In 1972, five years after launching Polo, Ralph Lauren put his indelible mark on a shirt that would eventually become a global icon of the brand. As a pullover, the polo shirt with a small “p” had been an enduring symbol of the American sporting life, but Ralph reimagined it according to his own standards of style, and the large-“p” Polo shirt has been a sensation worn the world over by men and women ever since.
Made with a breathable, combed-cotton mesh that has a pleasingly chalky texture, our Polo is designed to grow in character and softness with every wash. The ribbed collar is sturdily constructed: It can lay flat—or be popped—as you wish. And the top-applied placket testifies to its uncompromising construction. Even the buttons, cross-stitched with tonal thread to match an array of 32 available colors, are an indicator of our overall design philosophy that things should be made to last. The banded sleeves call back to the shirt’s athletic origins, while a side-vented tennis tail that’s a touch longer in the back allows it to be worn tucked, untucked, or somewhere in between. Just as vital is the perfection of the fit: a relaxed cut by which the women’s breezy, borrowed-from-the-boys appeal has been adapted just for her.
“Guaranteed to wrinkle.” Those three words have long appeared below the label of our linen shirts. It’s not so much a care instruction as style advice, a poem extolling the idiosyncrasies and charms of the fabric itself. Linen has as rich and storied a history as just about any textile on earth, having been spun into fabric since the days of the pyramids. Made from the fibers of the flax plant, it is a performance fabric as designed by nature itself: breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick to dry. Wrinkles are expected with a fabric this light and airy; more than that, wrinkles are a sign of its quality.
Our linen shirt for men and women is made from no less than 100 percent linen. Ralph prefers it rumpled, lived in, nonchalant—the visual equivalent of a long holiday at the beach. For men, it’s been given a button-down collar; for women, a more relaxed point collar. Otherwise, both remain rooted in the classic hallmarks of Polo style and fit. Garment-dyed in bright, warm-weather hues, these are shirts also guaranteed to become more special with age.
Easy, confident, a natural beauty. All words that describe Ricky Lauren, Ralph’s wife and forever muse. “I didn't like the girl with all the makeup and high heels,” he once said. “I liked the girl in jeans and a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, wearing her boyfriend's jacket. That's the girl I am attracted to. That's the girl I married—Ricky.” Consider the Ricky pant an integral piece of that carefree, menswear-inspired wardrobe; an elegant, feminine take on the military workwear pant, garment-dyed in a sateen fabric that has been turned inside out so that the wearer feels the softest side.
The pants’ front-angled pockets, back-buttoned flaps, straight fit and ankle-length hem make it perfect for life’s off-duty moments, from foraging the stalls at farmer’s markets, mornings in the garden and fetch on the lawn with the dogs, to loading up the car for a last-minute weekend road trip. Its grab-and-go spirit also translates to more dressed up moments, with a clean, easy silhouette and adjustable button waist tabs that make it a cinch to wear with a blazer and a pair of loafers or kitten heels.
While the history of the double-breasted navy blazer is rooted in the British Royal Navy, its modern iconography is wholly American—and distinctly Ralph Lauren. Jumping from Eton to New England, the sport coat’s prep-school status remains a hallmark of the look Ralph has given it, paired with everything from chinos to denim, oxfords to white tees, and even a ball cap or two.
The Polo navy blazer is a notably special version of its kind, instantly recognizable for its immaculate cut, worked and reworked over the years. The silhouette has been shaped with the precision of English tailoring—side vents and double-piped besom pockets, applied to both men’s and women’s silhouettes—and the ease of American sportiness, which gets expressed in the soft shoulder. The fabric, a nod to the jacket’s historical authenticity, is doeskin, a tightly milled wool known for its durability and elegance; when light hits it, the jacket shows with a lustrous richness. Long a dress code requirement of certain social-world establishments, the navy blazer now sets the tone wherever it goes, elevating the moment and the way you feel wearing it.
Polo’s quintessential handbag is inspired by the English saddle, one of the most beautiful and timeless of functional leather objects. Its crescent shape, stitching, and rich patina all channel this mainstay of equestrian life, while the traditional ID bracelet influences its signature hardware: a long, weighted brass pendant engraved with the cutout silhouette of the instantly recognizable Polo player. Made from prim-and-proper Italian calfskin and pebbled leather to chic suede, practical canvas, exotic raffia, and cool denim, the Polo ID stands out for its ubiquitous ability to channel all of Polo’s key moods and dress codes.
Its range of sizes is also part of the handbag’s self-expression: large for all-day practicality; small and compact for the perfect occasion; minis for true nonchalance (and an optional croissant shape by way of adjustable swivel-clasp hooks). The through-line of the Polo ID bag’s expanse of options and personalities, though, is the steadfast craftsmanship and attention to detailing which gives it the feel of an instant heirloom.
At first glance, the fringe jacket is intimidating. Unless your name is Annie Oakley, you might wonder, how can one possibly get away with wearing something so specific, so evocative, so ... fringed?! But a reframing of the Western staple outside of its rustic roots shows that it has extraordinary versatility. Whether dressed with a suit, contrasted with sweatpants, or thrown on for a night out, it’s a staple you can wear like any other leather jacket. Here, three unexpected ways to style it.
Monochrome dressing has long dominated the style conversation—which makes it ripe for a well-considered update. For fall, it’s a palette of grey, tan, and navy, interchangeable in separates that touch on different silhouettes, weights, and textures, blending and balancing the wardrobe staples of both town and country. A tailored jacket or a pair of trousers take on a softer look with a suede coat or a pair of boots, while final touches in layered pops of color, standout handbags, and a well-placed belt show off a polished look that’s still rough around the edges in all the best ways.
It’s an essential ingredient of Ralph Lauren style, a technique that’s integral to both Ralph’s personal way of dressing and the Polo aesthetic at large, shown in everything from menswear-inspired suiting and preppy staples to coastal cool or rustic Western styles. Fall offers ample opportunities to play with layering as a look, focusing on a mix of outerwear, knits, and shirting that help make any outfit feel dynamic and finished.