Romantic sea mood from maestro. Ralph Lauren collection

Inspired by French style, Ralph Lauren’s spring-summer 2016 show opened with seafaring looks featuring plenty of nautical stripes in blue and white pairings. As the show progressed, Lauren introduced graphic prints in kaleidoscopic blue, yellow, red and green tones for an artistic moment. Then a return to serene white with menswear inspired shirting and relaxed silhouettes. For evening wear, Lauren looked to nautical stripes again with strapless gowns that would be perfect for yachting or a summer party.

Ralph Lauren, who would have awoken to headlines that Britain's Duchess of Cambridge wore one of his dresses to mark her return to official duties from maternity leave, is one of New York's most loved designers. "My Women's Collection for Spring 2016 is a modern expression of the glamorous spirit of the French Riviera," Lauren said on Twitter.

"It has a romantic rusticity, as well as a sleek and luxurious sportiness that represents to me both the cool insouciance and understated style of the women who inspire me."

IT was a combination of the French Riviera and Paris in springtime that played out on the Ralph Lauren catwalk today – with Julianne Moore, Jessica Chastain and Alec Baldwin among those there to take it all in, Frank Sinatra chiming away in the background. Quite the holiday. Ralph suggests bold graphic maxidresses, here they curved in lines of red and blue; wide palazzo pants and fine-knit bodysuits complete with cutouts. Of course, you’ll need a ballgown – in stripes – and plenty of preppy shirting, for which the designer is so well-known.

And while that takes care of your wardrobe, you’ll need to think about adding an extra bit of hand luggage for the accessories – here they really stood out: ladylike little box bags or raffia numbers with “Ralph” stitched on. Top that off with a pair of huge Eighties visor sunglasses and you have the Ralph Lauren mini-break done.