THE JOURNAL
The intricacies of American style have become synonymous with the legendary designer, Ralph Lauren. The depiction of such a varied sartorial landscape posed no challenge when he crafted his very first western-themed collection in 1978. In fact, it’s been the driving force of his eponymous brand ever since. “I discovered this heritage of a timeless America, uncontrived, free-form and free-spirited, natural and from the earth, and it touched me and became the living part of all that I design,” he famously said.
The Ralph Lauren Polo Country capsule, inspired by the brand’s 1980s lines and now available to shop exclusively at MR PORTER, is an integral part of that aspirational vision. It’s also one that helps shape the very idea of what American style looks like today. Lauren says its vintage-influenced, ranch-ready staples are made to be worn – and to last. Indeed, few things could possibly stand the test of time better than pieces that are built on traditions of the American West, designed to be practical and durable on the range, and just as stylish in the clubhouse.
“I discovered this heritage of a timeless America and it touched me”
There’s the endlessly versatile, water-repellent safari jacket and chunky peacoat crafted in sturdy wool buffalo plaid and reinforced with leather trims. Western shirts and trucker jackets – made from chambray, denim and suede – hand-painted with a signature graphic worthy of a Ralph Lauren collector.
Elsewhere, there are heavy-duty layers, including patchworked and workwear-inspired jeans, generous corduroy chinos and carpenter-like pants in heavy-wash canvas. Pieces that don’t move away too much from their purpose-built, humble beginnings, but still serve up the kind of casual sophistication that the brand has become known for.
“A couple of pieces take design cues from Lauren’s very own wardrobe”
Style and substance meet in a three-gauge wool patchwork knit, decorated with nostalgic references of the great outdoors that inspired the capsule, and in a couple of pieces that take design cues from Lauren’s very own wardrobe – an A-2 flight bomber, made from cow leather that’s been treated to recreate a vintage, worn-in effect, and a denim trucker with a washed corduroy collar that forms the perfect top half of a Texan tuxedo.
Any Ralph Lauren enthusiast knows that no Polo collection would be complete without accessories, which is why the Country capsule comes with three hats. Classic baseball styles and a vintage hunting cap rely on the same hard-wearing fabrics as the rest of the capsule and are branded with the coveted Polo Country Authentic Dry Goods label – timeless pieces with a modern feel, which just about sums up the Ralph Lauren Polo Country capsule.