The Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Mesh Polo Shirt is available in five different shades with embroidered contrasting logo. The shirt was first released in 1972 and now comes in many fits and colors. The fold-over collar, standard two-button lapel, and cuffed short sleeves define the look.
The first full women’s collection was launched the following year. Founded by designer Ralph Lauren in 1967, the Ralph Lauren label all started with men’s ties. After successfully expanding the brand throughout the late 60s and early 70s, Ralph Lauren opened his first store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.
“The goal is to pay tribute to each place we visit never losing the spirit of the United States.” A few years later Lauren would contribute to another Hollywood production by supplying pieces for Diane Keaton’s wardrobe in Annie Hall. “Annie’s style was Diane’s style—very eclectic,” Lauren is quoted saying in Vogue on Ralph Lauren, published in 2015. “We shared a sensibility, but she had a style that was all her own.” Ironically, Ruth Morley, the film’s costume designer, wasn’t originally a fan of the character’s wardrobe, per the Boston Globe. But the Annie Hall look would come up again over the years, in various Ralph Lauren collections. Keaton herself would wear the designer’s suiting in 2014, to accept the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Golden Globes.
One could thus wear ‘the uniform’ if one wished but with a personal twist that would be recognised by others of your tribe. Ralph’s first collection for women was basically a straight copy of the menswear, just with different proportions and details. But I could wear that white shirt with tailored Polo Ralph Lauren t shirt mushroom-brown trousers and polished chocolate loafers. (Or, to push the boat out, mushroom-brown shirt and white trousers.) And I wouldn’t have been inspired to do so if I hadn’t looked at these images. It helps that the clothes are so clearly influenced by Ralph’s menswear, of course.
This is what we sometimes refer to as high/low dressing. And while it’s much easier to do with the freedom of womenswear, it does have the potential to make both men and women look more spontaneous and more personal. The first was all tweed and velvet, patchwork and paisley. Lots for the menswear enthusiast to dig their teeth into.
The leather jacket appeals over the cocktail dress because we can almost feel the difference in texture. On a personal level, it makes me wonder whether there’s any way I could wear tweed and velvet together. Anyone that likes tweed, or Fair Isle patterns, will find something in these colour mixes – the combination of maroon, grey and turquoise, often with a soft white or chambray shirt underneath. Certainly, some of these combinations would be more at home at Pitti than my local high street. I’m not going to wear a cream-linen suit, white-linen shirt, and butter-coloured straw hat at the bus stop.
An icon in the game since 1967, the label’s logo T-shirts, shirts and jumpers take collegiate-cool style to fresh new heights. Shop our Polo Ralph Lauren at ASOS edit for our pick of the brand’s clothing, swimwear and accessories, all with that signature PRL aesthetic. Lauren has designed Polo Ralph Lauren t shirt many a memorable Met Gala gown before—but arguably none was as talked-about as Priyanka Chopra’s trench dress for the 2017 ball, honoring Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons. With its avant-garde interpretation of a classic silhouette and dramatically long train, it became an instant meme.
Today, Ralph Lauren carries luxury clothing for men and women, handbags, footwear, jewelry and home accessories. We have so many tightly defined rules about what is appropriate and manly, and what is not, that change in any direction is seen as breaking the rules and therefore being unmanly, loud, foppish or simply ludicrous. Men are extremely resistant to clothing style changes in most Western cultures, although not in some Eastern cultures. Granted much of this variety is displayed by those in the music, film and show businesses.