Ralph Lauren Fall Winter 2014

New York’s skyline has been dusted with a layer of snow for what seems like weeks, and this morning the heavens opened up once again, dumping another six inches on the sidewalk. It’s perhaps why fashion folk have swapped out their usual black and gray urban uniforms for a look that reflects the changing landscape this season, and the fluffy white winter coat has been a recurring palate-cleansing theme on street-style blogs.

It’s a shift that designer Ralph Lauren has picked up on, too, and his fall show this morning struck a distinctly crisp white note, peppered with soft shades of lilac and dove gray. After spring’s swinging sixties inspiration, the designer sidestepped the idea of an overarching theme altogether; save for a few Gatsby-esque beaded silk dresses, the overall focus for fall was on pared-back, practical elegance. Powdery pink blazers and shearling coats swung casually at the shoulders of cozy turtlenecks and were worn with a slouchy trouser which is rapidly gaining ground on the once-ubiquitous skinny. Another noteworthy pant silhouette to come through this season is the humble jogger, which was elevated in cream-colored cashmere. Pair those with discreet kid-suede high-tops and a lovely fluffy white coat, of course, and the look spoke directly to how women want to dress right now. Lauren underscored that winning combo of form and function when he stepped out at the end of the show in a pair of chic Team USA mountain boots of his own design.