“Iam interested in the lifestyle of the person who wears the
clothes. My collections are about a way of life. I’m not
designing clothes or furniture or accessories in my mind;
I am designing a whole world.” That’s fashion designer
Ralph Lauren for you. An epitome of classic fashion, he is a man who
sells a lifestyle image of sophistication, class and taste.
With product lines such as Polo/Ralph Lauren for Men, Ralph
Lauren for Women, Double RL, Ralph Lauren Home, and even Ralph
Lauren paint, it makes us wonder who the man behind the label really is.
Lauren’s fashion sense was apparent at an early age when he would
purchase expensive suits with the money he earned working at his
after-school job. Although he knew he could find his clothes at a less
expensive price, he made it a point to look stylish in his expensive
threads - and he has succeeded at looking cool in his attire since
the age of 12.
Lauren studied business but dropped out short of receiving his
business degree. He began his design career in 1967 with an innovative
wide-tie neckwear line that launched the ‘wide-tie revolution’ and
marked the beginning of the Polo label. The following year saw the
introduction of his first menswear collection.
Lauren not only had an innovative mind, but also knew that
packaging and presentation were of utmost importance. In 1972, a full
womenswear line, including a complete sportswear line, was launched
with Ralph Lauren’s first fashion show for women. It featured an
innovative collection of tailored clothing for women which opened
new fashion worlds by providing, for the first time, feminine designs
and cuts with the beautiful, rich fabrics, authentic details and nuances
of menswear tailoring.
Ralph Lauren has always believed that fashion is a function of
lifestyle, and style a function of quality, integrity and timelessness. The
Polo mesh shirts – along with the oxford button down shirts, chinos,
tweed jackets, denim and chambray shirts – have acquired iconic status as the embodiments of authentic American
lifestyles, whether it is the New England
Coast, the West, Native American
culture or Hollywood glamour.
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Offering iconic style
that is always fresh
and modern but
ultimately timeless
and functional,
Ralph Lauren
designs for the
way people live,
paying homage
to tradition but
never bound by it. Watch World Feature |
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