Ralph Lauren Fashion News

What does a New York fashion titan do for his 40th anniversary? He secures the first-ever public event at the Central Park Conservancy.

It was the perfect storm of natural beauty and stunning fashion for Ralph Lauren, who set up his label four decades ago and wears the crown for all-American ease and elegance.

Set against the park's lush green backdrop, Lauren's collection showcased the designer's celebratory mood: glamour gowns in electric florals mixed it up with upper-class equestrian. Think jackets, jodhpurs, riding crops and family crests. Beautiful, young, fresh and never snooty. Lauren's women have always been strong and sexy, and this season, they're strutting in patent stiletto boots, hot yellow trenches and skinny pants no wider than licorice laces. Ladylike short gloves were perfect for the show-ending standing ovation.

Ralph wasn't the only one celebrating a big birthday yesterday. It was 75 years ago that crocodile-chic brand Lacoste first started crafting preppy pieces for the sporty set.

A candy parade of rainbow-bright sporty dresses, bikinis and shorts poured onto the runway as though out of a Skittles packet.

You'll want to run to the south of France, after seeing the Malandrino collection, a watercolor splash of tangerine, ivy and geranium. Catherine Malandrino, inspired by a town called St. Paul de Vence, set her show against lush greenery. Out came slinky pieces that audience member Janet Jackson could squeeze into to show off her back-again bod.

Twinkle sent out petite pieces in soft chiffons. Though designers are relentless in their quest to get grown ups to wear jumpers, I don't think we should. Twinkle's shortie version is no exception.