The Official RRL Thread

[oynag]

Thanks a lot! I saw your photo's initially, that's part of why I got interested in this jacket. Looks great, although by your description I'm pretty sure I should go with an S (I'm only a 5'10 150 lbs skinnyfat build myself). Now only to find one...

Yes, size down. It's an odd fit. I needed a smedium. Good luck!

 

[aquila49]

Hmmm, those shirts Gatsby's throwing around look suspiciously like Purple Label

My God, you're right! I checked the 2013 version and they also looked like Purple. Couldn't find the scene from the 1949 version, so we'll just have to go with F. Scott Fitzgerald's elegant prose:

“I’ve got a man in England who buys me clothes. He sends over a selection of things at the beginning of each season, spring and fall.”

He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel, which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher — shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange, and monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.

“They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such — such beautiful shirts before.”​

This time, words say far more than a picture … or a GIF.

 

[McSp]

I saw several of these at the La Jolla store, but they only have a size Large now. I'd call around and see who has it in stock, they're on sale for ~500 down from ~900 so its a pretty good deal.

Are they selling online too? What is their website? Thanks.

 

[hobbes874]

Are they selling online too? What is their website? Thanks.

Pretty sure he means the Ralph store in La Jolla, I think you can call and get things shipped by the store depending on the rep you talk to.

On another note, some RRL items for sale at MrP: https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/mens/sale/designers/rrl

 

[McSp]

Pretty sure he means the Ralph store in La Jolla, I think you can call and get things shipped by the store depending on the rep you talk to.

On another note, some RRL items for sale at MrP: https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/mens/sale/designers/rrl

Thanks for the tip!

 

[BaronFizzwell]

My God, you're right! I checked the 2013 version and they also looked like Purple. Couldn't find the scene from the 1949 version, so we'll just have to go with F. Scott Fitzgerald's elegant prose:

“I’ve got a man in England who buys me clothes. He sends over a selection of things at the beginning of each season, spring and fall.”

He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel, which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher — shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange, and monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.

“They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such — such beautiful shirts before.”​

This time, words say far more than a picture … or a GIF.

Hah! I'd never read that before, it doesn't paint a very pleasing picture for Purple Label. It's quite funny how each of the Lauren men seem to represent each of the labels. David is Purple Lable, Andrew is Polo, but it's probably safe to say people on this thread probably prefer Ralph's.

 

[pvoytko]

http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/...5/RRL&s=A-UnitRank&fg=Brand&parentPage=family

whats the fit on this like
should i size up?

 

[Bethany Heck]

http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=119029326&cp=2943767.53333306&fd=RRL&ab=en_US_SLP_Sale_SLOT_1_MEN&ff=Brand&fv=1000055/RRL&s=A-UnitRank&fg=Brand&parentPage=family

whats the fit on this like
should i size up?

It's slimmer than any other varsity I own, and the arms are cut very slim as well. It's smaller than most other RRL XS jackets I own (which means it actually fits me instead of being slightly big). You might ought to size up.

 

[Cooly]

In other news, (or perhaps it's already been talked about on this forum), a Proctor and Gamble president will be taking the helm of Ralph Lauren at the end of the month: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinna...-p-g-president-will.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo

Is it time for another round of the "The End of RRL" conspiracy theory jitters? more excuse for me to buy more this next season?

 

[aquila49]

In other news, (or perhaps it's already been talked about on this forum), a Proctor and Gamble president will be taking the helm of Ralph Lauren at the end of the month: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinna...-p-g-president-will.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo

Is it time for another round of the "The End of RRL" conspiracy theory jitters? more excuse for me to buy more this next season?

Does anyone else think this is a really stupid idea? The guy who's in charge of the Pantene and Head & Shoulders lines of SHAMPOO is going to turn Ralph Lauren around?

What kind of drugs are these people on?

This reminds me of the time Apple's Board of Directors hired Gil Amelio, the CEO of National Semiconductor to run Apple. Of course, someone who was successful selling a commodity—computer chips—was the obvious choice to run a diverse personal computer company. Amelio was more executioner than executive. By the time he was shown the door, Apple was close to flatlining. And the vultures were circling, waiting for the stock to fall to a bargain-basement price.

But Amelio did make one good move, even if it was purely accidental. He bought NeXT for $425 million, a deal that returned Steve Jobs to power and reversed Apple's fortunes.

Unfortunately for Ralph Lauren, the odds don't favor a last-minute rescue by an apparel-industry version of Steve Jobs.

 

[Ghost01]

Does anyone else think this is a really stupid idea? The guy who's in charge of the Pantene and Head & Shoulders lines of SHAMPOO is going to turn Ralph Lauren around?

What kind of drugs are these people on?

This reminds me of the time Apple's Board of Directors hired Gil Amelio, the CEO of National Semiconductor to run Apple. Of course, someone who was successful selling a commodity—computer chips—was the obvious choice to run a diverse personal computer company. Amelio was more executioner than executive. By the time he was shown the door, Apple was close to flatlining. And the vultures were circling, waiting for the stock to fall to a bargain-basement price.

But Amelio did make one good move, even if it was purely accidental. He bought NeXT for $425 million, a deal that returned Steve Jobs to power and reversed Apple's fortunes.

Unfortunately for Ralph Lauren, the odds don't favor a last-minute rescue by an apparel-industry version of Steve Jobs.

Or you could see it as a shrewd business move - get a proven business leader with strong strategic distribution knowledge of a global company that will concentrate on building the business but allow the creative side (Ralph) freedom to continue what he does best. The biggest growth in RL history was when Ralph was creative and Roger Farah was running the business under radar.

 

[gnatty8]

Or you could see it as a shrewd business move - get a proven business leader with strong strategic distribution knowledge of a global company that will concentrate on building the business but allow the creative side (Ralph) freedom to continue what he does best. The biggest growth in RL history was when Ralph was creative and Roger Farah was running the business under radar.

I agree with you. You don't need subject matter expertise to be an effective executive if you surround yourself with people who do have subject matter expertise. It certainly helps, but by no means is it necessary.

 

[BaronFizzwell]

Does anyone else think this is a really stupid idea? The guy who's in charge of the Pantene and Head & Shoulders lines of SHAMPOO is going to turn Ralph Lauren around?

What kind of drugs are these people on?

This reminds me of the time Apple's Board of Directors hired Gil Amelio, the CEO of National Semiconductor to run Apple. Of course, someone who was successful selling a commodity—computer chips—was the obvious choice to run a diverse personal computer company. Amelio was more executioner than executive. By the time he was shown the door, Apple was close to flatlining. And the vultures were circling, waiting for the stock to fall to a bargain-basement price.

But Amelio did make one good move, even if it was purely accidental. He bought NeXT for $425 million, a deal that returned Steve Jobs to power and reversed Apple's fortunes.

Unfortunately for Ralph Lauren, the odds don't favor a last-minute rescue by an apparel-industry version of Steve Jobs.

Anybody who's seen the non RRL line up on the Website will know the rot has well and truly started to take hold of the aesthetic as well. The company seems to have truly lost its way, design wise. Anyone with kids who was a fan of Rugby (or even of Polo a few years ago) can still dress them like little versions of themselves from 2011, since Lee Norwood still seems to have sway there.

Polo seems to be a weird hybrid of Uniqlo/Gap/Everlane/Black Label that doesn't know what it's trying to do. Purple Label is as bizarre as ever, looking like the costume of choice for anyone wanting to LARP as a real life super villain. RRL seems to be the only thing worth having. People here were worried that RRL might get the axe when the H&M guy took over, now the real concern is the entire company going down the drain and taking RRL with it (not soon, but maybe eventually).

I didn't mention Denim & Supply for similar reasons that Vincent Vega didn't visit Burger King.

 

[Cooly]

Anybody who's seen the non RRL line up on the Website will know the rot has well and truly started to take hold of the aesthetic as well. The company seems to have truly lost its way, design wise. Anyone with kids who was a fan of Rugby (or even of Polo a few years ago) can still dress them like little versions of themselves from 2011, since Lee Norwood still seems to have sway there.

Polo seems to be a weird hybrid of Uniqlo/Gap/Everlane/Black Label that doesn't know what it's trying to do. Purple Label is as bizarre as ever, looking like the costume of choice for anyone wanting to LARP as a real life super villain. RRL seems to be the only thing worth having. People here were worried that RRL might get the axe when the H&M guy took over, now the real concern is the entire company going down the drain and taking RRL with it (not soon, but maybe eventually).

I didn't mention Denim & Supply for similar reasons that Vincent Vega didn't visit Burger King.

Well...I think we are still seeing the effects of the last CEO...have no idea, but from what I can see/surmise, he was trying to squash all the brands into either polo or purple (for mens at least)...including RRL...so that's why you see this weird amalgamation now. My only hope is a P&G guy was brought on board for the know how to build several different brands within one company: Purple, RRL, Polo, Polo Sport...etc. Ralph said publicly the problem he had with the last guy was how he was trying to bring the company to market.

 

[aquila49]

Or you could see it as a shrewd business move - get a proven business leader with strong strategic distribution knowledge of a global company that will concentrate on building the business but allow the creative side (Ralph) freedom to continue what he does best. The biggest growth in RL history was when Ralph was creative and Roger Farah was running the business under radar.

I stand by my impression—right or laughably wrong. Soap isn't denim and polo shirts. You can't refresh this brand with strategic distribution. The market space is too fickle and constantly shifting. I would have preferred some young turk who's grown a clothing brand and understands what motivates consumers. Even then, there's no guarantee of success.

This selection is the typical yo-yo dynamic. (Much like my history with wives.) RL tried to go with someone who was industry-specific, Larson, and that choice fizzled. Now the company is going in the opposite direction—choosing a generalist, someone who's sold a lot of widgets. (Hence, the Amelio example.) Sure, Ralph might retain creative control but is that what will save the brand?

Louvet might cause a bump that will make the stock attractive in the short term, but I can't see him righting this ship for a longer haul.

Corporations are like organisms—they grow, thrive and ultimately die, making way for new individuals and species. It's not a bad thing. But we care because we want our favorite brand to continue year after year so we can continue to stuff our closets with faux military/worker garments that bring us joy.

Who knows? In 20 years we might be printing our clothes at home and market success will depend on cut-and-sew algorithms.

I would love it if Louvet is successful, but I'm not betting on it.