We were at Ralph Lauren’s 650 Madison Avenue headquarters for his show last night. A few hours before its start time, a press release came through: The designer’s first womenswear show—in 1972!—was also held in his offices. In the 52 years that separate that inaugural moment and this one, much has changed, as black-and-white photos tracked down on Getty Images attest. In those early pictures, it was all editors and industry types in the small crowd. This evening, Glenn Close, Jessica Chastain, and Kerry Washington glided through the doors, among many other celebrities. Also not a thing back then: a post-show dinner at the Polo Bar, with models vamping in the glen plaid pantsuits and long bias-cut silk slips they wore on the runway.
