Ahead of Ralph Lauren's Spring 2018 see-now, buy-now show this morning, the designer took to Instagram to share several videos highlighting the inspiration behind his collection: the island of Jamaica.
Inspired by Round Hill Hotel and Villas, the family's vacation home and resort in Montego Bay, the show kicked off with a string of barefoot models wearing vibrant blue and white sundresses. The first six models hit the runway sans any footwear at all—opting for a laid-back, island vibe instead of teetering heels.
Though the rest of the runway looks featured models walking in a variety of vacation-ready sandals, pumps, and espadrilles, the designer's decision to kick off the show with all barefoot looks was a swift departure from his typically more buttoned-up collections.
From ultra-nautical blue and white looks to designs featuring the yellow and green colors of Jamaica's flag, Lauren's spring collection was a mashup of the island's serene beach vibes along with the brand's signature style. Along with the collection, the runway itself was built as a mini version of the designer's Jamaican retreat.
"Everyone wishes for a magical place where they can step out of time and into the beauty of nature. I wanted to share the mood, the light, the blue and white freshness of my retreat in Jamaica," Lauren wrote in the show notes.
From the nautical sundresses to the striped separates and more, the spring collection is already available to shop now at RalphLauren.com. Luckily, it's fairly easy to DIY the barefoot runway look yourself at home.
