Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lifshitz in 1939 in the Bronx. When he was a teenager, he changed his name from Lifschitz to Lauren after experiencing bullying in school. Now one of the most recognized fashion designers in the world, Lauren’s career in fashion began when he worked as a sales assistant at Brooks Brothers. In 1967, he launched The Ralph Lauren Corporation with men’s ties.
By 1968, Lauren launched his first line of menswear, which he titled “Polo.” By 1969, he made history when Bloomingdale’s gave him his own in-store boutique, marking the first time they ever did that with any designer. By the ‘70s, Lauren was selling tailored shirts for women and launched his first full women’s collections.
In the decades following, Lauren built his brand into a multi-billion dollar empire. Here, WWD takes a closer look at the acclaimed American designer through the years.
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Ralph Lauren, 1970
American fashion designer Ralph Lauren circa 1970 in New York.
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Ralph Lauren, 1973
American fashion designer Ralph Lauren wearing a herringbone blazer and houndstooth necktie in 1973.
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Ralph Lauren, 1976
Ricky Loew-Beer and Ralph Lauren in 1976.
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Ralph Lauren, 1977
American fashion designer Ralph Lauren (right) looks at drawings with an unidentified woman in his 7th Avenue office in November 1977.
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Ralph Lauren, 1977
American fashion designer Ralph Lauren (right) and his wife, therapist Ricky, read a newspaper beside the fireplace in their home in East Hampton, New York, in November 1977.
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Ralph Lauren 1980
Ralph Lauren preps a model in his showroom for a photo shoot during the roll out of the fashion designers 1980 fall collection in New York City in March 1980.
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Ralph Lauren, 1984
Ralph and Ricky Lauren during 1984.
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Ralph Lauren, 1985
Ralph Lauren attends Fourth Annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards on Jan. 13, 1985, at the New York Public Library in New York City.
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Ralph lauren, 1986
Ricky Lauren and Ralph Lauren at the Gala reopneing of Carnegie Hall and dinner at Petrossian.
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Ralph Lauren, 1987
Ricky Lauren and Ralph Lauren during 1987 Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 1988
Ralph Lauren and Ricky Lauren at Michael Dukakis’ party in 1988.
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Ralph Lauren, 1989
Ralph Lauren wearing a plaid sweater vest in 1989.
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Ralph Lauren, 1989
Ralph Lauren in his office in 1989.
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Ralph Lauren, 1989
Ricky Lauren and Ralph Lauren during Valentines Day Art Show on Feb. 14, 1989, at 7th Regiment Armory in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 1990
Ralph Lauren and Ricky Lauren during the opening night gala for the 100th Season of Carnegie Hall on Sept. 26, 1990, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 1991
Ralph Lauren takes Women’s Wear Daily behind the scenes at his studio in 1991.
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Ralph Lauren, 1992
Ricky Low-Beer and Ralph Lauren at the 1992 CFDA Awards dinner.
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Ralph Lauren, 1993
Ralph Lauren on site of his first Polo Sport store in 1993.
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Ralph Lauren, 1995
Ralph Lauren at the “Batman Forever” premiere in 1995.
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Ralph Lauren, 1997
Ralph Lauren and Ricky Low-Beer during 16th Annual CFDA Awards Gala at New York State Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2001
Ralph Lauren and Ricky Lauren during Opening of the Sackler Center of Arts Education at Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 2001.
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Ralph Lauren, 2003
Ralph Lauren showing his women’s spring 2003 Collection in September 2002.
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Ralph Lauren, 2002
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren and his wife attend the GQ Men of the Year Awards at Manhattan Center on Oct. 16, 2002, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2002
Designer Ralph Lauren attends the premiere of “Roger Dodger” on Oct. 21, 2002 in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2003
Designer Ralph Lauren and his wife Ricky attend a benefit for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) produced in association with Concerned Parents for AIDS Research (CPFA) on Feb. 3, 2003, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2004
Ralph Lauren during 2004 CFDA Fashion Awards at New York Public Library in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2005
Designer Ralph Lauren attends the 2005 CFDA Awards at the New York Public Library on June 6, 2005.
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Ralph Lauren, 2007
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren attends the “Bee Movie” premiere at AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Oct. 25, 2007, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2007
Designer Ralph Lauren and wife Ricky Lauren arrive at the 2007 7th on Sale Black-tie Gala Dinner at the 69th Regiment Armory on Nov. 15, 2007, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2008
Ralph Lauren takes a bow at Ralph Lauren spring 2009 at Skylight Studio on Sept. 12, 2008, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2010
Designer Ralph Lauren and Ricky Lauren attend the Costume Institute Gala Benefit to celebrate the opening of the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2012
Ralph Lauren at his spring 2013 runway show in September 2012.
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Ralph Lauren, 2013
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren on the runway after his fall 2013 show at St. John’s Center.
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Ralph Lauren, 2013
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren on the runway after his resort 2014 show in 2013.
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Ralph Lauren, 2015
Designer Ralph Lauren walks the runway at the Ralph Lauren fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week fall 2015 at Skylight Clarkson Square on Feb. 19, 2015, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2015
Ralph Lauren attends the WWD Relaunch Party at The NoMad Hotel on April 28, 2015, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2017
Designer Ralph Lauren walks the runway for the Ralph Lauren collection during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 15, 2017, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2017
Former editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar Glenda Bailey (l) and designer Ralph Lauren arrive for the Harper’s Bazaar and Tiffany & Co. celebration of 150 years of women, fashion and New York at The Rainbow Room on April 19, 2017, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2019
Ralph Lauren and Ricky Lauren attend HBO’s “Very Ralph” World Premiere at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on October 23, 2019, in New York City.
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Ralph Lauren, 2023
Ralph Lauren and his wife Ricky Lauren arrive at the White House on June 22, in Washington, D.C.