Ralph Lauren puts mod spin on spring

NEW YORK — Tastemakers who have seen eight days at New York Fashion Week of softer, lacy grown-up femininity got a palette cleanser with a crisp, clean collection from Ralph Lauren with well-defined lines and a vibe of modern mod.

Models walked the runway to the sounds of John Lennon’s “Nobody Told Me.”

A good percentage of the spring collection is black and white: low-slung patent-leather minis paired with printed floral trenches, a black knit dress with a sharp white menswear-style collar, a perfectly tailored white pantsuit with a black mock-neck top.

Even the round-toe, chunky-heel pumps made a statement different from the other scores of designers who either preferred delicate pointy-toe stilettos, aggressive booties or flat sandals.

“My spring 2014 collection celebrates a simple purity of clean lines and structure with a not to the bold spirit and playfulness of swinging London in the late ’60s,” Lauren said in a statement.

He saturated a handful of looks in bright lime, orange, red and yellow in both daytime ribbed dresses and leather coats, as well as eveningwear. The gowns would be surefire favorites for red-carpet cameras.

“I love the color. The color was great, it was different for Ralph,” said Jessica Alba, a seasoned Lauren front-row guest.

She imagines herself in the graphic print dresses, the bright leather coats and the red V-neck gown with dolman sleeves that had a capelike effect. “I love that it hugged the body but then there was also the flowy material. It’s beautiful.”