WWD: Ralph Lauren RTW Fall 2012

Lauren set the refined retro mood with an aged parquet floor, his models emerging from an immense, exquisitely carved dark wood door frame to the strains of the television series' theme. He opened with casually elegant men's wear looks all in mixes of the earthen tweeds, plaids and checks that he loves. In a season of major fabric awareness, his combinations felt natural and uncontrived. While the styling played to the Downton nattiness, the pieces were utterly versatile; witness the fact that a leather motorcycle jacket felt as right in the mix as a natty spencer. As for the coats — fabulous, in a range from herringbones and plaids to ocelot-printed shearling. Wisely, Lauren didn't stay in the manor too long, and if one wished he'd also pilfered the ladies' closets more overtly by day, there were still good things to come. For the full collection: http://bit.ly/xJfJdS