No other brand encapsulates the classic American lifestyle more than Ralph Lauren. I’ve always admired how the high-end label is able to portray blue blood aesthetics without it appearing ostentatiously lofty. It takes a creative mind to achieve such balance. I also love how each collection tells a story, which is evident in these vintage 80s ads.
The motifs are always
Ralph Lauren usually cite stars like Gary Cooper and Cary Grant as his early style inspirations. These Hollywood style icons embodied refined masculinity and had a penchant for changing outfits for every occasion.
Here’s what Cary Grant told GQ about the principles of dressing well:
No, it isn’t only money that determines how well a man dresses—it’s personal taste. Because of the demands of my work, I’ve purchased dozens of suits over the years and they all have one attribute in common: they are in the middle of fashion. By that I mean they’re not self-consciously fashionable or far out, nor are they overly conservative or dated. In other words, the lapels are neither too wide nor too narrow, the trousers neither too tight nor too loose, the coats neither too short nor too long. I’ve worn clothes of extreme style, but only in order to dress appropriately for the type of character I played in particular films. Otherwise, simplicity, to me, has always been the essence of good taste.
I believe men’s clothes—like women’s—should attract attention to the best lines of a man’s figure and distract from the worst. In all cases, the most reliable style is in the middle of the road—a thoughtful sensible position in any human behavior. Except perhaps on the freeway—but, even then, the middle lane, providing of course, it’s on your side of the road, usually gets you where you’re going more easily, comfortably, and less disturbingly. And so it should be with clothes. They should be undisturbing, easy and comfortable.
There’s always an element of androgyny to Ralph Lauren’s designs. It’s definitely why Annie Hall’s tomboy aesthetics has permeated the fashion world since the movie debuted back in 1977.
Ruth Morely (1925-1991), the film’s fashion designer was reportedly not a fan of Annie Hall’s menswear-inspired look.
Morely expressed her disbelief of the fictional character’s universal popularity in a 1978 interview with Vogue. “Now people tell me that all the girls in London and Paris are turned out like Annie Hall,” she said. “It’s crazy; it’s practically become a household word!”
It’s undeniable that Diane Keaton, the actress who portrayed Annie Hall in the film, influenced that classic tomboyish style. Lauren even credited Keaton for the look. “Annie’s style was Diane’s style — very eclectic. Oversized jackets and vests, floppy men’s hats, and cowboy boots,” the designer told Vogue. “We shared a sensibility, but she had a style that was all her own. Annie Hall was pure Diane Keaton.”
(Photos via Cat Party)
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