“What I do is about living. It’s about living the best life you can and enjoying the fullness of the life around you—from what you wear, to the way you live, to the way you love.”
—Ralph Lauren
This picturesque retrospective breaks down the various styles of Ralph Lauren Home into ‘ways of living’ categories: estate, safari, romance, western, bohemian, country, seaside, downtown, uptown, speed. We see theses styles fully come to life in his own homes in Montauk, Telluride, Jamaica and New York:
Ricky and Ralph Lauren’s White Orchid cottage in Jamaica. (Giles de Chabaneix, 2001)
Ricky and Ralph Lauren’s home in Bedford, NY. (Bruce Weber, 2002)
Ricky and Ralph Lauren’s 5th Avenue penthouse in New York City, NY. (William Abranowicz, 2010)
Villa America Collection. (Francois Halard, Spring 2006)
“Romance is about the passion we have for the things we love and treasure—old and new, passed down and collected, color and texture, the books and paintings and photographs—all the things that tell our story wherever we create it, wherever we live.”
How we live is not about downtown or uptown but about creating an environment that is personal and that reflects who we are and how we want to live.
I’ve always believed in bending the rules when it comes to creating an environment that’s sophisticated, but welcoming, and that shares the personality of those that live there.
Uptown living often suggests a kind of sophisticated formality.
But no matter your address, for me, it’s choosing a style that is uniquely your own. Sometimes, this will be totally at odds with what’s expected, which can create a spirit of individuality that is personal and authentic.
“I designed products for the collection that I would like to own. Items that I as a consumer couldn’t find in the stores. I have always believed that if you have a point of view, the customer will recognize it and respond to it. Designing one sheet pattern or style isn’t making a statement in home furnishings. I don’t design a single blouse or a skirt, I design a point of view. It’s putting all the pieces together in a way that a consumer can understand that makes for success.”
—Ralph Lauren, 1983
“Our homes are a canvas for living. Whether we live in the city, the country, on a farm, at the beach, in a penthouse or cabin, each is home and tells our story. And just as we dress differently in each of these places, we want to live differently as well.”
—Ralph Lauren
This beautiful book walks us through Ralph Lauren Home’s fashion-infused product and brand development through the years. As you can see, he never stopped creating beauty:
The iconic RL-CF1 Chair takes direct inspiration from Ralph Lauren’s McLaren F1 and features 54 layers of hand-laid tissue carbon for exceptionally strong yet lightweight cantilevered frame. (Martin Thompson, Fall 2003)
“I designed products for the collection that I would like to own. Items that I as a consumer couldn’t find in the stores. I have always believed that if you have a point of view, the customer will recognize it and respond to it. Designing one sheet pattern or style isn’t making a statement in home furnishings. I don’t design a single blouse or a skirt, I design a point of view. It’s putting all the pieces together in a way that a consumer can understand that makes for success.”
—Ralph Lauren, 1983
RL receives the CDFA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. (presented by Audrey Hepburn)
Each collection seems to have a storyline, a star, impeccable stage sets of traditional design that exude luxury and ease.
“Ralph was the first to create a lifestyle that embodied clothing, furniture, travel, everything that would fit into the life of people who would buy into this dream that he had. No one has done it better.”
—Calvin Klein, 2019
Ralph Lauren has significantly impacted our way of life through his pioneering approach to design and lifestyle. By seamlessly blending elegance with accessibility, he redefined the American aesthetic, demonstrating that sophistication need not be exclusive. His meticulous attention to detail and commitment to exceptional quality set new standards in the fashion and home industries. Moreover, Ralph Lauren’s distinctive vision encouraged a broader cultural shift towards a more refined and curated lifestyle, influencing how individuals perceive and express their personal style. In essence, Ralph Lauren’s influence extends beyond fashion; it has permeated our broader cultural landscape, leaving an enduring mark on the way we approach and appreciate aesthetics, quality, and personal expression.
This highly anticipated book is OUT – get your copy and a few extras for this season- it is everything you would expect from Ralph Lauren, and more- impressive!
If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy seeing more about the history behind the Rhinelander Mansion, the men’s flagship store on 5th Avenue, NY.
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