Ralph Lauren draws Hollywood stars to first California show, including Jennifer Lopez

Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Sylvester Stallone, John Legend and Jessica Chastain were among guests at star-studded event

SAN MARINO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: (L-R) Jennifer Flavin, Sistine Stallone, Sylvester Stallone and Sophia Stallone attend the Ralph Lauren SS23 Runway Show at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens on October 13, 2022 in San Marino, California. Amy Sussman / Getty Images / AFP

Designer Ralph Lauren waves to the audience at the close of the Ralph Lauren Spring 2023 Fashion Experience on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo / Chris Pizzello)

Diane Keaton, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Jessica Chastain and Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo at the show. AP

Actor Chris Pine. AFP

Singer John Legend. AFP

Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain. AFP

A model walks the runway at the Ralph Lauren show. AP

Ralph Lauren staging a sumptuous display of his well-honed ethos of casual luxury. AP

The collection had strong Western accents like cowboy hats and boots. AP

Models strutted to a soundtrack of California-themed songs like 'California Dreamin'. AP

There were plenty of cowboy hats, worn-in jeans and boots to begin with, gradually morphing into fancier wear like long, bright skirts and slinky cut-out gowns for the women. AP

Ralph Lauren went big and bold for his first show in Los Angeles.

The show was held at the grand Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. AP

There were plenty of cowboy hats, worn-in jeans and boots. AP

A model walks through the audience at the Ralph Lauren show. AP

Children, each holding one hand of their accompanying adult, also walked the runway. AP

Children, like their adult counterparts, were dressed in classic Lauren looks of tweed jackets, sweater vests, pinstriped button-downs and white shorts. AP

A little boy in bright green trousers stole the moment by insisting on high-fiving everyone he passed. AP

The show featured several Ralph Lauren lines, including menswear and childrenswear. AP

Colour gowns mixed with casual Western-influenced cuts. AP

A model at the show. AP

Bright skirts were aplenty. AP

The collection was glamorous as it was eclectic. AP

Newlyweds Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck before the show. AP

Ben Affleck, from left, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Chastain and Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo attend the Ralph Lauren Spring 2023 Fashion Experience on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at The Huntington in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo / Chris Pizzello)

Cole Sprouse and Ari Fournier. AFP

James Marsden also attended the star-studded show. AFP

Dylan Penn and Robin Wright. AFP

Angus Cloud and James Marsden. AFP

Rachel Zoe was one of the celebrity guests. AFP

Lauren Bush, David Lauren and Maggie Rogers. AFP

Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman. AFP

Actor and model Patrick Schwarzenegger. AFP

Laura Dern and Mindy Kaling. AFP

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. AFP

Actress Diane Keaton. AFP

Sistine Stallone, Sophia Stallone, Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin. AFP

Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell. AP

Bronx-born Ralph Lauren, a quintessential New Yorker, had never staged a runway show on America's West Coast before. So clearly, with his first show in sunny California, he was going to go big — or, well, stay home.

Big he went, staging a sumptuous display of his well-honed ethos of casual luxury, with strong Western styles like cowboy hats and boots, against a setting sun at the grand Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, near Los Angeles.

Scroll through the gallery above for more pictures from Ralph Lauren's California show

Rivalling his lavish 50th anniversary show in New York’s Central Park in 2018, Thursday’s extravaganza brought in a slew of movie stars — including newlyweds Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck — to watch more than 120 models strut the runway, including some adorable tots in Lauren's childrenswear who had the fashionable crowd gasping with delight.

“We’re in show business,” the designer, 83, said simply in a post-show interview, standing next to the endlessly long, candlelit tables where guests dined post-show on Polo Bar burgers, grilled branzino and other specialties from his restaurant in New York.

Lauren explained that early on, he had felt LA wasn’t his style, but that changed and he finally decided, “OK let’s do something in LA, but let’s do it great.”

Always a celebrity magnet, Lauren brought out a slice of A-list Hollywood with Lopez and Affleck, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, Sylvester Stallone, John Legend, Diane Keaton, Jessica Chastain, Laura Dern, Chris Pine and James Marsden, to name a few.

The intimate affair for some 200 people began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres like tuna tartare on a patio overlooking the lush lawns and gardens of the Huntington, which once housed Gilded Age tycoon Henry Huntington. Celebrity guests mingled along with TikTok influencers and Lauren customers.

As the sun sank lower, guests were summoned to the tiled entrance of the museum, where models strutted to a soundtrack of California-themed songs like California Dreamin.

There were plenty of cowboy hats, worn-in jeans and boots to begin with, gradually morphing into fancier wear like long, bright skirts and cut-out gowns for the women.

Two small children each holding one hand of their accompanying adult, also appeared, dressed in classic Lauren looks of tweed jackets, sweater vests, pinstriped button-downs and white shorts.

More children followed, including a little boy in bright green trousers who stole the moment by insisting on high-fiving everyone he passed.

The show, which featured designs from several Ralph Lauren lines including menswear and childrenswear, finished with the models all returning to gather on the patio, joined by Lauren as he emerged to cheers.

Over dinner, Kushton and Kunis chatted with Legend, who said in an interview before the show that Lauren is “obviously an icon in the fashion business and has meant so much to style for such a long time".

Lopez noted that Lauren had dressed her and Affleck for their recent nuptials. “Ralph did our wedding, so we’ve become quite close,” she said. ”And we really love his aesthetic."

And, singer Maggie Rogers noted she had grown up as a fan of the brand. “I have been watching them for the last couple of years and to me they represent such a timeless American style, and I always try and bring that ... classic thing to my music,” she said. “So it feels like the perfect match.”

The show's soundtrack ended with a song that seemed to acknowledge Lauren's divided feelings, geographically speaking. “Well I’m New York City born and raised,” went the Neil Diamond song I Am ... I Said, "but nowadays I’m lost between two shores. LA’s fine, but it ain’t home. New York’s home but it ain’t mine no more.”