Ralph Lauren at Fashion Week. Image by Getty Images

Ralph Lauren at Fashion Week. Image by Getty Images

Lauren epitomizes the American dream, both in his preppy American clothing that proudly display the polo horse and rider logo, and with his own story. The designer was born in the Bronx in 1939 to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants. His original name was Ralph Lipschitz. He studied business, served in the army and changed his name before entering fashion with no formal training in 1967 when he opened a tie shop. By 1997 Lauren oversaw a publicly-traded fashion empire, which still thrives today with a sports and home furnishings outpost in addition to its men’s and women’s clothing line.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

You can find the Ralph Lauren logo at almost any preppy sport. The ball boys at the US Open wear brightly colored matching Ralph Lauren gear. Nacho Figueras, the insanely good-looking Argentinian polo player, is the face for the company’s black line and proudly displays his clothes while he gallops on horses. A recent edition of Ralph Lauren Magazine showed models fox hunting, skeet-shooting and playing croquet, all while adorned in the designer’s hats, breeches and dresses.

Yesterday’s show displayed the same classic looks. Models marched in pencil skirts, button down blouses and black berets. They also displayed long, sparkling red and white ball gowns, adorned with black top hats. But perhaps the most exciting part of Lauren’s show was the A-List crowd that included Olivia Wilde, Jessica Alba and Ryan Lochte, the Olympic swimmer. “Ryan Lochte just bent down to kiss Anna Wintour in the front row,” tweeted the Daily Beast.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount