Thank God for Ralph Lauren

[Edward]

i went to the Double RL shop in Mount Street, London (off Berkeley Square) yesterday. i've been to the flagship store on New Bond street before; it has an expensive gentlemen's club look. lots of dark wood panelling and heavy leather chairs. the RRL store has a different vibe entirely; more like a 30s hardware store with distressed old props dotted around.

i must say, the attention to detail on the RRL work clothing is unbelievable. the fabrics are beautifully reproduced, gently faded and even spotted with rust here and there. the level of verisimilitude is almost fetishistic, right down to the paper labels all being just the right amount damp-wrinkled. The RRL Bowery boot (£800) has genuine deadstock 'Cat's Paw' rubber heels.

the downsides are really two:

-the price. around £350 for a pair of trousers, £150 for a pair of braces, £800 for a belt-back jacket.
-the low waists; when someone goes to the lengths that Ralph has gone to to reproduce the aesthetic of the 30s but then goes and puts low rises on everything... it just seems incomprehensible to me, and also like a lack of faith.

Those would be my chief objections too. The money, well.... c'est la vie. As for waistlines, well.... they have to go up soon, surely? I saw photos of the new Pete Doherty line from the Kooples in the paper yesterday: the trousers looked more like McQueen's bumsters than proper trousers of any sort...

 

[Mrs Chaddsley_Corbett]

I had been ogling a fair isle vest in a local department store, but at over $300.00 I thought it a bit pricey, spyed it on ebay for $80.00, new with tags its cashmere/Cotton in lovely Autumnal tones

 

[Feraud]

As for waistlines, well.... they have to go up soon, surely?

I am patiently waiting for it..

 

[Mark Butcher]

Some of my favorite clothing is RL. I have to buy most of it online since no one but Nordstrom carries any locally, and they carry very little. I may have a RRL drivers cap for sale soon. It's very nice but I don't wear it enough.

 

[flat-top]

i must say, the attention to detail on the RRL work clothing is unbelievable. the fabrics are beautifully reproduced, gently faded and even spotted with rust here and there. the level of verisimilitude is almost fetishistic, right down to the paper labels all being just the right amount damp-wrinkled. The RRL Bowery boot (£800) has genuine deadstock 'Cat's Paw' rubber heels

These are the reasons I love RRL.
I have pieces from the original launch of the label in the 90's (when Macy's sold it and it was "affordable") right up to outlet finds from recent seasons, and they really are some of my favorite things. The "fetishistic" details, some that only I know are there, make it fun for a vintage collector like me because I actually understand what it all means.
I have found some great pieces from the Rugby label as well that pretty much emulate the RRL style.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Just bought a corduroy pullover work shirt with chinstrap and zipper on german ebay. Let's see how well it is made. It's just from the Polo Line, not RRL.

 

[herringbonekid]

anyone have a lead on one of these in a small (sale price) ? :

there's a couple of M's on ebay but nothing smaller.

 

[thunderw21]

Saw these at Macy's in NYC last week.

Matching Polo Ralph Lauren cotton/linen blend vest and trousers. They looked pretty nice and vintage style, perfect for summer. Unfortunately no trousers in my size and there is no matching jacket, so it's not a full suit. Still looked neat.

Watford vest:

Rockefeller trousers:

 

[dhermann1]

Mmm . . . very nice.

 

[Evan Everhart]

Saw these at Macy's in NYC last week.

Matching Polo Ralph Lauren cotton/linen blend vest and trousers. They looked pretty nice and vintage style, perfect for summer. Unfortunately no trousers in my size and there is no matching jacket, so it's not a full suit. Still looked neat.

I've got an old suit of my father's in almost exactly the same suiting fabric. Damn near perfect condition. It's got notch lapels I think. I've got it in with my out of rotation Summer wardrobe items from a few years back. I remember he used to have one almost identical with peaked lapels too. He really loved a Summer suit, did my father. But seriously Ralph! What's the bloody point of half or two thirds of a suit. It's a total tease and a PISCHER!

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

How wide are the rockefeller trousers? The side adjusters and watch pocket look nice. Could work for this 20s look.

 

[herringbonekid]

the rise won't be high enough. RRL doesn't do hi rise. :eusa_doh:

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Right. So no RL pants for me. Still buying some knitwear from time to time.

I think this pattern looks very nice.

 

[Fastuni]

Very nice! Are there variations of color and pattern?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Similar to this? I don't know. It's from ebay and didn't arrive yet. I was looking for the knitted waistcoat thingies and liked this because it is rather different and somewhat "deco"

 

[Fastuni]

Good catch! I thought this was something new from RL.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

bump.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

Not surprising in that my favourite vintage dealer in the San Francisco area have said that Ralph Lauren has bought their vintage garments and copied them.

.

Truly, no other designer has mined the Golden Era as successfully as he. If it weren't for Ralph Lauren, we'd have practically no contemporary menswear with the style and panache of the 1930s.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

just snagged a pair of high waisted RL trousers for my Bf last week on the evilBay, they are in transit. Will let you know how they look and fit when they arrive.

 

[Tomasso]

Not surprising in that my favourite vintage dealer in the San Francisco area have said that Ralph Lauren has bought their vintage garments and copied them.

Ralph did the same thing years ago at the Charles department store in Katonah, NY. When he bought a horse farm in the area he happened upon the Charles and was impressed by its selection of old school American workwear and high-end togs for the horsey set. Then he got a great idea; why not buy one of everything and send them off to his designers for inspiration.....presto chango, precise copies appear in his line for seasons to come. The man's a genius......