When one thinks of American style, few names resonate as powerfully as Ralph Lauren. Born Ralph Lifshitz in 1939 in the Bronx, New York, the future fashion icon transformed his humble beginnings into a global empire that epitomizes classic, aspirational living. His journey is not merely a story of clothing, but a narrative about selling a dream—a dream of elegance, wide-open spaces, and timeless sophistication.

Lauren's foray into the fashion world began not with design school, but with a job as a sales assistant at Brooks Brothers and later as a tie salesman. It was in 1967, with a modest line of wide neckties, that the Ralph Lauren Corporation was born. He called his tie line "Polo," a name that would become synonymous with a sport of nobility and, eventually, with a entire lifestyle. The Polo player logo, embroidered on the chest of a crisp cotton shirt, would become one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.

The brand's breakthrough came in 1974 with the costume design for the film "The Great Gatsby." Ralph Lauren's impeccable, romantic tailoring for the male characters perfectly captured the opulence of the Jazz Age, cementing his reputation as a master of American aesthetics. This was followed by the introduction of the Ralph Lauren womenswear

What truly set Ralph Lauren apart was his genius for lifestyle marketing. He didn't just sell clothes; he sold an entire world. His advertisements and stores were meticulously curated to evoke feelings of old-world Americana, Ivy League campuses, rugged Western ranches, and British aristocracy. From the rugged denim of the RRL line to the luxurious purple label suiting, each sub-brand invited customers to step into a different chapter of the Ralph Lauren story. For a detailed overview of the diverse product ranges that build this world, you can explore this comprehensive product spreadsheet, which catalogs everything from iconic polo shirts to home fragrances.