RALPH LAREN KICKS UP DUST AT HIS SPRING 2009 RUNWAY SHOW

Ralph Lauren pulled out all the stops and shook the fashion press out of their coma last week. It is rumored that Lauren patterned his collection after the Harrison Ford type cast alter-ego for spring- summer 2009.

Models wore khaki jodhpurs and shirts with battered ‘Akubra’ hats and leather water bottles dangling around their hips.

The ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ sentiment gave Lauren a chance to mix reality with fantasy in a rugged sort of way. The sportswear was geared for survival in today’s urban jungle with safari-style Indiana Jones’s wear.

Python-skin and tan leather belts cinched skinny trousers, harem pants and cuffed shorts, with anoraks and ‘bush’ shirts. Lauren also showed gold-beaded cardigans, vests, jackets and a ‘ball-gown

The rest of the show featured looks reminiscent of India and North Africa with exotic silk ‘dhoti’ pants, gold-beaded slinks and gowns accessorized with gold lame turbans, by London milliners, Philip Treacy and Patricia Underwood. This Raj look is very futuristic, but will surely be an important trend to follow.

Exotic jeweled necklaces and earrings sparkled on the runway.

This is good news for hatters. As a matter of fact, we heard from the Akubra’s North America hat agent, David Morgan who sells these Aussie hats worldwide.

The Akubra hat below is called “The Bushman” (and is in Nullarbor Tan). According to Morgan, the Bushman is a classic Australian stockman's hat worn in the outback since 1900. The old snap brim Fedora was the first hat imported by Akubra from England. It was also the first hat made byAkubra in the early 1900s.

“The Bushman is in fur felt, is lined and has chin strap hooks. The brim is 3-1/4 inches and it has a bound edge. The snap front hat has a half inch ribbon band. and has a reeded roan leather sweatband and is made in Australia.

For information on these hats, contact Will at David Morgan, http://akubra-usa.com 800-324-4934, or through distributors listed at http://akubra.com.au/