History of Ralph Lauren - The Man and the Brand | Outlet Shoppers The Man and the Brand What comes to mind when you think of Ralph Lauren? For most of us, it’s the all-American Ralph Lauren Polo shirt synonymous with the 1970s. But Ralph Lauren the fashion mogul is so much more than a simple collared Polo. Since officially beginning his career in 1967, Ralph Lauren has become a household name. You may be familiar with certain aspects of his fashion history, namely the Polo shirt, but did you know that…? While the Polo shirt may have put Ralph Lauren on the map, it was just one piece of the puzzle in creating his impressive fashion empire. 1967 Ralph Lauren started his Polo brand in Bloomingdale’s department stores in 1967. 1970 In 1970, Ralph Lauren was given the Coty Award for his achievements in menswear designs. 1980 Ralph Lauren stuck with his simple, sleek designs by popularizing the power suit in the 1980s, while rivaling major luxury fashion labels like Armani . 2013 Today, the Ralph Lauren brand is worth close to $900 million.

( 1939-1966 ) History Clearly, Ralph Lauren as a designer and a brand is much more than a Polo shirt, although his ever-popular shirt design is not to be discounted. You’re likely to find a Polo shirt in the majority of men’s closets throughout America. Without further ado, let’s jump right in to explore the rich and complex history of Ralph Lauren as a man and fashion label. Ralph Lauren was born in 1939. Little did his parents know that he would soon change the face of fashion… 1939 Ralph Lauren was officially born Ralph Lifshitz to Jewish immigrant parents in the Bronx in 1939. Despite such humble beginnings, Ralph became hooked on fashion as early as the tender age of 12. Instead of spending his allowance on toys and candy, Ralph saved his money to buy expensive suits. 1955 By the time Ralph turned 16, he and his brother chose to legally change their last name to Lauren since they were teased frequently at school. 1964 Though focused on his career, Ralph wasn’t one to neglect his personal life.

Ralph married a receptionist named Ricky Anne in New York City in 1964. In order to please his parents, Ralph was forced to hide the fact that Ricky was only half Jewish. Together, Ralph and Ricky had three sons: Andrew, David, and Dylan. Though Ralph came from humble beginnings, he has his early years to thank for his widely popular and relatable fashion aesthetic. According to Ralph, “I have always been inspired by the dream of America—families in the country, weathered trucks and farmhouses; sailing off the coast of Maine; following dirt roads in an old wood-paneled station wagon; a convertible filled with young college kids sporting crew cuts and sweatshirts and frayed sneakers.” For Ralph, fashion was a dream. Ralph’s dream of pursuing a career in the fashion industry started before he even hit puberty and continued throughout his life. As Ralph famously said,- People ask how can a Jewish kid from the Bronx do preppy clothes? Does it have to do with class and money? It has to do with dreams. ( 1967-1997 ) 1967 In addition to being a dreamer, Ralph was also a levelheaded entrepreneur.

The Ralph Lauren empire began way back in 1967 when Ralph opened his first tie shop without any prior fashion training. Why did Ralph feel called to break into the fashion industry with such a simple piece as a necktie? Much of Ralph’s focus on menswear had to do with his early work history. Ralph worked for a tie manufacturer named Beau Brummell in 1967. Brummell created tailored men’s clothing free from the embellishment and over-design that was so popular in the 1960s. Ralph took to menswear like a fish to water. It was during his time working at Beau Brummell Ties that he began his own necktie line, simply called Polo. His neckties were handmade from colorful fabrics in a new wide design. 1970 As the demand for Polo neckties grew, so did Ralph’s dream. Ralph took that golden opportunity to expand from simple necktie design into a complete menswear line. Shortly thereafter, Ralph was awarded the Coty Award in 1970 for his menswear innovation.

1971 By the time 1971 rolled around, Ralph was ready to take it to the next level by designing a women’s fashion label. 1968 Polo Fashions was founded in 1968, funded with seed money in the form of a $50,000 loan. Ralph toiled away to create his one-of-a-kind neckties, operating out of a small drawer in an Empire State building showroom. Within the first year, he sold a whopping $500,000 worth of merchandise, confirming both his talent and commitment to the fashion world. Ralph continued to sell his unique wide necktie designs under the Polo brand at large department stores, such as Bloomingdale’s and Niemen Marcus . 1972 Riding the wave of his early success, Ralph Lauren famously introduced the Polo shirt in 1972. The Polo shirt design was available as a short-sleeve cotton shirt in a 24 different colors. Since the short-sleeve, collared shirt bore the Ralph Lauren Polo logo on the chest, it was soon called the Polo shirt for short. Years later, the Polo shirt is still known as the signature piece of the Polo brand.

But Ralph didn’t stop there when it came to design and innovation. Here are a few major highlights in the peak of his career: 1974 Ralph Lauren designs costumes for The Great Gatsby movie. 1977 Ralph Lauren’s sleek, sharp clothing designs are seen worn by Diane Keaton and Woody Allen in Annie Hall. 1978 Ralph Lauren introduces his first Western wear collection; Polo launches the first cologne. 1981 The first international Polo Ralph Lauren store opens in London. 1985 Ralph Lauren revolutionizes denim with a new line of dungarees. 1989 The Polo flag sweater hits the shelves. 1990 Ralph Lauren launches Polo Golf. 1993 Ralph Lauren launches Polo Sport and Double RL casual wear lines. 1994 Ralph Lauren launches the Purple Label, a luxury clothing line. 1996 Ralph Lauren launches Polo Jeans. 1980 Amidst his career achievements, Ralph was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that was successfully removed in the 1980s. Throughout the trajectory course of Ralph’s career, his design sensibility became known as iconic American fashion.

Ralph even went so far as to try his hand at home furnishings in the Ralph Lauren Home collection. Ralph Lauren Polo boomed throughout the 1980s and 1990s with boutiques opening throughout the US and internationally. As Ralph grew famous as a top fashion designer, he attributed much of his success to his realism and authenticity. According to Ralph, “I’ve never wanted to be in fashion. Because if you’re in fashion, you’re going to be out of fashion.” But as the saying goes: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Ralph was inarguably a level-headed, successful business entrepreneur. Yet he continued to stay true to his ultimate vision by focusing on his dream in each new line he created: The way I do collections and what inspires me is a story or theme that gets to me… that says I know how to build this. I don’t build a collection from the sleeve or from a specific fabric. I build it out of a dream. 1992 Ralph’s dreams certainly did come true. In 1992, he was awarded the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ralph Lauren has been the only designer to receive the four highest honors presented by the CFDA, including: The Lifetime Achievement Award, The Womenswear Designer of the Year Award, The Menswear Designer of the Year Award, and Retailer of the Year. 1997 Just a short decade later, Polo Ralph Lauren went public on the US stock market in 1997. The complete brand included Polo Ralph Lauren, Polo Sport, and the Ralph Lauren Collection. ( 1998-Present ) With the dawn of the new millennium, Ralph Lauren Media joined the digital age and launched Polo.com. 2002 In 2002, the Ralph Lauren brand celebrated its 35th anniversary with an impressive $10 billion global empire that now sold men’s, women’s, and children’s fashions. 2003 In 2003, Ralph took his international expansion even further by introducing individual websites for different countries at Global.Polo.com. 1998 Even as the 1990s rolled around, Ralph’s long-lasting career success didn’t wane.

Ralph remained productive throughout the 90s as the Ralph Lauren Corporation collaborated with Vogue and the Washington Post to sponsor the Super Sale. This annual designer sale took place in Washington DC and was used to raise more than $3.5 million for research until 1998. 1999 Among Ralph Lauren’s major achievements, we can’t overlook Ralph Lauren Restaurants, established in 1999. Yes, you heard that right. In addition to being a fashion innovator, Ralph Lauren is also a restaurateur. Ralph Lauren Restaurants are located in Chicago and Paris; the Chicago restaurant is designed complementary to the Ralph Lauren palette with white tablecloths, leather seats, and mahogany panels, serving traditional American dishes. 2001 In 2001, after more than three decades of ground-breaking career success, Ralph began to focus his efforts on charitable work, including relief efforts provided by the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation after the tragedy of 9/11. Polo Ralph Lauren matched employee contributions to the dollar and donated 10% of all sales in the month of October following the attacks.

2007 In 2007, Ralph was again recognized by the CFDA when he was presented the first-ever American Fashion Legend Award; results were tallied from a public online vote. Today Today, Ralph remains focused on his charitable work as the Polo brand is still going strong. Charitable efforts include the introduction of the Polo Volunteer Program, as well as a $5 million contribution to create the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention and Care located at the North General Hospital in Harlem. The Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation continues to fund developments in education, service, and cancer care. Currently, the Foundation focuses on causes like: Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention Provides cancer treatment and screening services for underserved communities. Pinky Pony Campaign Supports global cancer awareness and research. American Heroes Fund Raises funds for scholarships for children of 9/11 victims. Reusable Organic Tote Proceeds go to the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation. Habitat for Humanity Provides affordable housing for families in need. Polo Fashion School Offers educational opportunities through grants and volunteerism. Ralph Lauren Volunteers Encourages employee participation in non-profit volunteer programs in local communities. The Star Spangled Banner Funds preservation and restoration of the American flag.

Ralph’s dream started out small and humble with a single line of original neckties. Decade after decade, Ralph’s fashion innovation grew and paved the way for new designs to support his revolutionary brand. A perfect example of the American dream, Ralph saw success by never losing sight of his vision: What I do is about living. It’s about living the best life you can and enjoying the fullness of the life around you- from what your wear, to the way you live, to the way you love. Iconic American Style: How to Get the Look This celebration of Ralph Lauren’s fashion history wouldn’t be complete without taking the time to master his style. By now, we know that a signature Ralph Lauren look is classic, smart, sharp, and, ultimately, all-American. And it is this timeless design that makes it easy to wear year after year for casual outings or special occasions. Here are a few tips to get the ball rolling before you shop Ralph Lauren : Ralph Lauren fashion is Go for rich fabrics and colors, like dark espresso leather or velvet. Mix classic with modern in a trendy blazer with worn jeans. Dress with a lifestyle in mind, whether it be sporty, equestrian, or business chic.

Use luxurious pieces wisely by adding one signature item to each outfit. Ralph Lauren Classic from Head to Toe What does it take to dress the part of a Ralph Lauren icon? Here are 5 time-honored must-haves from the Ralph Lauren brand: Repp Tie This classic necktie has iconic stripes that slope down from left to right. The name comes from the ribbed, tightly woven silk fabric used to make the piece. A repp tie is synonymous with a preppy, collegiate look; the repp tie was worn as early as the 1800s in England in academic settings. To get the look, think Ivy League chic – wear a repp tie with a navy blazer and Oxford shirt. Polo Shirt The traditional Polo shirt has been an institution in the preppy lifestyle since 1972. Decades later, the Polo shirt has come a long way, yet it maintains the same form and fit. After 40 years, Ralph Lauren now manufactures the Polo shirt in a wider range of colors with limited edition styles available for men, women, and children. The Polo shirt is an all-time favorite since it can be worn with almost any article of clothing, including skirts, jeans, and khakis.

Navy Blazer Where would prep school style be without the navy blazer? The navy blazer is a traditional menswear piece that has also crossed the line into women’s fashion. A classic Ralph Lauren navy blazer is single-breasted with three brass buttons and notched lapels. Ever since the first Ralph Lauren menswear collection was introduced in the 1970s, the navy blazer has been a go-to piece that can be worn in a casual or professional setting. Oxford Shirt The Oxford shirt is non-negotiable in the Ralph Lauren style catalog. The Oxford shirt originally came about in the 19th Century, created as a fabric by Scottish fabric mills. Eventually, the textile was named after Oxford University and celebrated for its clean, sharp appearance. A traditional Oxford shirt will have an Oxford basket-weave pattern to make it distinct and easy to recognize. Most Oxford shirts have button-down collars and can be worn casually with a cardigan and jeans or luxuriously to a black-tie affair. Holiday Sweater Another staple in the American wardrobe is the holiday sweater, popularized in the 1920s.

In a classic holiday sweater, you’ll find bright, seasonal colors and celebratory patterns, like reindeer, snowflakes, and snowmen. Ralph Lauren continues to design modern holiday sweaters in nostalgic styles to bring together the best of both worlds. Contemporary holiday sweaters can be worn in a number of different combinations: with jeans, a pencil skirt, or a shirt and tie. One of the most common questions asked about Ralph Lauren style is How do I dress up a Polo shirt? To date, a Polo shirt remains one of the most popular and versatile pieces within the Ralph Lauren brand. Most people are likely to wear a Polo shirt with jeans, shorts, or a skirt to a casual outing; in the workplace, Polo shirts are a favorite on Casual Fridays. But on the other side of the coin, it’s easier than it seems to dress up a traditional piece like a Polo shirt. Ralph Lauren recommends wearing a darker colored Polo shirt for a special occasion since it tends to come across as sharper and more formal. A dark polo shirt can be paired with dress pants and a blazer to complete the look. A dark Polo shirt can also be worn with tailored jeans and penny loafers for a dress casual event, like an early evening cocktail party.

To dig a little deeper, we can take well-seasoned advice from none other than Ralph Lauren’s son and senior vice president of advertising, marketing, and corporate communication – a man that is no stranger to international best dressed lists. David Lauren underscores the fact that the best way to dress for success on any occasion is to “stand up straight!” Just a few decades ago, Ralph Lauren was the first person to dare to wear black-tie clothing with casual pieces like jeans and cowboy boots. If you want to go bold and wear denim with a tux, by all means, do it. Just do it with confidence to show that you mean business. And while Ralph Lauren fashions may be timeless, David Lauren confirms that not all preppy style can be worn through the ages. Ralph Lauren clothing lines are inspired by “preppy sensibility.” Yet with each coming year, new Ralph Lauren designs are introduced to provide better options than ever before without compromising classic pieces. In a nutshell, if you’ve worn some of the signature pieces in your closet to death, it may be time to go shopping for a new classic garment to spice up your wardrobe. Last but not least, don’t be a stranger to color – regardless of your gender.

While women have been historically more likely to wear colorful, flamboyant pieces, Ralph Lauren has always focused on color in his clothing lines for both men and women. Color goes hand-in-hand with the Ralph Lauren brand. The next time you get dressed for a special occasion, add a pop of color in your pants, shirt, or necktie. You won’t regret it. As Ralph Lauren himself endorses, “I know I have a signature. I know there’s a New England sensibility. I know there’s a cowboy sensibility. I think there’s a sports sensibility. They’re all mixed. But they all come from non-fashion. They all have an origin of being natural, timeless, real—comfortable sensibilities.” If you can take one thing away from the inspiration of Ralph Lauren as a man and a brand, it is to pursue your dream at all costs. Ralph Lauren was utterly focused on his dream and ambition, while keeping his feet firmly on the ground. It was his ability to dream that allowed him to create such classic, innovative pieces within each of his clothing lines. Ralph describes his style best by saying: I like romance, I like glamour, and I like realism. I think that’s a great combination.

Is Ralph Lauren the most popular designer? - Quora Quora Written Sep 20, 2014 No. While he is pretty popular, he isn't the most popular designer. Especially since his bags and clothing are seen more on the low end scale of the high end he is aiming for. Why? His bags and clothing sell in stores like The Bay, where more elusive designers do not. However, he's still popular nonetheless and I like some of his items in his collections. 437 Views Written Jul 13, 2015 Actually he has a line you won't find anywhere except the high end stores that sell other exclusives like Louis Vuitton for example. If you see his brand it is usually the blue label Polo stuff you can find at any mall, but the purple label line of clothing is as high end as any brand you want to name, bespoke/MTM stuff excluded, obviously. It is much more limited than what you see most people wearing.

224 Views Polo Ralph Lauren Popular Fashion Brand | Put In Style Polo Ralph Lauren Popular Fashion Brand 21st May 2013 Google+0 Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business administrative, best recognized for his Polo Ralph Lauren fashion trademark. He crowns an extremely prosperous, international company producing billions in profits. He has become well-known for his collection of exceptional automobiles, some of which have been exhibited in museum displays. Well-known for being one of the biggest fashion houses to arise in the last 40 years, Ralph Lauren has sustained to produce classic all-American clothing that never seems to go out of style. Ralph Lauren, who originated the trademark in the 1970s, is to this day still at the tiller as supervising director. He has willingly created an eternal line, all plunging from the advent of the iconic polo top that has become a timeless piece in every wardrobe. Since its inauguration in 1968, Ralph Lauren has become a dominant worldwide empire that has put its hallmark on everything from tuxedos to tennis skirts. Lauren began with a handmade line of extensive, vibrant ties and men wear, which cemented the way to launch own in-store boutique in Bloomingdale’s.

The designer prolonged to encompass women’s wear , his signature polo shirts , fragrance , home furnishings, sportswear , paint , denim, and even a restaurant, in Chicago in 1999. Lauren’s lavish Madison Avenue flagship was built into the modernized Rhine lander mansion in 1986, a retail space that doubles as a lavish, high-end boutique and a tourist fascination. Though the label is feasibly best related with its signature classic polo shirts and tweed blazers, Lauren has revealed variety and revolution each season, from the cowboy-inspired appearances of the seventies to the Santa Fe patterns of the eighties to the more modern high-fashion twenties expedition looks of the 2000s. The clothing is divided into a dozen lines, comprising the purple label for men evening wear and hand-tailored suiting. The black label for women’s evening wear. RLX for ski, golf, tennis clothing and Rugby are for more young-looking customers. Today, the iconic polo logo garnishes everything from Pink Pony tees promoting cancer research to tiny plaid high-tops for tykes and miniature polo’s for pets.

The Ralph existence has shown astounding staying power, thanks to faithful fans who ride horses, get chauffeured in Town Cars, and everything in between. Filippa Hamilton Polo Ralph Lauren model Polo Ralph Lauren polo shirts. Prices are available here Ralph Lauren on the Forbes Global 2000 List #89 World's Most Valuable Brands (2015) Ralph Lauren Corp. engages in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. The company's brand names, which include Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Collection, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, RRL, RLX, Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren, Chaps and Club Monaco. It operates in three business segments: Wholesale, Retail and Licensing. The company was founded by Ralph Lauren in 1967 and is headquartered in New York, NY. More » Ralph Lauren Fashion Designer | Ralph Lauren Biography, Information, Videos, News and the Latest Runway Collections. Fashion Biography Ralph Lauren, Fashion Designer Fashion Designer Ralph Lauren has become the epitome of classic fashion.

With product lines such as Polo/Ralph Lauren for Men, Ralph Lauren for Women, Double RL, Ralph Lauren Home, and even Ralph Lauren paint, it makes us wonder who the man behind the label really is. Born Ralph Lifshitz on October 14, 1939, in the Bronx, New York, Ralph Lauren has come a long way from his days of sharing a bedroom with two of his brothers. Growing up in a middle class Jewish family, Ralph and his three older brothers were raised by his mother, while his artist father painted houses. Lauren"s fashion sense was apparent at an early age when he would purchase expensive suits with the money he earned working at his after school job. Although he knew he could find his clothes at a less expensive price, he made it a point to look stylish in his expensive threads and he has succeeded at looking cool in his attire since the age of 12. One would think that Lauren attended fashion design school, but he actually studied business at City College in Manhattan, and dropped out short of receiving his business degree. Student by night, Lauren would work by day at two glove companies as a salesman. He then worked for a tie manufacturer named A.

Rivetz &amp; Co., which ultimately led to the fashion empire he leads today. While working at A. Rivetz &amp; Co., Lauren began designing wide ties, which spawned his first entrepreneurial career. With his tie designs and a $50,000 loan, Lauren founded the company Polo Fashions in 1968. Along with his older brother, he chose the name Polo because of the power, style and intrigue that the brand has always been associated with. The Polo brand known today as the preppy English tweed look it conveys did not get to be a million dollar empire because Lauren was lucky, nor because Lauren had an immaculate sense of style. Lauren not only had an innovative mind, but he also knew that packaging and presentation were of utmost importance something he didn"t need to learn while studying for his business degree. In the late 60"s, while Lauren was trying to develop his line of wide ties, Bloomingdale"s insisted Lauren remove his name from the ties" label, and make his ties narrower. Not giving into the retail giant Bloomingdale"s, Lauren stuck to his guns and refused to sell to the department store under such circumstances.

Suffice it to say, the retailer came back crawling to Lauren and his ties under his terms, after having seen the brand"s success. The rest as they say, is history. While Polo was considered the power suit of the early 80"s, Armani had brought the Italian power suit back in style later on in the decade, which pushed aside Polo"s preppy look. Lauren had fought back with his sophisticated line of men"s shirts and suits, made of fine fabrics. He successfully catered to the office worker who wanted to look stylish, while looking powerful in the office. Next came Lauren"s line of women"s clothing, followed by his home collection line consisting of sheets, towels and furniture in the early 80"s. It is Lauren"s innovativeness, among many other traits of the model businessman, that has made him the founder, designer and chairman of a $900 million company. Not only was he the first fashion designer to have his own store, but he was the first to sell the whole lifestyle image that consumers flock to worldwide. Lauren sells much more than clothes and home furnishings; he sells a lifestyle image of sophistication, class and taste.

His keen business sense, ability to stand by his product at all costs and ability to prevail despite several business failures are what make him a man whose net worth is $1 billion. A man whose car collection ranges from a 1929 Bentley and a 1937 Alfa Romeo, to a 1938 Bugatti and a 1962 Ferrari. A man who owns a ranch in Colorado, homes in Jamaica and Long Island, an estate in Bedford, New York to add to his Fifth Avenue Manhattan address. A man who offers everyone the opportunity to look as good as he does, simply by purchasing his products. His line of clothing and home collection have the taste and snobbism minus the flashiness that make the Ralph Lauren/Polo brand timeless. Between school and his career move into the fashion industry, Lauren served in the United States Army from 1962 1964, and married Ricky Low Beer after his army days. Ralph and his wife, Ricky, have two sons and a daughter: Andrew Lauren (b. 1969, New York City), David Lauren (b. 1971) and Dylan Lauren (b. 1974).

Andrew is a film producer, David is an executive at Polo Ralph Lauren and Dylan owns and operates an upscale candy store, Dylan"s Candy Bar, at 60th Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan. Polo prefers licensing over manufacturing; it oversees many licensees as well as more than 350 contract manufacturers worldwide. The firm operates about 275 retail and outlet stores in the US and licenses more than 100 others worldwide. Founder Ralph Lauren still controls almost 90% of Polo"s voting power. For over 42 years, Ralph Lauren has cultivated the iconography of America into a global lifestyle empire. Whether it is a reflection of the New England coast, Native American culture, or Hollywood glamour Ralph Lauren embodies an expression of timeless style that is recognized and coveted around the world. Today, the Company is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances.

The Company"s brand names, which include Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Collection, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, RRL, RLX, Rugby, Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, American Living, Chaps and Club Monaco, constitute one of the most widely recognized families of consumer brands. Polo Ralph Lauren operates over 300 stores worldwide, with recent international expansion in Dubai, Korea, and Paris. In 1970, Ralph Lauren won the COTY Award for his menswear line. Around that same time he released a line of women"s suit that were tailored in a classic men"s style, which was when the first Polo emblem was seen. It was on the cuff of the women"s suit. Ralph Lauren, released Polo"s famous short sleeve mesh shirt with the Polo logo in 1972. It came out in 24 colors and soon became a classic. He also gained recognition for his design after he was contracted to provide clothing styles for the movie The Great Gatsby.

Polo Ralph Lauren store on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago In 1984, he transformed the Rhinelander Mansion, former home of the photographer Edgar de Evia and Robert Denning, into the flagship store for Polo Ralph Lauren. This same year de Evia photographed the cover feature story for House &amp; Garden on the Lauren home Round Hill in Jamaica, which had formerly been the home of Babe and Bill Paley. On June 11, 1997, Polo Ralph Lauren became a public company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RL. By 2007 Ralph Lauren had over 35 boutiques in United States. There were 23 locations that carried Ralph Lauren Purple Label, including Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Boston, Charlotte, Wisconsin Avenue, Chicago, Costa Mesa, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, Manhasset, New York, Palm Beach, Palo Alto, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Short Hills, and Troy.[citation needed] The Financial Times reported in its edition of January 2 3, 2010 that the firm had revenues of 5 billion for the fiscal year 2009.

The article addresses succession plans and the future of the overall business. In 2010, Ralph Lauren was decorated Chevalier de la Legion d"honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in Paris. Surgery Sometime in early 1987, he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. In April 1987 he underwent surgery to remove the tumor and made a full recovery. Ralph Lauren is also well known as a collector of classic automobiles. A large portion of his automobiles are held in his large estate in Katonah, NY. He owns a Ferrari 250 GTO, a McLaren F1 GTR LM, 2 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantics, and, more recently, a Bugatti Veyron among others. His cars have won best in show at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d"Elegance multiple times. In 2005 his collection was displayed at Boston"s Museum of Fine Arts. Related Topics Best Fall Fashion Trends For 2012 For Fall 2012 designers are inspired by a wide range of influences, from the elaborate details of brocade and metallic gold embellishments to the dynamic mix of military chic and power pantsuits.

Colo By Courtney Lynne I am an analyst by profession and researching is my passion. I also love to share my knowledge. Contact me on Google + and Twitter . Find us on Google+ Advertisement Top 12 Best Luxury Clothing Brands in the World - Listovative Top 12 Best Luxury Clothing Brands in the World 2 years ago 3 Comments Luxury, is the desire of every human being, but only a few are lucky enough to cherish and raise their lifestyle in the Lap of luxury. Luxury goods can be explained in simple terms, goods that are present at the highest end of the market in terms of quality and price. Luxury brand are growing and growing, even the economic market slows down.the sale of Luxury goods have shown an inclination upwards.Growth in the luxury market has led experts to believe that the luxury goods commerce is immune to economic fluctuations, due to it’s sharp growth, in spite of the recession. The famous, international consulting firm Brain & Company estimated the luxury market to be valued at $274 billion which a huge figure in itself, with a potential to reach an astonishing value of $290 value by 2015.

Whilst the luxury market has always been dominated by Louis Vuitton(which continues to be the most valuable luxury brand on a global scale),other potential market leaders are brands like Gucci, Hermes, and Prada which have experienced the most significant growth. It is believed that Prada and Gucci experienced such high growth in brand value due to an increase in customers Asian , North America and Western Europe regions. With the expanding world, a lot of Luxury brands have germinated in the market. But to catch the taste of elites and affluent, only few have managed to emerge as the top runner,and the extensive social media and digital marketing activities have given a refreshed approach to these Luxury brands. Read on to find out the Top 12 World’s Most Powerful Luxury Brands and some of the astonishing facts about them. 12. Ralph Lauren Corporation Ralph Lauren Corporation is one of the top luxury goods brand in the world today. The brand was started by billionaire fashion designer Ralph Lauren back in 1967,it began with the founding of the Polo Ralph Lauren company. Although Ralph Lauren is now a publicly listed company in the NYSE. Ralph Lauren is best known for his polo clothing line.

The company, products are high end men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings to customers worldwide. Ralph Lauren Corporation also manages several other high end fashion brands, including Ralph Lauren Black Label, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Blue Label, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco, and Chaps. The Polo Sport line was introduced in 1993,it was originally named Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation.The Polo in the name was dropped to reflect the company’s presence in other concepts beyond the Polo line. But the original Polo line remained as the flagship brand of the company. Head quartered in New York, Ralph and lauren’s products are Clothing, Footwear, Fragrances, Housewares and Jewellery. 11. Versace It was founded by Gianni Versace in 1978, Versace today is the leading international luxury clothing brand and one of the most influential fashion houses in the world. Born December 2, 1946, in Italy, Gianni Versace launched his first clothing line in Milan, Italy, in 1978. In 1989, Versace debuted his first couture collection.

He continued to add his fashion empire, expanding into home furnishings and perfumes. Versace earlier client included figures as Madonna, Prices Diana, Elton John, royalty such as Princess Diana and Tina Turner. Versace was famous for glamorous styles, such as producing a range of siren dresses that became his trademark. One of his most famous creations in the black dress held together at the sides by gold safety pins worn by Elizabeth Hurley in 1994, which made Hurley a star.Versace died in 1997, when his company was worth $800 million. After Gianni’s sudden death in 1997 by a spree killer, his sister Donatella Versace took over all the attention and responsibility as a new creative director of the brand. Versace products include Textiles, Apparel 10. Armani Founded in 1975 by Giorgio Armani and Sergio Galeotti. The international Italian fashion house covers a wide range of products, from haute couture to ready-to-wear clothing items and jewellery to home interiors.

Armani is one of the most expensive clothing labels in the world, with their men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, eyewear, cosmetics, and perfumes. The brand is marketed products under several sub-labels, including Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, AJ | Armani Jeans, AX | Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, and Armani/Casa. Designer Giorgio Armani was born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy. With his body-conscious yet understated clothing, Giorgio Armani has become one of the most popular names in fashion. He first launched his business empire in the mid-1970s, and it has grown substantially over the years. Armani and Galeotti became business partners, founding Giorgio Armani S.p.A. in July 1975. The company’s first collection a men’s clothing line was debuted that year. Armani launched a women’s collection in the year 1976.

His clothes were worn by actor Richard Gere in the film American Gigolo (1980), which brought more recognition and fame for Armani ,his clients included top Hollywood stars like Michelle Pfeiffer, Jodie Foster and John Travolta .Armani expanded his operations, opening his first restaurant in 1989. By the end of the 1990’s, Armani had over 2,000 stores worldwide .In 2005, Armani debuted his first haute couture line. The Armani brand products now include makeup, housewares, books and hotels. 9. Dolce and Gabbana “D&G” Dolce & Gabbana is an famous Italian luxury fashion house established in the year 1985 by Domencio Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. Their elegant style of dressing,has made them really popular in Hollywood. D & G is the luxury brand that is distinguished by its stylistic originality combined with the superior sartorial content of its creations. It is a brand whose essence lies in its contrasting features.

Named after two brilliant designers have created the best, clothes .Their products include Clothing, footwear, handbags, sunglasses, watches, jewellery, perfumery and cosmetics. 8. Dior The French luxury goods company, Dior, was founded in 1946 by the renowned designer Christian Dior. Today the company is a forefront in haute-couture.Legendary fashion designer Christian Dior was born in France in 1905.Dior began to make ends meet by selling his fashion sketches, and was hired as a design assistant by Paris couturier Robert Piguet. Post France’s surrender to Germany in 1940, Dior returned to Paris, where he was hired by couturier Lucien Lelong.Lelong’s design house would consistently dress the women’s of both Nazis and French collaborators. Dior’s products include designs and retails ready-to-wear, leather goods, fashion accessories, footwear,jewellery, timepieces, fragrance, make-up, and skin care products .While the Christian Dior label is for women’s offerings, the company also operates the Dior Homme division for men and the baby Dior label for children’s wear. 7.

Fendi Fendi, Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld also designs the Fendi ready-to-wear collection, but the brand is better known for accessories,and the way each and every product is crafted in a unique way. Fendi is a synonym of “Haute Fourrure”, preserving the most traditional fur workmanship; the only fashion house having its own fur atelier, Fendi is famous for its capacity to adopt innovative techniques to make fur lighter and modern. Adele Casagrande, founder of the House of Fendi, opened a small fur and leather goods shop in Rome in 1918. In 1925, Adele married Edoardo Fendi, and changed the name of her shop to reflect her own new surname. The Fendis had a long list of loyal private clients. In 1965, when German designer Karl Lagerfeld joined Fendi, he created the inverted the “Zucca” or the “FF” logo, which would eventually become a worldwide status symbol, to flaunt.

Lagerfeld and Fendi began to develop new and different ways to use fur, by making it lighter and less cumbersome, softer and much more wearable, by adopting new methods, including in tanning and dyeing . The “baguette” which is named after the French loaf of bread, carried under the arm, clutch, which hit its stride in the late ’90s after being featured on the HBO television series Sex and the City, made a comeback in 2009 with a “paint your own” coated canvas style that includes 10 Pantone markers for embellishment. Fendi’s main products include Fur, Leather, RTW and luxury goods. 6. Burberry Burberry was founded by Thomas Burberry in 1856 in Basingstoke, Hampshire, the store was developed for selling a quality range of outerwear. In 1891 Burberry opened his first store in Burberry’s commercial success is a testament to the skill of its designer and its marketing. There are now several sub brands including Burberry London, Burberry Brit and Burberry Prorsum. Headquartered at London Burberry’s products include Clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics.

Burberry’s main focus is for elite youth, and brand Burberry is considered to be a trendsetter. The luxury goods company operates more than 500 stores in over 50 countries worldwide. The famous Burberry coat made of peacock feathers sells for approximately $35,000.This year Burberry’s brand value increased by an impressive 42% ,the U.K. luxury goods company has a brand value of $4.34 billion, as reported by Forbes. 5.CHANEL No list is complete without mention of this brand; this brand is an entity in itself. This brand also takes its name from famous fashion designer Coco Chanel. Fashion designer Coco Chanel, was born on, 1883, in Saumur, France. In the 1920s, she launched her first perfume and introduced the Chanel suit and the little black dress. Brand Chanel follows the famous quote by Chanel herself that ,“luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not a luxury.” Chanel Opened her first shop in Paris’s around 1910, by selling hats, later added stores at Deauville and Biarritz and then began making clothes.

In the 1920s, Chanel launched her first perfume, Chanel No. 5, which was the first to feature a designer’s name. In 1925, she stormed the fashion world by introducing the legendary Chanel suit with collarless jacket and well-fitted skirt. After her death in 1971, designer Karl Lagerfeld took the reins at her company to continue the Chanel legacy. Today her company continues to bring luxury with joy .Headquartered in Paris the products sold by brand CHANEL are, Haute couture, ready-to-wear, perfume,jewellery, accessories. CHANEL also sells its products by, their flagship store named CHANEL.CHANEL redefined and refined the meaning of luxury by saying once “Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity”. Chanel has a brand value of worth $7 billion. 4. Prada Prada, is a fashion powerhouse that specializes in luxury goods for men and women, headed by Miuccia Prada an Italian fashion designer.

Miuccia Prada was born Maria Bianchi Prada in Milan, Italy and was granddaughter of Mario Prada, who has started the Prada fashion line in 1913 by manufacturing well-crafted, high-end suitcases, handbags and steamer trunks for the Milanese elite people. Prada entered her family’s business and with the help of her husband, Patrizio Bertelli, Prada began refreshing the company’s merchandise with self-made designs. In 1989, Prada, introduced a line of ready-to-wear and affordable women’s clothes that she called “uniforms for the slightly disenfranchised.” In 2012, an exhibition of Prada’s work was showcased, along with that of the late fashion pioneer Elsa Schiaparelli, at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Brand Prada continues to surprise, youngsters with their imaginations and innovations. In 2007 it collaborated with LG Electronics to launch Prada series of Mobile phones, which was a hit among the masses. Prada products include ready-to-wear leather and fashion accessories, shoes, luggage, perfumes, watches and other fashion accessories.

Prada has a brand value of worth $9.4 billion 3. Gucci This brand is again, the forerunner in a fashion house. Fashion designer Guccio Gucci founded the Gucci firm in Florence, Italy in 1920. He opened the first Gucci shop in 1921,selling high end quality leather goods and fine craftsmanship. Not only that Gucci stores are into philanthropy also, worldwide donates a percentage of the sales for special collections made specifically for UNICEF to go to the United Nations Children’s Fund, supporting education, healthcare, protection and clean water programs for orphans and children. Headquartered at Florence, Italy GUCCI’s Products include Clothing, watches, jewellery, shoes, leather goods and other fashion accessories. GUCCI has a brand value of $7 billion. 2. Hermès Established in the year 1837 by Thierry Hermes, this 176 year old brand is a player in ready-to-wear fashion. It is believed that each and every produce at Hermes is fabricated from start till the end by one artisan only to make sure their final offering is impeccable.

One of the Hermès signature orange bags can be bought for approximately $4,420,In 2011, Hermès set a world record, when one of their famous bags, the Hermès Birkin Bag, was sold at an auction for a price of $203,150 and became the most expensive purse to be sold at an auction till this date. Hermès products include leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear. Its special logo, since the 1950s, is of a Duc carriage with horse.It is headquartered in headquartered at Paris, France. 1. LOUIS VUITTON Louis Vuitton is a synonym to fashion no brand has been able to replicate its fame and success. Celebrities like Michael Phelps, Angelina Jolie ,Sarah Jessica Parker ,Kim Kardashian ,Lady Gaga are some of the people whose favourite brand is LOUIS VUITTON.

Louis Vuitton was the idea of Louis Vuitton Malletie, a French entrepreneur and designer, the story goes on like how a simple idea became big is, when Napoleon became the Emperor of the French in 1852, his wife, Napoleon’s wife, the Empress of France, Eugenie de Montijo, a Spanish countess hired Louis Vuitton as her personal box-maker and packer, and was moved by his elegant style of packing the clothes. This opportunity was a breakthrough into the world of affluent, for Vuitton. Then, in 1872, Vuitton introduced a new trunk design featuring a beige canvas and red stripes. The luxurious, new design was acclaimed by elites and critics of Paris and marked the beginning of the Louis Vuitton label’s as a world-renowned luxury leather and lifestyle brand as it is today. Recently artistic director, Marc Jacobs, has introduced ready-to-wear clothing, accessories and artist collaborations to a company that had been best known for its leather bags and suitcases. Louis Vuitton is operational in many countries and its brand store named Louis Vuitton is having more than 200 outlets all across the world.

The label’s products, range from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, watches,jewellery, accessories, sunglasses, and books.It sells its product through standalone boutiques, lease departments in high-end department stores, and through the e-commerce section of its website. But remember Louis Vuitton is strictly for the rich and famed. Louis Vuitton has a brand value worth $28 billion Related posts: Ralph Lauren - Buy Online at Perfume.com Cart Ralph Lauren Perfume and Ralph Lauren Cologne Though he did not partake in any formal design training and started his career in fashion as a salesman, Ralph Lauren managed to grow his necktie business into a billion-dollar empire, and his wares are forever identified with the sporty and preppy lifestyle . After dropping out of business school and serving in the Army, Lauren worked for Brooks Brothers before securing financial backing to open his store, Polo Ralph Lauren, in 1967 at the age of 28. Within two years, he was able to open his ... Read More ... Read More own boutique within Bloomingdales, and by 1971, he had a stand-alone store in Beverly Hills.

In the following years, the brand grew considerably, and it now operates as the Ralph Lauren Corporation. Though “Polo” was dropped from its name, the Polo line remains the flagship brand of the company, and its clothing offerings span from sportswear to formalwear and reflect a classic American style tied in with a rugged, outdoorsy image. The main logo of the company is still a polo pony with or without a polo player. More than just clothing falls under the Ralph Lauren brand. Fragrances for both men and women have become an important part of the line. Starting in 1978, Ralph Lauren partnered with L’Oreal to launch the first Ralph Lauren fragrance. The iconic Ralph Lauren cologne, named Polo, is a sharp, woody fragrance that has become one of the best-selling and most recognized colognes in history. Their first Ralph Lauren perfume for women, Lauren, is an equally memorable scent. This first Ralph Lauren perfume for women gained popularity with its fruity notes blended with rich exotic florals. Other popular men’s colognes include the Big Pony series, Sport, Safari, Romance, and Explorer. Popular women’s perfumes include the Ralph and Romance series, Safari, Chaps, and Notorious.

Fragrances make a great gift, and at Perfume.com, we make it easy to find the right Ralph Lauren perfume for women or the perfect cologne for the man in your life. We know that when you shop online, you want high-quality products but at discount prices. You’ll find that we offer the best online prices on our Ralph Lauren fragrance selection. In addition, purchasing Ralph Lauren perfume or cologne from our site is as simple as a few clicks of your mouse. Why wait? Purchase your Ralph Lauren cologne or perfume today! Women's Ralph Lauren

Question: What is Ralph Lauren's most famous brand?
Answer: Polo