Ralph Lauren journeys to Spain at NY fashion week

NEW YORK (AFP) - Ralph Lauren took a whimsical journey to Spain on Thursday, while Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein went all-out with a structured, architectural look on the closing day of New York Fashion Week.

It was the 80th runway show for Lauren, a true American fashion design legend, and he celebrated the milestone in style with 61 flamenco-themed looks for next spring and summer in linen, silk, leather and suede.

"I am forever inspired by faraway exotic places," said Lauren, 72, on his Twitter account after the first of his two shows in Soho's Skylight Studios, where the fresh scent of floral bouquets greeted well-heeled invitees.

"I may never have travelled there, but in my imagination, it is real," added Lauren, who themed his fall-winter collection in February around visions of a stately English manor.