How Ralph Lauren Shaped American Style
Show notes
Ralph Lauren isn't just a brand — it's one of the only American fashion houses that has shaped culture for nearly 60 years. And right now, it's having one of its biggest cultural moments yet, resonating across every generation.
Today we’re joined by longtime WWD fashion editor and friend of the house, Bridget Foley, who’s had a front row seat to the brand’s evolution. She’s also the author of Lauren’s latest book, Ralph Lauren Catwalk, which covers over 100 runway shows and the brand’s most iconic moments.
In this episode, we get into:
- What actually defines a brand with longevity (and why so few designers achieve it)
- Ralph's "meet cute" moment with fashion and why he calls himself a storyteller, not a designer
- The authenticity that makes Ralph different from every other luxury house
- Why Ralph was doing "lifestyle" decades before the term existed
- The hand-me-downs, vintage uniforms, and Bronx childhood that shaped his entire aesthetic
- Ralph's belief in longevity and preservation, sustainability before it had a name
- Inside the Ralph Lauren archive (and why Bridget calls it a "fashion lover's wonderland")
- Why Gen Z fell in love with Ralph Lauren and what their parents' closets have to do with it
- The codes that have permeated time: the tuxedo jacket over jeans, the polo shirt, the patchwork
- Ralph Lauren's optimism and what it's actually rooted in
- What Ralph has done to stay relevant with the next generation
Shop the new book, Ralph Lauren Catwalk, here: https://go.shopmy.us/p-56009344
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