We ended our warmer months with Team USA rolling out of Maracanã Stadium fully embracing their 46 gold count and 121 medal count at the 2016 Olympics. They were in full red, white and blue truly embodying the classic American prep of Ralph Lauren.
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Ralph Lauren remains as one of America's top multi-billion dollar labels. They are the king of prep, they carry USA's national identity through parallelisms of "country clubs, the Ivy League, and even nostalgia for the Old West" (BoF).
The company was started by Ralph Lauren himself, with a vision and focus for men's ties, which he first made from rags and sold in a drawer outside of the Empire State Building. The company then moved to a boutique store in Manhattan's Bloomingdale's. From then on, he designed a line of women's suits that were tailored in a classic men's style, which was the first use of the Polo emblem.
When the company entered the European market, they truly went international and were officially established in 1967. Now, they are publicly traded with more than 23,000 employees (2013) worldwide and revenues at 7.4 billion (2016).
They are a global leader in their design, marketing, and distribution of many lines of premium lifestyle products of apparel, home, accessories, and fragrances. They carry many very separate brands in regards to premium/discount, variety, and style, such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Purple Label, Lauren Ralph Lauren, RLX, Polo Sport, RRl, Denim & Supply, Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, Baby Ralph Lauren, R L Home, Ralph Lauren Paints
Some of their Subsidiary fashion brands of Ralph Lauren Corporation include Club Monaco, Chaps, and American Living
Polo Ralph Lauren remains as their Corporation's Flagship Brand
According to a study conducted in January 2016 by Millward Brown, their men’s luxury is perceived as number one in power by the consumer and number three in premium, women’s luxury is number one in power and number seven in premium, right behind Louis Vuitton.
In Recent Years
Ralph Lauren as a company has not been doing so hot the last few years. Shares dropped by 44 percent and sales fell two percent at this time in 2015. Investors saw that Ralph Lauren was in need of "a serious face lift" by Chen Grazutis, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. Especially since the rise of fast fashion like Zara, H&M and Forever 21, a competitive market has been created.
Then Larsson takes the stage.
2015 was the first time in Ralph Lauren's 48-year fashion empire that the company had new leadership. Ralph stepped down from CEO and Stefan Larsson inherited the brand and all of its rich history. Stefan Larsson was previously Global President of Gap Inc. and possesses a 15-year success at Swedish retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M). He was responsible for the $15 billion dollar revenue growth as well as operation expansion from 12 to 44 countries. Larsson's specialty is in retail, which differs from RL's, which is design. Though we're not thinking Ralph Lauren will turn into a fast fashion business, Larsson's incoming is the antibiotic to help Ralph Lauren get over their prolonged cold.
Optimism is high for Ralph Lauren to revive earnings growth after two years of rough business. They are ridding excess inventory at department stores, ridding 1,000 jobs, reducing reliance on discounts, and grinning new executives all part of Larsson's "Way Forward" Plan. They are looking to save $100 million annually and boost profit margins.
"Ralph Lauren really is a label that transports feelings of the past to the present day. By nature, since it's constantly diving into nostalgia" (BoF) as we all hope that the timeless and classic Ralph Lauren remains the same.
Some of Ralph Lauren's iconic looks
Diane Keaton wears Ralph Lauren in Woody Allen's ‘Annie Hall’
Robert Redford in ‘The Great Gatsby’
Womens suiting
Ralph Lauren crest loafer
Kanye West wears a Polo Bear sweater.
A Look Into Ralph Lauren's New "Iconic Style" Collection Of Timeless Pieces
Ten iconic pieces worn by 10 iconic women. Photographed by Steven Meisel in New York.
The Officer's Jacket, worn by Jacquetta Wheeler.
The British Warmer, worn by Vittoria Ceretti.
The Army Field Jacket worn by Stella Tennant.
The RL Safari Jacket, worn by Margaret Qualley.
The RL Blazer, worn by Lady Jean Campbell.
The Peacoat, worn by FeiFei Sun.
The Tuxedo, worn by Frederikke Sofie.
The Fireman's Coat, worn by Alicia Burke. 
The Sailor Pant, worn by Cameron Russell.
“WHAT I BELIEVE IN IS THE TIMELESSNESS OF AN ATTITUDE,THE TIMELESSNESS OF STYLE.”
—RALPH LAUREN
