Ralph Lauren Hosted a Los Angeles Holiday Party Full of Cheer

Wednesday night in Los Angeles, temperatures dipped into the low 50s and Angelenos donned their best tweed blazers, tartan dresses, and suede jumpsuits to come out for the Polo Ralph Lauren holiday party, with a special performance by Idina Menzel.

“Last week I was at Carnegie Hall, and now I’m at Ralph Lauren,” she said to the crowd as she warmed up for her set. “This is better. I can perform and shop at the same time. It’s good.”

There is perhaps no other American designer more synonymous with classic Christmas spirit than Lauren, and many in attendance showed their enthusiasm by sporting their own take on traditional holiday attire from his current collections.

Menzel wore a fitted red velvet Ralph Lauren blazer with black trim, a white blouse, black pants, and a Vamp manicure. “I hope they’re letting me keep it. It’s a great New Year’s look too,” she said. “I’m not necessarily a fashionista, but I’ve been a Ralph fan for a long time. I’ve had one of his brown leather sofas in my New York City apartment for almost 20 years. I got it after one of my first big paychecks, and it was one of the first really luxurious things I bought for myself.”

For actress Kathryn Newton (who was also in attendance), her first experience with Ralph Lauren was also about 20 years ago. “There’s a picture of me at two years old with my dad on a putting green, and I’m wearing a little Polo shirt,” recalled the actress, who was dressed for the occasion in a floor-length tartan Ralph Lauren halter dress. “And now I’m doing the Ralph golf campaign. It’s come full circle!”

The evening started with an array of children’s activities that included face painting and custom candy bags before Menzel performed a set of songs that included Christmas classics from her latest album—“Sleigh Ride,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “A Hand for Mrs. Claus”—as well as her hits like Frozen’s “Let It Go.”

What was everyone asking Santa for, aside from an alligator RL50 bag and RRL blanket sweater? “I’d really like another poodle. I already have three that rule my life, so what’s a fourth?” Newton said.

“My son just learned that Santa isn’t real though, which is rough,” Menzel said. “However, I told him Santa is real because mommy is Santa and mommy is real…he’s really into basketball and loves sneakers. He wants vintage sneakers, old Jordans, anything like that.”

Mindy Kaling, in a sunrise-inspired pink ombre off-the-shoulder dress from the pre-spring 2020 collection, was hoping for something simple in her stocking. “I just got into mezcal, and I really want the Dos Hombres mezcal that Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul made,” she said.

When it came time to leave, guests left with bags of holiday candy and sugar cookies decorated with Ralph Lauren’s signature winter bear.