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that expressed the story I was
trying to tell. So I created a glam-
orous night club that brought the
clothes to life and let you dream
a little. Maybe I do offer a little
escapism, given the world we live
in today.Do you think that experiential
runway presentations, such as your
Ralph’s Club show in September,
are the future?
The future is now and the concept
of the “runway show” is changing.
People are searching for a deeper,
more authentic and personal
connection. Today, the designer
must create a cinematic backdrop
for his or her collection. I have
created these in my own store, in
my garage among my cars and,
yes, by creating a one-night-only
Ralph’s Club to bring my fall 2019
women’s collection theme of black
tie to life.Who are your top film heroes?
Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Fred
Astaire, to name a few. They had
a kind of charm, and authenticity
that appealed to both men and
women. I loved Audrey Hepburn
and Katharine Hepburn. Their
beauty was informed by intelli-
gence and their personal style.What is the value of the red carpet
these days?
Not something I love, but cer-
tainly a showcase for stars and
the designers that dress them.How do you keep a legacy brand
relevant in the digital era? What are
your thoughts on social influenc-
ers — these self-nominated leaders
of style?
I try to stay relevant, not by
changing my vision to suit the
trends of the moment, but by
staying true to myself. How I
communicate and share what I do
has to change as that world moves
on. We now share our message
on all forms of social media and
on our Ralph Lauren website and
Polo App, allowing our customers
to shop wherever they are.What is your typical day like?
“Typical” is not part of my days,
but I might be in several design
meetings, an advertising meet-
ing, a meeting about opening
another Ralph’s Coffee or doing
an interview like this!In the documentary, Ken Burns
says, “In another era, [you]
would have been one of the great
producers in Hollywood” and1 Designer Ralph Lauren overseeing a model fitting in the
HBO doc Very Ralph. 2 Lauren outside of his experiential
runway show presenting the fall 2019 collection during New
York Fashion Week. Janelle Monáe performed, and Henry
Golding and Jessica Chastain attended. 3 Kendall Jenner
modeled at the fall 2017 show at Lauren’s Bedford Hills secret
garage among his rare auto collection. 4 At the show, Diane
Keaton, Katie Holmes and Anna Wintour (pictured) were
present. 5 Lauren in his NYC showroom in 1991.In 1972, Lauren
with children
Andrew and
David in
Amagansett.
Far right:
Lauren with
Ricky, his wife
of 65 years,
in 1985.3Tina Brown shares, “I think if
Ralph has one regret, it would be
that he was not a movie director.”
Do you agree? Is there a film you
dream of making?
I am flattered by what Ken and
Tina suggest. And of course,
directing a real film would be
incredible. And who’s to say that
couldn’t still happen? I had always
thought about directing a movie
about the Bentley Boys, that great
group of British race car enthu-
siasts and bon vivants who raced
Bentleys in the 1920s.There’s been a call in fashion for
diversity, not only in terms of race
(which you have championed), but
also size inclusivity. How is Ralph
Lauren, the brand, adapting?
Diversity has always been part
of our world and our story. Not
just race or gender, but differ-
ent ways of living. I’ve always
tried to create collections about
character and quality and a way
of living, whether in a cabin on
a ranch or in a penthouse in a
big city.Your brand and personal identity
are so intertwined; how do you
see this playing out for the future
identity of the company (i.e., Calvin
Klein without Calvin)?
We have a very strong brand iden-
tity. With or without me, Ralph
Lauren will continue to offer
authenticity and quality in all the
things we create to inspire the
dream of a better life.Someone once asked you, “Are
you a fashion designer?” And you
replied, “No, I hate fashion!” So how
do you describe what you do?
Fashion, for me, is over tomorrow.
What I try to do is create a kind of
timeless style.Interview edited for length
and clarity.Hopefully, that means some-
thing that is of quality, authentic
and timeless.
Can you speak to your cinematic
approach to dressing?
Growing up, my friends and I
would meet every Saturday at the
local movie house. We’d watch our
favorite movie heroes on that big
screen and when I walked out, I
imagined that I was the cowboy
on the white horse or whoever
that hero was that day. From that
time on, movies and storytelling
have always been an inspiration.
When I started designing, it
was never about just the tie or the
shirt or the dress. It was always
about the hero or heroine I had
in mind. They are the stars of my
movies and express what I have
to say. I study their character and
I create for them and through
them. I guess you could say, in
some ways, I am the director and
the screenwriter. I write through
my clothes.
You mention in the documentary
that you are most inspired by ’30s
and ’40s films such as Holiday,
Desire and The Women. Would you
say it is about escapism?
Not escapism. The films of those
eras, mostly in black and white,
had a romance and a real glamour
that I found inspiring. The men
and women had such style. The
way they dressed was so thought-
fully presented. Particularly the
evening clothes. Maybe that’s why
I had to create my own special set
— Ralph’s Club — for my last fall
2019 women’s collection, which
was all about the art of black tie
dressing. I couldn’t find a location
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