RALPH LAUREN REFERENCES ST. TROPEZ FOR SPRING ’19 PURPLE LABEL
With his latest Purple Label collection, Ralph Lauren showcases a new vision of nautical-inspired style, mixing traditional seafaring tropes with cutting-edge technical fabrications and techniques—capturing both the modernity and timelessness of the finest suiting and sportswear.
The centerpiece of the collection references coastal destinations like Cap D’Antibes and St. Tropez—long a Ralph Lauren inspiration—now reimagined in a striking palette of black, white, and gold. The group’s nautical details, such as anchor belts and buttoned-shoulder sweaters, are contrasted with sporty, streetwear-inspired colorblocking and graphic logos in a new twist on a classic Ralph Lauren theme. A series of novelty pieces prominently feature yachting and sailing motifs, each crafted with lightweight fabrics and innovative methods—from digital printing to sophisticated lamination and ultrasonic seaming—as well as RLX performance technology. Accessories mirror the same graphics and logos as apparel, culminating in a full range of the modern Purple Label look.
This season marks the introduction of The Ralph Suit, a silhouette directly inspired by Mr. Lauren’s personal preferences in tailoring: strong, broad shoulders and a wide lapel balanced by a contoured waist and shorter length. The lower stance of the buttons is a signature of Mr. Lauren’s own double-breasted suits, which he wears fastened at the bottom button. The formalwear and tailored clothing collections again draw on minimalist black and white to reimagine Art Deco, automotive, and athletic motifs to maximalist effect—including a graphic deco dinner jacket cut from Italian necktie silk and a knit double-breasted jacket printed with tonal graphics. Trousers likewise bear the hallmarks of classic Purple Label tailoring, with double-pleated fronts, ticket pockets, and extension waistbands passed through the belt loop—the perfect “Ralph” pant. Each piece in the collection is crafted from premium, lightweight fabrics developed exclusively for Ralph Lauren Purple Label by the finest weavers in Italy and the UK.
A sportswear capsule in primary hues continues this season’s nautical inspiration with bold sailing motifs and relaxed, athletic silhouettes. Cashmere and intarsia sweaters with soccer and tennis graphics mix with RLX outerwear and refined navy-based suiting, creating the ideal balance of classic refinement and statement-making elegance. The Purple Label spring 2019 collection demonstrates how the most luxurious materials and elevated craftsmanship come together in a timeless expression of men’s sportswear and suiting, all with the distinctive signatures of Ralph Lauren style.
