Polo Ralph Lauren Style Guide
An iconic name on the fashion landscape, the impact Ralph Lauren has had on the last fifty years of menswear fashion is undeniable. From polo shirts to sportswear, the unmistakable Ralph Lauren aesthetic has won the brand a legion of loyal fans - even inspiring its own underground subculture.
Started in 1968 from his office drawer in the Empire State Building, Ralph Lauren has gone from designing men’s ties using fabric offcuts to becoming a global figurehead for the essential American wardrobe.
Taking style cues from preppy Ivy League frat boys and Brooklyn’s Lo-Lifes, this season sees us delving into the RL archives and reintroducing a series of heritage classics - including the Polo Sport line.
Discover our top 10 Polo Ralph Lauren pieces for the season ahead, as chosen by our team of experts…
The Jacket
Over the years, the Polo Ralph Lauren windbreaker has become a definitive sportswear staple. Featuring the distinctive red, white and blue Americana colourway and with logo branding on the arms and back, this jacket has us dreaming of a trip to the Hamptons come fall.
The Hoodie
Described as the ‘best dressed bear in the world’, Ralph Lauren’s iconic teddy motif has made a comeback for 2019. First appearing in 1991 and inspired by Ralph’s brother Jerry’s collection of Steiff bears, over the years he has regularly appeared across clothing and accessories. We like this all-black hoodie with its sharply dressed bear - the perfect example of RL’s smart casual aesthetic.
The Sweatshirt
Originally released in 1992, the Polo Sport range was one of the first forays into sportswear by a luxury brand. Adopted by the hip hop and skate communities, it quickly became a cult hit and the pieces remain highly collectible. All the more reason to get your hands on this Polo Sport Zip Up Sweater. For full ‘90s dad vibes, pair it with some stonewash jeans and a pair of track sneakers.
The Shirt
What’s a Ralph shirt without the pony? Well, it’s not a Ralph. The classic Ralph Lauren shirt has been a wardrobe staple since the introduction of the rider motif in 1971. Worn by everyone from Kanye West to Prince William, the Polo Ralph Lauren Oxford Shirt continues to be a timeless icon beloved by all.
The Polo
Serving hip hop with a side of Ivy league, the classic Pony Polo Shirt has had a rework as part of the Polo Sport collection. Not officially but coincidentally using the colours of Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale, this colour block polo makes us feel instantly successful whilst we wear listening to our 1994 Illimatic album.
The Trousers
Smartening up is one thing, but RL also has all our casualwear needs covered. Embrace streetwear style with a RL twist with these tapered grey jogging bottoms, great for relaxing at home on the couch or styling up for a full Polo Sport look. Your off-duty outfit never looked so good.
The T-Shirt
We can’t get enough of the Polo Bear, who features on the front of this classic white T-shirt. With many archival pieces being added to the mix this season, we’re snapping up these newly reworked heritage pieces. After all, we don’t want to wait another twenty years to get our paws on them.
The Shorts
Using a colourful print inspired by vintage athletics posters, these Polo Ralph Lauren shorts are another archival re-release, bringing back the shorter ‘Prepster’ style short. Reminiscent of the heritage styles collected by the now infamous Lo-Lifers, the track and field print has inspired us to take up running again – once we’ve finished relaxing on the beach of course.
The Hat
Whilst we may not be a member of Delta Kappa, we can channel frat party style with this Polo Ralph Lauren Baseball Cap. Using a patchwork of the US flag, the Polo crest and logo branding, its vintage style has got us reminiscing about our dorm room days (imaginary or otherwise).
The Bag
Smart, stable and durable - another Ralph Lauren classic you can wear over and over again. Pick up one of the backpacks to guard your worldly belongings - or simply to fill with your Ralph Lauren haul. As with most RL items, this retro logo print bag will find fans in students and skaters alike. It even comes with an elasticated crossover front, the ideal spot to slip in your skateboard or your school books.
Words by Alexandra Oliver