It’s been half a century since Ralph Lauren released his first menswear line from a small showroom in the Empire State Building. In the decades since its launch, the elegantly named Polo and subsequent Ralph Lauren brands took the fashion world by storm. By the mid-‘90s, the company was expanding at an astonishing rate: within a single year, Lauren started RRL, Polo Sport, the Polo Sport skincare line and the Ralph label, a feat facilitated by surging profits from lucrative licensing agreements. And as of 2018, Ralph Lauren is the only designer to win all of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s top awards: the Lifetime Achievement Award (1991); the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award (1995); the Menswear Designer of the Year Award (1996, 2007) and Retailer of the Year. He has also received the CFDA Humanitarian Leadership award (1997). Looking back, it’s safe to say that no other brand has codified and steered American style like Ralph Lauren.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lauren’s debut line, the brand teamed up with Mr Porter to offer the 83-piece World of Ralph Lauren Exclusive Collection. A veritable amalgamation of Lauren’s most iconic pieces, the capsule spans three definitive sub-brands: Polo Ralph Lauren, RRL and Ralph Lauren Purple Label. The bulk of the collection, 48 pieces, is made up of Polo styles including classic American sportswear staples like ties, checked shirts and blazers. The rest of the collection is split pretty evenly between RRL, offering garments inspired by the American West, and Purple Label, Lauren’s most luxurious menswear offering.
The prices of the collection reflect the scope of product and range from $95 for a pocket square from Polo to $5,995 for a paisley silk tuxedo jacket from Purple Label. Starting today, the capsule is available both online at Mr Porter and at global Ralph Lauren flagship stores. The World of Ralph Lauren Exclusive Collection is as much a career retrospective as it is an encyclopedia of American menswear, and it is truly impressive.
Madison Checked Wool-Twill Tie by Polo Ralph Lauren $125
Checked Brushed Cotton-Flannel Overshirt by Polo Ralph Lauren $150
Herringbone Wool Suit Jacket by Polo Ralph Lauren $995
Hawkins Leather Belt by RRL $295
Bowery Pebble-Grain Leather Boots by RRL $990
Wool, Cotton, Alpaca, Silk And Linen-Blend Zip-Up Cardigan by RRL $895
Wool And Cashmere-Blend Mock-Neck Sweater by Ralph Lauren Purple Label $1,495
Douglas Double-Breasted Pinstriped Wool Suit Jacket by Ralph Lauren Purple Label $4,495
Shearling Jacket by Ralph Lauren Purple Label $4,995
Over a half century since its inception, Ralph Lauren remains a powerful force in the style world. Former employees, now with successful businesses of their own, maintain the standards and lessons they learned during their time there. Here are five you may know. Read the Story