The Legacy of Ralph Lauren | Polo University

 

“People ask how can a Jewish kid from the Bronx do preppy clothes? Does it have to do with class and money? It has to do with dreams.”  

–Ralph Lauren

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Short Pattern of Excellence | 1953

 

“Edward VIII replaced his fly buttons with a zip, a revolutionary move; and his Fair Isle pullovers, shorts and Windsor knots were considered by some to foreshadow the end of Empire.”  –Angus McGill

 

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Vintage Valley of the Dolls | Best Dressed

 

Our little friend has a better wardrobe than most people I know–

and they’re in the business.

Go ahead— throw on that Duffle coat and plaid cap, buddy.

 

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Natty & Trad | A Properly Plaid Party

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“At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.” –William Somerset Maugham

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Natty & Trad | A Vested Interest in Plaid

 

“He who observes etiquette but objects to lying is like someone who dresses fashionably but wears no vest.”   –Walter Benjamin 

 

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Natty & Trad | A 1950 Plaid Cap Adventure

 

“Once you accept the universe as being something expanding into an infinite nothing which is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy.”          –Albert Einstein

 

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Short Attention Span | Esquire 1956

Esquire menswear magazine’s fashion spread on top shorts for the summer of 1956.

 

The shorts story is longer than ever before, in terms of style and fabrics. Ever since Esquire made the first break ( in the March, 1953, issue ) the fashion has taken off and now is winning in a breeze.  Time was you could find one store in town had a pair in grey flannel.  Now look them over: in cotton, pleatless front; India madras; short cords for action, wash and wear; blend fabric in stripes.

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Hats Off to Vintage Palm Beach Style

“So this fellow gave you the look?” — 

–“At his age it was more of a blink.” 

W. Clifford Klenk and his wife, Hope, in a photograph by Slim Aarons  –from the book “A Privileged Life.”

 

April 1968: Mr and Mrs Donald Lease with their Rolls Royce and two pet dogs outside their home in Palm Beach, Florida.  –Photo by Slim Aarons

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Mad For Plaid | 1973

“If you’re going to wear madras, you don’t want to wear something that looks like your grandfather’s,” said Thom Browne. ”Actually, your grandfather’s madras would be cool,” he amended. ”It’s your father’s that you don’t want.”

”Preppy looks so cool when it looks effortless,” Mr. Browne said, ”but when it looks contrived, there’s nothing worse.”

 

After Six formal jacket and taffeta bow tie & Palm Beach madras patchwork (in)formal suit –from GQ magazine, 1973 (Image via Black Tie Guide)

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Actor and film critic Rex Reed relaxes in a wicker chair on Great Harbour Cay, in the Bahamas.  Photo by the legendary photographer Slim Aarons, 1973.

 

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Rugby by Ralph Lauren.

Ralph Lauren is the hands-down American master of creating lifestyle fashion brands and awe-inspiring retail environments.  I love the Rugby product and stores.  The brand is very young & preppy with a witty, sexy, irreverent slant.  Sometimes the staff is a little “too cool for school”… but please,  you would too if you looked that good.

More from The New York Times by Alex Kuczynski –

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