NEW YORK – "Hold on, I have to say hi to Valerie Jarrett."
In a room full of A-listers and stars, Oscar winner Viola Davis calmly pauses to greet the ex-adviser to former President Barack Obama, casually chatting before reveling in the "classic" beauty of what she just experienced.
That's the power of a fashion show curated by Ralph Lauren.
An understated elegance – from the bevy of celebrities front row to the pieces that came down the runway – defined the designer's New York Fashion Week show in downtown Manhattan Wednesday, Sept. 9, serving as a precursor to the fashion week calendar's official start on Thursday, Sept. 10.
"I absolutely loved it," Davis tells USA TODAY after the show. "I loved the classic elements of it, I loved the femininity
of some of the dresses. It reminded me of my 20s, with the combination of sort of the androgyny of the suits and the boas and the little furry purses. I loved it, the classic meeting the whimsy. I saw my daughter [in the collection]."
Davis, joined by her husband Julius Tennon, was seated near "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo, who smiled and chatted excitedly with fellow Brit Anna Wintour after the fashion icon arrived minutes before the show began.
The front row was like a mini "women in Hollywood" gathering, with Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose, "Not Suitable for Work" star Ella Hunt, "The Crown" actress Elizabeth Debicki, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" star Rachel Brosnahan, "3 Body Problem" actress Eiza González and "The White Lotus" actress Meghann Fahy.
Ralph Lauren has continued to remain true to the brand's classically Americana roots, while staying impeccably modern and both a reflection and a purveyor of the times.
Where Lauren's February collection was filled with sumptuous textures like velvet and lace, and deep earthy and jewel-toned pieces mixed in with animal print and his signature western flair, the designer opted for a more muted and restrained collection for his spring/summer 2027 outing.
The collection's color palette is "grounded in navy and white delivers freshness while maintaining focus on the silhouette," the designer wrote in his show notes.
But don't take "grounded" to mean "boring."
The designer's collection "upends traditional notions of chic," elevating standard tailoring with bursts of feathered collars and bags, custom pocket watches and exaggerated floral appliqués. An electric blue feathered heel brought a modern edge to a white trench coat, a body-hugging navy gown and a patterned top paired with white trousers.
Lauren offered up an adult version of "jeans and a cute top," with a slinky, skin-baring golden top, with swaying fringe and a tied waist atop a deep navy set of trousers resembling dark-wash denim.
And "in an homage to the first suit Ralph Lauren designed for women," two "stark, sharp pantsuits" were crafted in an Italian menswear facility, according to the show notes.
Perhaps it's ideal for the current moment in time, and it's classically New York: "original and optimistic," the show notes describe, with just enough flair to stand out but subdued enough to create your own world around it.
The designer emerged to a standing ovation in a New York letterman jacket, the cherry on top of a summer in the city teeming full of optimism and possibility.
The brand's staying power, much like the latest collection's timeless feel, is evident in a parting word from Davis.
She recalls the first Ralph Lauren piece she ever bought. "A white suit. It's classic, it's strong," Davis says. "It reminds me of the best part of being a woman: You can sort of straddle the fence with the strong, the feminine, the powerful. … And actually, I still have it in my closet."
Anika Reed is USA TODAY's deputy entertainment editor, covering all things entertainment and pop culture. Find her on Instagram and TikTok, or send her an email at ajreed@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis stun front row at Ralph Lauren fashion show
