Ralph Lauren Creates a Sense of Place
To celebrate a new book remembering four decades of Ralph Lauren Home, we’re taking a look back at four of the designer’s most timeless styles.
“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 you wear, to the way you live, to the way you love. Our homes are a canvas for living. Whether we live in the city, the country, on a farm, at the beach, in a penthouse or cabin, each is home and tells our story. And just as we dress differently in each of these places, we want to live differently as well.”
– Ralph Lauren, A Way of Living
When Ralph Lauren launched his namesake home collection in 1983, he broadened the lens of his lifestyle brand and pioneered a new path forward, a path that would eventually include a celebrated lighting collection with The Home Magzine. In a new book, A Way of Living, Lauren reflects on his forty-year journey through the world of home – and just as with his runway presentations, his aesthetic details are deeply rooted. With references ranging from English country houses to sleek cityscapes to old Hollywood to the rugged individualism of American West, Lauren manages to put his best foot forward every time. Read on for style notes on how to achieve Ralph Lauren’s most iconic looks, no matter where you are.
A Tradition Of Ease
Time-honored craftsmanship lends staying power to classic silhouettes.
At Ralph Lauren, a collected approach is more than the sum of its parts. A modern approach to estate means embracing seeming contradictions (polish and patina, tradition and newness) to achieve a result that champions craft and classicism for modern living. “There is a way of living with a certain grace and beauty. It is not a constant race for what is next but, rather, an appreciation of that which has come before.” Here, take the long view with leather accents, modern silver touches that gleam in candlelight, and glass and brass elements meant to illuminate and inspire.
A Modern Attitude
Streamlined design elevates minimalist textures and tones for the ultimate artistic expression.
For Ralph Lauren, downtown living is a vehicle for sophisticated self-expression – an open-ended invitation to reinvent and reinterpret, a streamlined showcase for texture, tone, material, and a dynamic and personal statement of freedom, “When we think of downtown living, we think of places that are offbeat, artistic, cool, and modern. How we live is not about downtown or uptown but about creating an environment that is personal and reflects who we are and how we want to live.” With clean lines, high-shine accents, industrial touches, and neutral palettes, these elements prove that amid the bustle of the city, less can be so much more.
Relaxed Charm
Recalling the charm of a country retreat, vintage-inspired furnishings add a touch of lived-in warmth.
Town and country have always lived in harmony in the world of Ralph Lauren. Outside the rush of city life, a relaxed atmosphere reigns – no less refined, only simpler and more serene, “Country style is about a simpler way of living.” Nature is a north star in these environs, lending rhythm and meaning to aesthetic choices for a more deeply rooted sense of purpose, “It’s about the freedom of living close to nature, opening windows and doors to let in the warmth of days, the coolness of nights, and the fresh air and soft breezes carrying the scent of nature’s bouquet.” Here, vintage-inspired elements add layers of warmth and familiarity. Clear colors, cozy patterns and textures that recall the fresh air and soft breezes combine to create a comfortable and inviting backdrop.
Polished Sophistication
A cinematic vision inspired by the graphic elegance of art deco and the allure of old Hollywood.
Ralph Lauren is collected, nostalgic, and cool – and don’t forget the uptown polish. Glamour and old Hollywood touches are essential pillars of the brand’s DNA, helping to establish a timeless mood and set the stage for a new era of storytelling. “The bold artistry of an art deco vase, an ornately carved antique gilt mirror, the view at night of the sparkling top of the Chrysler Building, or a timeless love scene from Casablanca is all it takes to inspire the story of an entire collection.” Marked by sleek architectural lines, bold proportions, elegant austerity, and a limited palette, this vision of cosmopolitan life is steeped in romance and silver-screen style. It is a study in confident luxury.