My Love Affair with Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren embodies everything exceptional about American fashion. The classic well-tailored styling of items bearing his name symbolize quality and value. Even in the secondary market, his items sell remarkably well. Some items may sell for more than their original retail price as there are also many collectors of RL items. If you purchase a vintage item with the Ralph Lauren name you can be assured it will stand the test of time and will be in your collection for years.

Born Ralph Reuben Lifshitz on October 14, 1939 in The Bronx, New York. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1957. Lauren went to Baruch College at the City University of New York (CUNY) where he studied business.

Ralph grew up playing basketball and baseball. He wanted to be Joe DiMaggio or perhaps a movie star. Lauren often draws inspiration from his heroes including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, and John F. Kennedy.

From 1962 to 1964 he served in the United States Army, afterwards, he worked briefly for Brooks Brothers as a sales assistant before becoming a salesman for a tie company. At 28 years-old, Lauren worked for the tie manufacturer Beau Brummell, where he convinced the company's president to let him start his own line which in 1967 became The Ralph Lauren Corporation. Today the Ralph Lauren Corporation is a global multi billion-dollar enterprise.

10 Facts:

• ·         First lady Melania Trump wore a pale blue dress designed by Lauren for her husband’s Inauguration.

• ·         Ralph Lauren designs have been sported by the USA Olympic team (from 2008 through 2020) and the cast of the TV show Downton Abbey.

• ·         Ralph’s first woman’s collection for Ralph Lauren Polo was launched in 1971 in Beverly Hills, California.

• ·         In 1974 he outfitted Robert Redford’s character in The Great Gatsby.

• ·         Working at Ralph Lauren is a rite of passage for many designers who go on to become successes themselves. Former employees include Vera Wang, Tory Burch, and Michael Bastian.

• ·         Lauren has three restaurants: RL Restaurantin Chicago, Ralph's in Paris and the Polo Bar in New York.

• ·         In 1996 Lauren was presented the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research's first Humanitarian Award by Princess Diana.

• ·         In April of 2001, he establishes the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, which supports causes including cancer care and prevention, educational and literacy programs, volunteerism and preservation and restoration efforts.

• ·         In 1998 Ralph Lauren donated $13 million to the Smithsonian to help preserve the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner.

• Today, his collection of more than 70 cars is perhaps the highest-valued in the world, estimated by Forbes to be worth at least $300 million.

My love affair with Betsey Johnson

Even as a child, I was always into fashion. I loved going through my mother’s closets and putting together outfits. I used to “design” outfits for my Tammy doll. Mother was an excellent seamstress and would stitch them together. Tammy had several “Sally-contour” outfits including an aqua leather jacket and skirt and several monogrammed dresses.

At that time when my father drove a cab on the weekends, to help pay for my private school education, he would stop at the huge newspaper stand in downtown Detroit and pick up a Sunday New York Times. When he would finally make it home from driving all night, I would literally attack him for the fashion section.

I loved looking at the latest in haute couture from Givenchy, Pucci, Lavin, and Chanel. The 1960s seemed to be a turning point in fashion. The shift from couture to ready-to-wear for designers was in full swing. It seemed the “average” woman no longer wanted to be average.

Betsey Johnson began her career in fashion in London by using non traditional materials such as car lining and shower curtain fabrics. Her designs were soon sought after by the likes of Twiggy, Julie Christie and Brigitte Bardot.

In 1971, at age 28, she won the Coty award for her influence on American fashion. In the early 1970’s she founded Alley Cat line and her ready-to-wear became very hot items. In 2003 Betsey branched out and began her accessories lines. Her bags and jewelry are well sought after. Her bubbly style, childlike enthusiasm and end-of-show cartwheels  have  influenced countless young designers and continues to do so.

I first saw Betsey Johnsons’ work in Seventeen magazine in the early 1970’s. It was a full  (and I do mean FULL) color article featuring her “Alley Cat” clothing line. It included pictures and a bio. It also had some of her “doodles”. I read it, I drooled over it, I slept with it under my pillow. Her work was everything I had been searching for!

Soon after, I discovered that Butterick had produced Betsey Johnson Alley Cat sewing patterns. My mother and I headed to the fabric store to purchase one (or 2, I think) and select the perfect fabric. That particular trip took 3 hours. Pairing just the right fabric (without breaking our budget) was time consuming. I found a bright apple green knit for the skirt and an apple print for the top. The suit fabric was to be a floral knit with a bone background and tiny flowers in muted pastel colors. The halter top was in a sea blue nylon.

I was so excited about the impending outfits I could hardly sleep--for days!

With my very first paycheck from my full-time job at Hudson’s in 1972,  I purchased an Alley Cat top and skirt that was on markdown. My mom wasn’t even mad. As a matter of fact, she loved it. My dad thought it was “too damn short!”

As soon as I could grow my hair long enough, I wore it braided up like hers with clips and barrettes.

Betsy Johnson’s vintage designs are still much loved. Her looks remain whimsical, fun, and current. A nice variety of vintage Betsy Johnson Alley Cat items can be found online at Etsy and Ebay.

Links:
Betsey Johnson’s Official site: http://www.betseyjohnson.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=4399316

Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/?ref=si_home

The Rest of the Story...

In 1967 my parents decided to remodel the basement. In a dark corner was a cedar closet. My mother who was known for being a "snappy dresser" had carefully packed away her clothes from the 1940’s through the early 1960’s. One rainy day in August, she sent me down to pick out what I wanted before she gave the rest away to Goodwill.

It should be noted that at this time I attended Catholic School and was forced to wear the obligatory "plaid uniform from hell." So naturally, anytime I could get a break--it was more than welcome.

When I did not return for 3 hours, Mother came to see what was going on. I had tried every item on for fit.  I was completely overtaken by these wonderful items! There were broomstick skirts, embellished cardigans, Capri pants, and peasant blouses! Not to mention the boxes full of costume jewelry. I was in HEAVEN! I'm quite certain there was not one item sent to the Goodwill from that lot.

Needless to say, I was hooked. I have spent my spare time since, scouring the countryside for vintage items. 

Please check out my Etsy Shops:

Cedar Closet http://www.etsy.com/shop/CedarCloset?ref=si_shop

Cedar Tree Vintage http://www.etsy.com/shop/Oldefashionedgirl?ref=si_shop