We visited Ralph Lauren's soon-to-close flagship Polo store and saw why the brand is struggling

[Dzali OG]

I wish they would have made a trimmer fit. Like I said, that's why J Crew got some of the prep crowd and those that wanted an "intro to adult fashion".

You like yo shyt tight huh...I see ya...

Man Polo ain't going nowhere, unless you're in the teen club and they don't fukk wit it, I don't know.

But where I'm at, Ralph shirt with the Chino kakis and you're all day.

 

[Dzali OG]

Who the fukk still wear polos shirts




I'm talking about actual polo shirts, not just RL

If I may be so bold to ask, if you aren't wearing polos what are you wearing?

 

[Ghpstface]

RRL had some nice pieces, but the creativity is not there. Their high priced coats pretty much jack Moncler designs along with jacking Barbour jackets designs. They need some new blood on the design side.

They've always been copycats though...In the beginning it was Brooks Brothers, LL Bean and Lacoste

 

[Momentum]

Polo is still quality. Just a few adjustments, some minimalism and a direct marketing campaign targeted towards urban millenials would get them back going.

 

[The G.O.D II]

When I think polo I think tjmaxx and marshals

No you are thinking of that USPA and other off brand shyt. RL is not in those type of stores. People still confused on this shyt

 

[lowkey0z]

No you are thinking of that USPA and other off brand shyt. RL is not in those type of stores. People still confused on this shyt

they're definitely in marshall's..they're probably B-grade clothing tho

 

[The G.O.D II]

RL will never go out of style like ones and other shyt nikkas claimed was dead.

 

[invalid]

RRL had some nice pieces, but the creativity is not there. Their high priced coats pretty much jack Moncler designs along with jacking Barbour jackets designs. They need some new blood on the design side.

I think all brands that appeal to the prep aesthetic are copying from eachother's designs, tbh. That includes VV, LL Bean, Land's End, Orvis, Barbour, J. Crew, KJP etc.. I went looking for a Norwegian crewneck sweater this past winter and I saw some variation of the sweater at almost all of these stores even though LL Bean is the originator.

This thread is actually pretty funny because I didn't know black folks were so into RL.

Let me hip my brehs to some game. RL and brands associated with it do not really have to be "creative." While trying to attract millenials, they are only really trying to attract those who are into the prep aesthetic. What is this? It's a classic, timeless, non-trendy look. So while some of you wonder why some of RL designs are kinda boxy and not really with the "trendy" hip hugging design that is prevelant today, the company wants to ensure that it is designing pieces that would not be out of place in the 1960's, 1990's, 2000's, etc. This means not really being guided by current trends or looks. This means designing clothes that didn't go out of style when bell bottoms went out of style, or baggy fits went out of style, or when skinny jeans go out of style. Or when most of the pieces that one finds at Uniqlo, Zara, or H&M goes out of style. The thing here is, you can date most of the clothing at these places. With prep brands you really can't.

It's funny, someone mentioned that the "prep" look is going out of style. It actually isn't. I've been seeing a huge resurgence of it. Especially if you work in industries such as law or finance. The prep/trad/ivy look is increasingly becoming sort of a currency within these fields. It's low key the look of power.

If it's going out of style with mainstream black folks (if it ever really was in style), that's because we're just trendy by nature or more prone to influence or adopt current fashion trends.

 

[KOOL-AID]

If you wear Ralph the way a grown man is supposed to (not untucked with some big ass jeans on)it's still a good look.nikkas telling on themselves big time

Wearing big ass violet polo with some Tru religions was always a dumbass look ..

this nikkas dnt got no grown men, preppy swag

 

[606onit]

they're still respected outside the US

 

[Keep_It_Hip_Hop_Fam]

Big pony

Custom fit Ralph was my first slim fitting shirt around 2010. But there are other brands that have a more tailored fit. Even some of the shyt coming out of China fits better.

Ralph is still better in quality though.

 

[JLova]

I never got into that big pony knock off looking crap. There's still a market for good quality classic prep gear. If you know how to dress your Ralph can be as current as you want it to be.

 

[UserNameless]

A lot of it is shinier. Go look at the colors in Express vs Banana Republic.
Latinos are more likely to wear shyt like this

I see.them wearing the whole collection. The whole, entire collection.

It's not just the shiny theory. Something else behind it.

@flea

 

[Art Barr]

Still at the end of the day.
Your closet ain't official if it is not lo extensive.

Art Barr

 

[Art Barr]

Thats when polo peaked

Polo got killed as thr brand when late and lame nikkaz in 96.
Tryin to pose all wanted to look hiphop and made their ransack of lo as a brand culturally in hiphop.
After that they never recovered that popularity but I still stayed loyal and replaced my whole wardrobe when it was stolen again with rlx and black label in 09.


You guys are just seeing what happens when the bandwagon face ass nikkaz leave.
You will be happy to see them go.


Art Barr