Vintage Brand Spotlight: Ralph Lauren
Reading time: 2 minutes Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer, founder of one of the most well-known menswear labels in the world. He was born on October 14, 1939 in the Bronx, New York. After attending Baruch College and City University of New York to study business and working for Brooks Brothers as a salesman, he then founded his own company called Polo Fashions with his childhood friend, Arthur Ortenberg.
Ralph debuted his first full men’s collection in 1968. The polo player logo soon followed, and the rest is history. Applied to oxford shirts and the polo shirts pioneered by Rene Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren transformed the men’s fashion industry and has remained a staple to this day. Polo defined the classic preppy style, and this look has never fallen out of style.
As well as classic preppy styles, the 80’s and 90’s saw the emergence of subcultures based around the brand in New York. Lo Lifes came from groups of shoplifters who would exclusively rob Ralph Lauren pieces, the upper-class preppy look appealing to those who wanted to make it their own. These subcultures influenced both hip-hop fashion and streetwear, and Polo is a prominent part of all of these styles of dress.
You can browse plenty of vintage Ralph Lauren here today at Messina Hembry. Every item of clothing we sell is checked for authenticity and quality, so you can have peace of mind when buying from us!
