Been to the movies lately, Ralph? Anna Karenina inspires Mr Lauren's romantic fall collection (and wife Ricky could not be more proud)

The Ralph Lauren show during New York Fashion Week was full of romance, and not just because it was Valentine's Day.
'I was inspired by the spirit of a romantic revolutionary,' the fashion veteran said of his collection. 'A timeless heroine, independent and bold, a woman who revels in her individuality and personal style.'
At the end of his Anna Karenina-influenced presentation, the designer's wife Ricky got up from her seat to plant a kiss on Mr Lauren, 71, while the crowd applauded his opulent designs.

 

Love is in the air: Ralph Lauren gets a kiss from his wife Ricky after debuting his romantic, Anna Karenina-inspired fall collection at New York Fashion Week

The designer, whose supportive family always attends his shows, added a Valentine's touch, leaving a box of chocolates from his daughter's sweet shop, Dylan's Candy Bar, on each seat.

 

And the collection itself was just as romantic as its creator, transporting spectators to late-Nineteenth-century Russia.
Rich winter hues, luxurious textures and opulent crystals dominated the Ralph Lauren runway.

 

Decadent designs: Rich winter hues, luxurious textures and opulent crystals dominated the runway

 

 

Regal elegance: Models wore fur hats and ballgowns, evoking Keira Knightley's costumes in the 2012 film

Models wore arm-length gloves, fur hats and ballgowns fit for a tsarina, evoking Keira Knightley's costumes in the 2012 film.
And the runway's hardwood floors and antler-adorned chandeliers added to the overall lavishness.
Mr Lauren's 'timeless heroine' seems to embark on a journey as the runway show progresses, her style varying between nautical menswear and princess-worthy elegance.
Many of the looks were feminine and regal, including one midnight blue, floor-sweeping gown with a crystal-embroidered neckline.
Another ensemble featured a white, tulle dress accented with elegant white gloves, a cream-colored fur stole and a matching fur hat.

Ornamental details: The runway's hardwood floors and antler-adorned chandeliers added to the overall lavishness of the show

 

 

 

Updated menswear: Sailor-striped sweaters, balloon-leg pants and toggle-jackets hinted at a nautical theme
The all-American designer, who is known for his use of themes on the runway, explored several styles within his fall collection.
While much of the collection revolved around femininity, some of the looks took their cues from updated menswear.
Sailor-striped sweaters, balloon-leg pants and toggle-jackets hinted at a nautical theme.
And several models also sported black silk bows wrapped around their crisp, white collars
The designer's subtle use of plush details added an extra element of opulence to the looks.

 

 

Russian influences: In the 2012 film version of Leo Tolstoy's novel, Keira Knightley plays the married Anna Karenina, a Russian aristocrat who embarks on an affair with the affluent Count Vronsky

A black silk skirt, for example, featured fine leather strips within its pleats, while a coat from the collection was adorned with velvet floral embroidery.
Anna Karenina was written by Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy in the 1800s.
In the 2012 film, Keira Knightley plays the married Anna Karenina, a Russian aristocrat who embarks on an affair with the affluent Count Vronsky.