Ralph Lauren Collection Spring 2024 with Felice Nova Noordhoff, Maty Fall and Sui He +
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In a spring 2024 Ralph Lauren Collection presentation, Ralph offered his expected use of denim. And of course, there were plenty of casual jeans.
What Lauren offered that grabbed everyone’s attention was a new marriage of denim, lined with chiffon and tulle and burnt out into devorés, it was then over-embroidered with sequins and beads.
Unadulterated Spring Glam
These images showcase one of the most glamorous spring statements Ralph has made about obvious luxury, sophisticated clothes that aren’t sedate. Clearly, Ralph’s 2019 Jazz Age vibe was still singing in his design DNA. I’m reminded of Loro Piana CEO Damien Bertrand saying that his brand is not about quiet luxury. In fact, he hates the term when applied to Loro.
Returning to Ralph Lauren, the fact that this gold lame-rich segment of his Spring 2024 show is the centerpiece for his spring campaign suggests that his clients also are in a mood for a bit of flashy spring elegance. It’s American and also South American, with a strong hit of Miami vice.
The series of black and gold looks play with house codes like the RL logo, which was picked out on the torso of a clingy beaded black dress, and the military jacket, which got belted over silky pants and strappy heels.
Whatever you think of this bold Ralph Lauren design formula, it’s working in the corporate financial statements.
Excellent Holiday 2023 Performance at Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren reported its third quarter sales — which include holiday 2023 — on February 8, 2024. For all the brands faltering with global customers allegedly pulling back on spending, Ralph Lauren’s Oct-Dec 2023 financial performance was excellent.
Ralph Lauren’s results put him in LVMH territory, with their organic revenue growth of 10%, and not Kering Group, who reported a 5% holiday sales decrease.
Building on a 10% increase in average unit retail price in its direct-to-consumer network for 2022, Ralph Lauren reported a 9% pricing increase for holiday 2023 third quarter this year.
Unfazed by the price increases, America’s largest fashion luxury brand added 1.7 million new consumers in its direct-to-consumer businesses during the quarter.
"And who could forget Taylor Swift, who chose an all-American Ralph Lauren look for the cover of Time Magazine as their 2023 Person of the Year," CEO Patrice Louvet told financial analysts. "These activations helped to fuel our strongest quarter of new consumer acquisition since the pandemic."
Younger Customers Discover Ralph Lauren
Louvet further explained that Ralph Lauren is being discovered by younger customers of financial means. This news gives all credit due to Taylor Swift, while prompting Anne to stress yet again how so many initiatives embraced by Ralph Lauren and their key brands —especially Polo Ralph Lauren — resonate with younger customers with progressive values.
Honoring American Excellence
In 2022, The Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection opened a new avenue of cultural exchange that honors the historical pursuit of excellence in the Black community. All of these projects carry internships and outstanding historical videos that tell America’s stories.
Ralph Lauren is increasingly working with America’s indigenous communities as well for the last 2-3 years.
Today’s news is that Ralph Lauren is partnering with Spike Lee and the filmmaker's agency Gersh, to dress the Spike Fellows, with personal styling sessions by Ralph Lauren designers. Ralph Lauren brands will dress our American athletes in the Paris Olympics this summer.
Why not dress the second cohort of Spike Fellows from the Atlanta University Center Consortium - comprised of the HBCUs Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University - who are interested in working in the entertainment industry?
Progressive Values Profits
All who read Anne of Carversville regularly know that I have staked my luxury-business knowledge claim to the intersection of corporate profits and telling America’s stories through a progressive-values lens. Of course, I see these initiatives as global ones.
My weekend discussion of these initiatives with a very talented, luxury-industry-informed friend of mine came to mind just now. Spike’s shout out to Ralph Lauren comes with the director’s very authentic voice. My dear friend will be shaking his head reading Spike Lee’s message, but his heart is truth in the right place.
"Big Thanks to the good folks at Ralph Lauren for blessing our HBCU fellowship program with fashion for the seasons," Lee wrote in a statement. "We and the students truly appreciate it, peace and Love Ya-DIG SHO-NUFF?"
Ralph Lauren has developed serious street cred over the last decade, joining Louis Vuitton — especially LV Mens — in this forward march in the face of big winds.
These brands — and multiple others — are allies in the incredibly-serious fight for a true American democracy, as we teeter towards MAGA authoritarianism.
It gives me great pleasure to keep hammering my message, while reporting excellent financial results for these brands. In this international moment, they are our most important allies and change agents.
For millions of good Americans trying hard to find their place in the American dream, I say “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ralph Lauren.” ~ Anne
