Lauren stayed on as executive chairman and chief creative officer. In 1977, Diane Keaton and Woody Allen wore Lauren’s clothes in the Oscar-winning film, Annie Hall. Lauren started The Ralph Lauren Corporation in 1967 with men’s ties. At 28 years-old, Lauren worked for the tie manufacturer Beau Brummell.
But even the women’s white dresses and floppy sun hats make me think how well white linen and straw go together. As one of the premier heritage brands in the U.S., Ralph Lauren has outfitted some of the most influential figures in the country, including the First Lady. Michelle Obama, who took great pride in supporting polo dress shirts the American fashion industry, wore an off-the-shoulder Ralph Lauren gown during a state visit to the U.K. “We always take into account where we are going and that country’s cultural norms,” Meredith Koop, Obama’s stylist, told Harper’s Bazaar of their strategy for picking designers for the First Lady to wear.
McQueen never dressed like a popinjay and Mr. Craig doesn’t either. Another component of both these men is physical condition, always in shape. Being fit will always help a man look better in his clothes. The late 60s and early 70s were something of a golden period in menswear insomuch that we were presented with real choice even if much of that choice was execrable. There were opportunities to experiment and develop a personal style that would later be ‘taken back’ to more traditional menswear.
Personally I’ve never been that attracted by them, brogued or not, but if I wore black oxfords every day I can see them being a nice alternative. For most of my twenties I lamented the general lack of choice in menswear compared with womenswear and had to work hard to dress in a way that allowed individuality without rocking the boat unnecessarily. The longstanding catch 22 for selling menswear is that men are inherently more conservative and trends move slowly.
“The goal is to pay tribute to each place we visit never losing the spirit of the United States.” A few years later Lauren would contribute to another Hollywood production by supplying pieces for Diane Keaton’s wardrobe in Annie Hall. “Annie’s style was Diane’s style—very eclectic,” Lauren is quoted saying in Vogue on Ralph Lauren, published in 2015. “We shared a sensibility, but she had a style that was all her own.” Ironically, Ruth Morley, the film’s costume designer, wasn’t originally a fan of the character’s wardrobe, per the Boston Globe. But the Annie Hall look would come up again over the years, in various Ralph Lauren collections. Keaton herself would wear the designer’s suiting in 2014, to accept the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Golden Globes.
Most men do not want to be seen by other men as obsessing over their personal appearances. This is especially something that is true in the professions. A lawyer who dresses like a popinjay will not be taken seriously by either his clients or his fellow lawyers. In fact, I’ve noticed that these expectations can also affect female attire. First, at least to a certain degree, men tend to wear what they think women will find attractive.
I can wear that look – I’d just forgotten how good it could be. His reach into womenswear began when he started making clothes for his wife, Ricky, for whom he wanted to adapt a men’s jacket and shirt. And, after a few decades, a multibillion-dollar brand that is synonymous, for millions of customers who want to buy in, with the tailored taste of old-money Americans. For a well-considered closet update invest in timeless style from iconic American designer Ralph Lauren. Since starting out over four decades ago his work has become shorthand for modern American style.