaning of luxe in a men's dressing with extreme English-tailore propositions sportswear swathed in flamboyant colors of orange, yellow, leaf green, and cyclamen.

For the Black label, clothes were done in all-black with some splashes of pink and turquoise to cheer it up. But if you are a global nomad who is also an eccentric playboy with a dose of sensitivity, then go for the ever-popular Polo by Ralph Lauren.

A classic player in the menswear industry, the Polo collection boasts a bit of nautical feel of white and navy blue, mixed with an Edwardian edge in stand-up club collars, and completed with a group consisting of sportswear against tailoring, known as the Flat Iron.

The complete array of Ralph Lauren collection Spring/Summer 2008 for men and women will reach Ralph Lauren stores and select retailers early Spring next year. For Malaysian fans, the wait will be over this November as the brand unveils its first flagship store in Malaysia at the swanky yet hip Pavilion KL. Expect yourself to a dazzling selection of Ralph Lauren goodies as the store opens up in the next few weeks.

*Photos courtesy of Style.com/Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Flagship Store - Level 2, The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.