In 1977 Ralph Lauren Corporation introduced a signature cotton mesh polo shirt in various colours, featuring the polo player logo on the chest. By 1969, the Manhattan department store Bloomingdale’s sold Lauren’s men line exclusively. It was the first time that Bloomingdale’s had given a designer his own in-store shop. In 1971, Ralph Lauren Corporation launched a line of tailored shirts for women, which introduced the Polo player emblem, appearing on the shirt cuff. As early as last March, the label was already raising the profile of its denim collection through its eco-friendly “Design The Change” project. While the 50th anniversary of International Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd, many houses and labels have committed themselves in recent seasons to a form of fashion that is more respectful of the environment.
An entire Instagram account dubbed @oldralphlaurenads has surfaced in tribute to the brands’ advertisements. Founded by Fredrika Sjöö as a source of escapism, the grid depicts the yuppie style Ralph Lauren embodied. In one image, oversize silhouettes polo dress shirts and a USA logo sweatshirt dress down fancier elements like a tie-bound pink shirt, khakis, and a camel coat. Others reveal familial crews clad in all-white tennis ensembles, who appear to be heading to the court—if not for the pearls.
Ralph Lauren Corporation is the exclusive Official Parade Outfitter for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, with the right to manufacture, distribute, advertise, promote, and sell products in the U.S. which replicate the Parade Outfits and associated leisure wear. The Company has established a partnership with athletes serving as brand ambassadors and as the faces of the advertising, marketing, and public relations campaigns. Finally, pair all of your Fourth of July outfits with the Honourable Mention Cap that will help keep your eyes out of the sun as well.
One simply depicts Lauren himself in a white t-shirt, jeans, and a cowboy hat drinking what looks to be a beer in an effortless style that strikes us as wholeheartedly, quintessentially American. Layer up with a Polo Ralph Lauren hoodie, then top it off with a coat or jacket and you’ll be ready for any weather. Pair a down vest with a Polo Ralph Lauren hooded t-shirt for an exhilarating fall hike or sport a cotton t-shirt on the boardwalk during the summer. The collection of Polo Ralph Lauren men’s clothing at Belk will have you looking good and feeling even better all year long. Plus, you can stock up on socks, find the perfect belt to accent your outfit and keep the sun out of your eyes with a baseball cap from the Polo Ralph Lauren men’s accessories collection at Belk. Another notable item from the Fourth of July collection is the Little Get Together Shirt.
Sometimes a rarity in fashion, these images depict clothes that are made to be worn. They show us ways to layer so-called “basics” in a way that isn’t basic at all. “The fashion might be from the ’80s or ’90s, but it’s all classic pieces that easily could be worn today, too,” says Sjöö, alluding to the timeless styling that served as Lauren’s modus operandi. “It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over very quickly. Style is forever.” The designer, whose label has surpassed its golden anniversary, embodied luxury in the form of timeless elegance versus an exclusive “it” item. As I am writing about images 20 or 30 years after the fact, it seems to ring true.
And unlike the yuppie, predominately white connotation of the 20th century, now it’s ripe for anyone’s taking. “I think that in many of Ralph Lauren’s ads there’s a connection to the American dream or the lifestyle of the rich and famous—or what we believe is the lifestyle of the rich and famous,” hypothesizes Sjöö. “I guess as people we have always longed to see or know or be what the rich and famous are.”