From Publishers Weekly
The name "Ralph Lauren" instantly conjures dashing men and refined women dressed in preppy clothing, riding horses or playing croquet. McDowell, a fashion writer for London's Sunday Times, tells the fashion giant's life story with dozens of photographs, many from the Laurens and others from Lauren's company's archive. The book covers Lauren's Bronx childhood (he was born Ralph Lifshitz and changed his name in his teens) and the path to his fashion empire, which now brings in $2 billion a year. Throughout, McDowell emphasizes the spirit of Lauren's clothing, which, he says, stands for "much of what Americans and the rest of the world consider important aspects of his country's culture and life." The text is fawning (McDowell regards Lauren as possessing a "protean genius") and comprehensive (e.g., he explains the logistics of one of Lauren's fashion shoots, on a private ranch in Hawaii, which used lion cubs and a zebra as props). The photographs of Lauren all fit the mold of the all-American hero: in one shot he's wearing a cowboy hat, riding in a jeep with his family; in another, he and his wife, Ricky, wade in the ocean, arms around each other; in yet another, the khaki-clad designer thoughtfully examines a piece of clothing alongside his colleagues. . They're all oozing with preppiness and Americana, making this a fine tribute to the man who made it cool for guys to wear pink. (Feb.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
A comprehensive look at one of the most influential fashion designers today, Ralph Lauren tells the story of the man behind the fashion empire, from Ralph Lauren's beginnings as a tie salesman to the opening of his first store to his current status as America's premier fashion and lifestyle designer. Unique in scope, this book takes a comprehensive and fresh approach to examining one of the world's greatest style-makers. Colin McDowell has been given unprecedented access to the behind-the-scenes world of Ralph Lauren-his creative inspirations, his personal style, his tireless effort to putting together a fashion line-all with the full cooperation of the designer, his family, friends, and colleagues. Ralph Lauren is a must-have for fashion historians, fans of Ralph Lauren style, and fashionistas everywhere.
