Designer Ralph Lauren walks the runway at the Ralph Lauren Fall 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 at Skylight Studios on February 8, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images North America)

RALPH LAUREN
Born:
October 14, 1939 in The Bronx, New York City
Labels:
Polo/Ralph Lauren for Men, Ralph Lauren for Women, Double RL, Ralph Lauren Home, Ralph Lauren Paint
Fans:
Dustin Hoffman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Debra Messing, Blake Lively
Beginnings.
Ralph Lauren (born Ralph Rueben Lifshitz) saved the money that he earned working after school growing up to buy expensive suits, and by the time he was 12, he was the best dressed boy in his class. He went to college but never studied fashion, and actually served time in the army. His fashion empire spawned from his job with the tie-making company A. Rivetz & Co., where he designed wide ties that allowed him to launch his company Polo Fashions in 1968.

Career Highs.
In 1970, Lauren won the City Award for his menswear, and two years later, he introduced his now-classic short sleeved collared shirt with the Polo logo. He provided the wardrobe for the famous film The Great Gatsby, and by the 1980s, Polo was considered the "power suit," competing with the high-end brand Armani for the coveted title. From there, Lauren branched out into men's shirts, women's clothing and a home collection line. The estimated worth of his company in 2007 was $4.3 billion.
I don't think women should look like costumes. I don't think they should look like fashion victims. I think these [clothes] are for women that want to look sexy. They want to look smart.
                                                                          - Ralph Lauren Models pose in Ralph Lauren's preppy designs.
Career Lows. 
When he first started out, Lauren was criticized for his lack of formal training in fashion, and some people said that he was stealing other people's styles for his designs. In addition, business was never his strong suit. He sold Norman Hilton half of his company in 1968 for just $50,000. He was able to buy it back four years later, but the price was steep at $633,000.


Legacy. 
Lauren chose "Polo" for his brand name because he favored styles that were elegant and aristocratic. He appropriated the preppy, English aesthetic and made it entirely American by introducing Western touches. And the traditional Polo shirt will never go out of style. Men across the country have adopted a uniform of jeans or khakis and a polo in any color, which works for almost every occasion. And just when it seems to get tired, the shirts are recycled every few years by trendsetters. 

A model on the Ralph Lauren Spring 2009 runway.
Get the Look.
Ralph Lauren isn't necessarily about spending a fortune on your clothing. His lines range many price points, but the unifying factor is flawless presentation. The key is to look tastefully dressed, even simply, and to maintain a clean, civilized aura no matter what you're wearing. If it sounds boring, it can be - only when it's done the wrong way. Lauren mixes things up by pairing pieces that seem contradictory, like a ball gown with heavy boots or casual pants with stilettos.
                                                 - Olivia