Ralph Lauren (born October 14, 1939 in New York, New York, USA) is an American fashion designer who built one of the world’s most successful fashion empires by developing a brand around an image of the American elite lifestyle. I built one.
Lifshitz grew up in the Bronx, New York City. He and his brother changed their last name to Lauren when they were teenagers. After graduating from high school, I took business classes at night school and worked in sales during the day. While working at a tie company, he was inspired to start designing his own neckwear and went into business for himself in 1967, selling his own line of ties under the name Polo.
Since the brand’s inception, Lauren’s work has featured a rich man’s style reminiscent of the look of British aristocrats adopted by the sporty American East Coast elite. Our first menswear line in 1968 featured classic tweed suits, and our first womenswear line in 1971 continued our exploration of classic tailoring and good taste, but with a feminine twist. Ta. In 1972, Lauren debuted what would become his signature item, the mesh sports shirt. Available in a variety of colors, it features the trademark emblem of the most aristocratic of sportsmen, the polo player.
Ralph Lauren style became a national phenomenon after he dressed male actors in the current line in the 1974 film version of The Great Gatsby. Evoking the lost era of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s grace, the film was the perfect vehicle for Lauren’s classic and sometimes nostalgic vision. The designer gained further attention by creating some of the clothing worn by Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in 1977’s Annie Hall. Lauren once said of her style: “I’m not interested in fashion, I’m interested in longevity, timeless style, style.” His work over the next few decades reflected this motto, always focusing on classic American attire while exploring new ideas such as southwestern themes and the safari look.
Lauren’s vision appealed to a wide range of people, and his label quickly turned into an empire. Seeing how his clothes were connected to a particular lifestyle, he expanded his business starting in 1983 and eventually expanded to include pillows, throws, bed and bath products, furniture, home paints, and more. Now includes household accessories. Lauren also diversified her label’s appeal by creating clothing and accessory lines aimed at a wide range of price points and demographics, including a jeans line and a children’s line. By the 1990s, both his shop and brand name were global. In 2015, he announced that he would step down as CEO of Ralph Lauren Corporation, but remained involved as chairman and chief creative officer.
Among his many awards are Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Lifetime Achievement Award (1991), Womenswear Designer of the Year (1995), Menswear Designer of the Year (1996, 2007) ) and Fashion Legend Awards. (2007). He was awarded the Légion d’Honneur by the French government in 2010 and the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal by the Smithsonian Institution in 2014. Lauren was also awarded the title of Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 2019, making her the first American fashion designer to receive such an honor. The philanthropic Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation was founded in 2001. The foundation supported initiatives such as cancer research efforts and literacy programs.