I have tremendous respect for Ralph Lauren as a designer and innovator of the menswear industry. To this day he continues to drive trends in tailored clothing, despite generally sticking with the same aesthetic--traditional American blue blooded country clubs and professionals--since he got his start making ties and selling them shop to shop. Ralph Lauren is a great example of how consistency can be stylish and how trends can coexist with staples. Ralph Lauren is also a model for maintaining high standards of quality, despite becoming an enormously successful and available brand. Tailored and dress clothing from Mr. Lauren's Polo, Black Label, and Purple Label collections are all sourced from fine Italian makers. Mr. Lauren's shoes are made by some of the finest British makers. Ralph Lauren's prices reflect the quality of its construction, but are often lower than the prices the same makers charge for products labeled with their own name. And Ralph Lauren has sales a few times a year.
Ralph Lauren's inspiration might have once been Northeastern old money, but today men are inspired by the lifestyle that Mr. Lauren has cultivated through his clothing. Mr. Lauren's shops also reflect his stylized idea of the good life, and nowhere is this more on display than his Madison Avenue mansion.
I'm not exactly sure who actually lives the lifestyle the Mansion was inspired by, but if anyone does I'd say they're pretty fortunate because they definitely don't have to care about much. And that attitude's not a bad thing for anyone to project--just make sure its the right time and place. Indeed, that's also the downside to the Mansion--it's not a place for a budding young professionals to start building their wardrobe, as the size and extravagant displays can make it difficult to find the basics and be a little intimidating. However, if you need some color in your wardrobe, or want to show a little more confidence, Ralph probably has what you're looking for.
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