Page 90 - Annual Magazine 2018
P. 90

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                      FASHION | ICONIC PERSONALITY
                                                                                                                                         Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Rueben
                                                                                                                                         Lifshitz in 1930s New York, changing his
                                                                                                                                         last name to Lauren when he was just a
                                                                                                                                         teenager.

                                                                                                                                         A hard worker with a vision, he took
                                                                                                                                         business classes at night school, and worked
                                                                                                                                         in sales by day, designing his own necktie
                                                                                                                                         collection at the age of 28.
                                                                                                                                         These were sold under the name Polo, and
                                                                                                                                         were followed soon after by a menswear
                                                                                                                                         collection, and a store in New York City’s
                                                                                                                                         Bloomingdale’s department store.

                                                                                                                                         Since its inception, the Polo brand has been
                                                                                                                                         characterized by a unique blend of English
                                                                                                                                         aristocracy and sporty American East Coast
                                                                                                                                         elite.
                                                                                                                                                                                      Ralph Lauren Omotesando shop in Shibuya ward in Tokyo / Shutterstock.com

                                                                                                                                         “WE DON’T ONLY SELL CLOTHES,
                                                                                                                                         WE ARE SELLING A DREAM AND A VISION.”
                                                                                                                                         Over the last 47 years, the chic, preppy look of   acumen, has turned Ralph Lauren into a multi-  Designers of  America (CFDA)  award for
                                                                                                                                         Ralph Lauren’s designer clothing collection has   billion-dollar global lifestyle brand.   Lifetime Achievement in 1991, Womenswear
                                                                                                                                         expanded  to include  sportswear, casual wear,                        Designer of the Year in 1995 and Menswear
                                                                                                                                         and home furnishings under the brands Ralph   The designer has earned a number of accolades   Designer of the Year in both 1996 and 2007,
                                                                                                                                         Lauren Home, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Polo   throughout his glittering career, including the   as well as the Fashion Legend Award in 2007.
                                                                                                                                         Sport.  Lauren  also  diversified  the  appeal  of   Chevalier  de la Légion d’Honneur (French
                                                                                                                                         his label by creating clothing and accessories   Legion of Honor) and the Key to the City   In 2015, Ralph Lauren announced that he
                                                                                                                                         at varying price points targeting a wide range   of New  York in 2010, honors which are   was stepping  down as  CEO  of  the  Ralph
                                                                                                                                         of demographics, including children’s clothing   bestowed upon distinguished persons for   Lauren Corporation, though he has remained
                                                                                                                                         and denim wear.  The innovative designer’s   their outstanding civic contributions. He   involved  as Executive  Chairman  and Chief
                                                                                                                                         fashion  flair,  as  well  as  his  keen  business   has also received the Council of Fashion   Creative Officer.
                                            RALPH LAUREN                                                                                                                                                       SIGNATURE STYLE
                      CULTURAL ICON                                                                                                                                                                            “I’m interested in longevity, timelessness,


                                                                                                                                                                                                               style—not fashion.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Ralph  Lauren,  never  seen  without
                                                                                                                                                                                                               his  signature  faded  denim  jeans  and
                                Fashion designer, philanthropist, and now Official Partner and Outfitter                                                                                                       immaculately distressed cowboy boots, is
                                of the PGA of America, Ralph Lauren has become one of the most iconic                                                                                                          the epitome of all-American charm and
                                             figures in the world of fashion and beyond.                                                                                                                       good taste.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               His  first  menswear  line  in  1968  featured
                                                                                                                                                                                                               classic tweed suits, a style which he repeated
                                                    Story by Rachel Chrysostom                                                                                                                                 in his womenswear line in 1971, adding a
                                                                                                                                                                                                               feminine twist to the classic tailoring for
                                                                                                                                                                                                               which he has become famous. In 1972,
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Lauren debuted what would become his
                                                                                                                                                                                                               most iconic piece: the mesh sport shirt in an
                                                                                                                                                                                                               array of colors, and featuring the trademark
                                                                                                                                                                                                               emblem of what he considered to be the
                                                                                                                                                                                                               most aristocratic of athletes, the polo player.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Throughout the following decades, Ralph
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Lauren’s  work  reflected  his  belief  in
                                                                                                                                                                                                               longevity and timelessness and even as he
                                                                                                                                                                                                               explored new ideas – from Southwestern
                                                                                                                                                                                                               themed bandana prints and utility jackets in
                                                                                                                                                                                                               zigzagging motifs, to the more rugged and
                                                                                                                                                                                                               rustic Safari looks, he remained grounded in
                                                                                                                                                                                                               his central focus: that of the all-American
              / Shutterstock.com                                                                                                                                                                               classic style.
       90                                                                                                                                A model walks the runway at Ralph Lauren during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at                          91
                                                                                                                                         Skylight Clarkson Sq in New York City / Shutterstock.com

       Aphrodite Hills Resort                                                                                                                                                                                          “European Golf Resort of the Year 2018”
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