THE JOURNAL
Novelties come and go at this time of year, but it’s the timeless traditions that we keep coming back to. It’s there in the romance of twinkling city lights. The scent of fresh pine and mulled wine. That clink of glasses at the first social gathering of the season.
The holidays offer much to celebrate, from downing tools to gifting ourselves quality time with family, friends and our colleagues. And custom dictates that we give these gatherings as sense of occasion with a little bit of dressing up. The snag? It’s a tricky business, given the sheer number and variety of dates in December’s diary.
Which is why we advise turning to a master for this sort of thing. Particularly one with as great an affection for tradition as Ralph Lauren. His work, spanning over 50 years, bottles the good times in an effortlessly wearable, contemporary fashion. Established in 1995, Ralph Lauren Purple Label is a case in point, with its thoroughly modern celebration of Savile-Row inspired tailoring.
The holiday season is time to cut loose like that. An opportunity for a little razzle dazzle in your wardrobe, like the luxe frog closure in lieu of buttoning on velvet jacket. And if you spend the rest of the year in a strict sartorial colour scheme, ’tis the season to indulge in a much richer palette. A Ralph Lauren Purple Label tuxedo, this time in deep maroon, is a joyful way to do eveningwear, while its full velvet construction is a true declaration of let-your-hair-down decadence.
“Show you’re the kind of person who is incredibly relaxed about a little showboating in the style stakes”
The gift of it all? How the brand adds a contemporary feel to the classic tux. Here, impeccable Italian tailoring is given a lighter construction and soft shoulders, all quietly showing you’re the kind of person who is incredibly relaxed about a little bit of showboating in the style stakes. It’s as transporting as the holiday season itself; as the wildly romantic scene around Lauren’s home in Bedford, New York State, which inspire the colour palette of the AW24 collection.
It’s perhaps there that Lauren draws inspiration for the cosier side of his holiday style. This belted cardigan, from the Purple Label’s Black Watch Evening collection, is completely at home in the Ralph Lauren universe. The Jacquard knit and Nordic inspired motif feel steeped in lore, yet utterly of the moment. Pair it with wool and cashmere tuxedo trousers for fireside chats that go on into the wee small hours.
And if it’s a conversation starter you’ve after, may we suggest you give yourself the gift of a Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater? The rollneck cashmere sweater is sufficiently seasonal, but the iconic polo bear patch on the sweater, cut from Purple Label fabrics, adds a magical touch. And like everything else Ralph Lauren, it’s destined to be a classic for many holiday seasons to come.