The first comprehensive overview of Ralph Lauren’s womenswear collections, from their 1972 debut to today, presented through original catwalk photography. Ralph Lauren debuted his first women's runway collection for Fall 1972 with a show that made his mark instantly, highlighting his exquisite tailoring and uncanny ability to mix opposites elegantly. Taking inspiration from New England’s rusticity, the West’s natural beauty and Hollywood’s glamour, Lauren's designs are a gold-standard for timeless American style with panache. This book celebrates more than 50 years of Lauren's creations, which have garnered many awards, made him a much-loved global brand and influenced the way women dress all over the world. Ralph Lauren famously launched his menswear business in 1967 with an audacious tie collection, taken up by Bloomingdale’s, from which his Polo brand quickly developed. This became, and has remained ever since, a benchmark for polished tailoring with rugged utility. With his dual collections of 1972, Lauren began his rise in the world of women’s fashion; fourteen years later he opened his first Paris store on Place de la Madeleine, an affirmation of his ranking with the world’s most famed couturiers. His consistent desire to create ‘a way of dressing that redefines the meaning of timelessness’ has made his label a by-word for luxury and class – as one critic said, Ralph Lauren ‘made it possible to use the words slinky and tweed in the same sentence without risking ridicule’. Complete with an introduction, designer biography and collection texts by Bridget Foley, this book offers a unique opportunity to explore the work of a great American couturier and creator of one of the world’s most celebrated fashion houses.
