Polo Ralph Lauren
If this is the first thread on PRL, I'd be very suprised.
One, if not my favorite mainstream brand currently, especially the vintage stuff. I'm curious to hear other opinions on if PRL has remained the same quality throughout the years or if they have/are dipping and are now just worth it if you want the pony logo.
161 Replies
I wear a lot of PRL, all purchased secondhand on eBay
The quality varies but its not like Chaps or denim and supply where they put out absolutely dogshit quality afaik.
Always buy second hand, retail Polo prices are criminal and theres absolutely stacks about.
My biggest complaint with prl is that stupid horse on their shirts
RRL should do the exact same thing but its a cowboy instead of a polo player
Yeah eBay prl is really good usually. I don't understand though why tweed trousers go for 200+ while tweed sports jackets go for 80
i think its just supply and demand? tweed jackets are plentiful, tweed trousers are not
also trousers usually break before jackets do
Yeah, some PRL pieces just seem to be more expensive on eBay, so I presume they are rarer or in demand. For example, I've noticed lately that patchwork madras pants seem to command a high price.
Bought these simple PRL virgin wool made in Italy trousers for 44+shipping today
PRL denim shirts slap almost as hard as RRL denim shirts
Even the new ones
Absolutely, their western shirts in general are great as well
i think vintage chaps is decent terms of quality, just off the stuff i've seen in person
once "chaps by ralph lauren" became chaps, the quality became hit or miss
Where are you finding them in the U.K.
EBay and Vinted seem to be flooded with lots of recent slim fit stuff
I use these mostly, you just have to wade through a lot of mid
I wasn't aware of Chaps by RL being distinct, interesting!
There are definite tiers to some of the RL diffusion lines but the only one I typically avoid is Lauren Ralph Lauren
Yeah, I have some LRL. It's not as nice. It's not terrible tho.
I agree that the old Chaps seems to be better than the newer stuff
I love PRL and I especially love their flagship stores. What an experience. I also find their looks and campaigns to be very cool and inspirational.
Vintage PRL ads and campaigns are simply art
What's not so good about the modern stuff apart from the price? It seems there's all sorts of sizes available
it's mostly the price lol
i do think the quality of the non-ocbd cotton button downs took a hit (your broadclothes, your pima cottons, etc)
also the modern version of the andrews has smaller variety and (at least from looking at product pics), less defined pleats
Are PRL shirt button-down collars long enough to be tucked under a sportcoat?
Yes
What's the general consensus on modern classic fit polo shirts from PRL?
Not counting the price, do they hold up over time?
I went just recently to a PRL store and tried on some new Polos and they're really horrible for the price, could not justify getting one
Interesting I was waiting for someone to respond lol
They feel horrible in terms of fabric and build quality
I'd just go with LL Bean for polos if you want to buy new
I usually get jcrew pique on sale
I don't love how little color options they have
Yeah it's not great, I got a washed green on sale that I like, and I have a stock of navy and white for work
Coyote Sharp
YouTube
Ralph Lauren 101: History and Pre-Owned Buyer's Guide to America's ...
Join me as we explore my favorite clothing brand, Ralph Lauren.
00:00 - Introduction
01:27 - History
06:00 - The Basics of Buying Pre-Owned Ralph Lauren
06:24 - Polo Ralph Lauren
09:54 - Ralph Lauren
11:20 - Polo Sport
12:46 - RLX
14:13 - Purple Label
16:32 - Black Label
17:43 - RRL
19:49 - Polo Country
21:33 - Lauren Ralph Lauren
23:17 - Ralp...
Love this guy
This rocks. I come across a lot of Lauren Ralph Lauren and Ralph Ralph Lauren thrifting. Good to know I can just ignore them now
I’ve found lots of older PRL polos second-hand in great condition. Would recommend
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1260400668129362010
See question linked above. I can get 50% off anything from ralphlauren.com from a family member (so PRL, RRL, RLPL, etc).
What items would you recommend I consider picking up? Budget is $500-1,000 for initial purchases.
I buy most of my clothes off of eBay, so am used to getting really good deals, even on things that originally had a higher MSRP. Got a ~$300 Scott & Charters sweater for $30 last week. Gorgeous and looks basically never worn. Have also bought several excellent condition Brooks Brothers 1818 line suits (>$1,000 MSRP, $700-800 sale price) for ~$75 recently.
It seems like many RL items aren’t a great value even at the 50% off, at least compared to brands with equivalent quality and less price/brand premium. So am planning to be pretty discerning with what I get.
Thanks for the help!
@John V, please wait patiently for a community member to answer your question. These things take time.
Older PRL Polos are really good for sure. I own a few. The new stuff is genuinely awful now, however. You can just tell how the shoulders are stitched to the main body that it's a POS
I have not tried any present-day PRL polos. I can confirm though that button-ups, rugbies, wool sweaters, jackets, chinos and hats are still quality. Prices have gotten a bit inflated though. My warning would be that way too many of the button-ups and jackets have throat latches. They’re not always obvious in the product pics. Sometimes the jacket ones can be buttoned under the collar so they aren’t visible - that I can deal with. But I didn’t think the shirt ones ever do.
My toddler has these sick chambray PRL shorts and I wish I had an adult version.
Love the patch logo on the back
It's the double-knee details and rivets that do it for me. hardcore.
eBay
Polo Ralph Lauren NOS Andrew Classic Reverse Pleat Chino Wrinkle Fr...
These pants feature a solid pattern and are made of high-quality cotton material, ensuring they are comfortable and durable. These pants are perfect for any occasion and can be worn throughout the year, making them a versatile addition to your wardrobe.
NOS of Andrews are always being found from what I see. Not too uncommon. But very uncommon in that size
I dislike being in shape when most of Polo's clientele in the 80s-90s was larger gentlemen
I got this PRL shirt yesterday. £8. The sleeves are slightly short but I don't mind that.
Anyone know how these are? looks a good paraboot michael alternative https://www.ralphlauren.com/men-footwear-shoes/jett-lug-sole-leather-moc-toe-shoe/0077756526.html
i've not been impressed with RL's shoe offerings, and at that price they're in competition with kleman padror which i think is generally considered a better paraboot alternative
My SO got me the 100% wool scarf and beanie (grey one). Plan on getting the gloves aswell.
Never had any complaints about their quality (especially the wool stuff), but the damn' horse on everything makes it hard to go for the "quiet luxury" or "quiet classic"-ish style.
Have been looking at their blazers (mainly the colberts) but buying them new is quite a big chunk of $/€. Anyone who has experience with the blazers 2nd hand ?
imo PRL/RL is overpriced at retail but reasonably priced secondhand
i kinda hate modern PRL tailoring because of how their arm holes are cut but if one fits it's worth checking ebay/vinted for a break in pricing
check the measurements out, check for signs of disrepair and make sure you're not getting a "Lauren Ralph Lauren" (diffusion line) by mistake
What is their older more fitted ocbd line?
I think their old shoe offerings were worth it when they paired up with Crockett and Jones
this is true though i think "old ralph lauren was worth it" applies to everything they make lol
someone i know has separately vouched for those particular shoes as a "cheap paraboot alternative" which if that's your gig then have at it
I don’t have that much vintage RL but I do have a Y2K t-shirt and it holds up well
I’ve also got 2 items from sub brands denim and supply and polo jeans and they’re alright
One of them was this denim blazer from Marrkt
It couldn’t tell whether it was due to age or because it was a diffusion line brand but one of the buttons fell out when I got it.
Probably both.
It was just the buttons though so it got stitched back on.
I don’t mind the other RL brands that I’ve tried, but I wouldn’t get LRL
Old PRL chambray shirts are very nice. Lots of cool designs that feel like a preppy twist on RRL.
it depends on each item from time to time; polo university is panned but honestly i've gotten good deals out of their tailoring
ok :linkThink:
I knew they did tailoring but I didn't know how to access it before :thonk:
Agreed on RL shoes being not very impressive. Would suggest looking for what they have that’s made in England, Italy, or USA, then consult this thread to see who is the likely maker: https://www.styleforum.net/threads/ralph-lauren-lines-and-who-makes-what-a-definitive-guide.94886/
Styleforum
Ralph Lauren lines, and 'who makes what' - a definitive guide
This is meant to be a reference thread, and is based on information trawled from within this forum - so feel free to post your corrections/contributions!
I will continue to update this post with new/corrected information as it comes in.
I lurked on the forums for some time before joining, and...
Agreed on vintage PRL chambray shirts. Just picked up two on eBay that are great! Like $30 each and still really nice. One was a basic chambray, other was a heavier “dungaree shirt”, so more like a light denim.
:gigachad:
T?
:thonk:
Time out. You do not need anything by LRL
Ah
Anyway they didn't have anything else RL :why_dissolve:
Hey! What are your favorite designs from PRL and what do you like about then?
rrl cardigans I will never afford
Ooh
I really like their vintage chambray workshirts. Find they strike a nice balance of workwear and prep
i like the 'big shirt' of the 90s (yarmoth is more widely available but similar)
for me specifically the exaggerated size pairs well with big and/or high waisted pants as a play on trad menswear ie https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1264993977812389949
How are you achieving the pant look, mega size up and belt?
yes; i usually wear a 33 or 34 but those are 38s and it really emphasizes the pleating
those are PRL andrew chinos and would be another answer to the question lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8q8oZsBUFk
@Sam Might come in handy
Coyote Sharp
YouTube
Spotting Fake/Counterfeit Ralph Lauren: A Beginners Guide
00:00 - Introduction
02:03 - Marketplace Risk Assessment
03:46 - Tag Training
09:03 - Polo Pony Inspection
11:35 - Fake Listing Breakdown
20:34 - QR codes and Their Limitations
23:08 - Fake/Real Pieces From My Closet
Thanks! I've been able to spot a few, more obvious fakes (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1298232300730978305/1300000168908947456) but at least 1 was borderline.
In case I decide to one day try & get an iconic American flag Ralph Lauren sweater
Hell yeah Coyote Sharp :linkYeah:
I'd say this is the best design I've got from PRL
Most of the other PRL stuff I've got is quite minimal, usually just the polo pony. But this one really was a precursor to the way my wardrobe was going.
particually the kinda western part.
Something else that I like from PRL is this retro graphic t-shirt.
I know it mainly consists of a larger pony logo, lol, and the more detailed one at that
But it's styled in a way that makes it look cool and gives it some flare.
Tracking down the year this came out though has proven difficult, lol
The listing said it was y2k, and I tried looking through the old polo.com the good ol' Wayback Machine but nothing so far.
If it is y2k then it still holds up well
it's 100% cotton and it's soft, dare i say it feels a little silky
i did his tag test and i got 18/21 right
85%
damn, impressive
:linkBow:
Would it be correct to say that wearing something like the american flag sweater would not be appropriate right now?
I don't have that but I do have a jacket with the US flag (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1295682986662035476) that I've not worn since the US election
i cannot speak to the cultural conotation the american flag would have in england; if you wear it right now be aware you might be subject to unfounded judgments or treatment
if you know that won't happen where you are or if you like the jacket so much that it outweighs that negative then wear it
Yeah, it's something I'm not sure about
i'm watching this video more and i can already tell
Polo Jeans Co and the normal navy/white Polo tag co-existing is a red flag to me
Ill be honest at any point wearing big american flags in the UK is weird.
Wearing big UK flags of course even worse.
Yeah
The worst that would happen is somebody thinking you're American honestly
Eh
Not the worst thing that could happen
In general
What about a big England flag?
i expect when the British Ralph Lauren is setup it'll sell that :xd:
CAM ON INGERLAND SCORE SOME FACKIN GOALS
(If you ever see someone wearing an england flag please understand they are a danger)
This was basically the person in my mind.
Imo the most overpriced thing in RLs inventory
I want one as well but it's insane that they charge $400 for a 100% cotton sweater
Yeah
It's like an icon upcharge
More money for an iconic piece :xd:
It 100% is. I love Polo but buying new from them puts a hole through your wallet
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Defining modern luxury with romantic elegance and timeless style since 1967.
But yeah, buying Polo retail new is pretty expensive, I've only bought something from their website once.
At least the packaging is nice
RIP Polo Sweater :linkSalute:
It shrunk in the wash
In other words, don't let family members wash precious wool sweaters for you :derp:
it did get replaced eventually, they got it from the RL outlet, i've not worn it that much
It feels a little rougher than the previous one
:linkThonk:
First ones tricker to authenticate, it looks kinda bold
:xd: where's the polo stick end
Heh. I've had these for a couple of weeks. I've worn them out once lol
Thought I'd share some of the sweaters I've recently brought out of storage for the winter
I will say, older Polo sweaters have weird proportions. They are always huge imo compared to many other contemporary brands
:linkOMG:
I like the look of that sweater
Lol I got that exact same black and white one from a thrift store… about $10 and it felt real enough for me
this thread inspired me to look up PRL chambray shirts on ebay and boy do I wish they had a better way of describing the design than "flesh pony"
Is that related to the multicolor pony they put on almost all of their dress shirts?
I think it’s how they differentiate the pony just being all one color versus it having different colors for the pony and the jockey
It’s just a funny/kind of upsetting phrase to me
Blame that on eBay sellers, Ralph has never used the term flesh pony
Do buyers actually care about the color of the pony? I don't.
I sometimes do
I went to TK Maxx today and I found a LRL denim jacker :why_dissolve:
£200
:Thonk:
Is LRL more common in the US TJ Maxx?
Because there's a fair bit of PRL in the UK TK Maxx, but then I know LRL is made for places like TJ
LRL is bad
The worst diffusion line
Yeah
I was looking at jumpers and I found this fake :pensibe:
It's pretty obvious to me from the polo tag on the jumper that it's a fake but I can see how 27 other people would not see that and put it in their carts
It's a small detail but it does help weed out the fakes
I would never trust NWT PRL for the most part
NWT?
New with tags
Ah
Reddit
From the RalphLauren community on Reddit: Few of my vintage denim &...
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i know Coyote Sharp mentioned D&S's t-shirts as being cool, so i looked on eBay and :linkUhh:
not that one
i, as someone that is not an indigenous american in 2024, would not wear a shirt featuring an indigineous person when it's unclear whether or not it honors/supports/affirms that group of people
more here https://nativeappropriations.com/2010/09/daily-encounters-and-activist-fatigue-the-girl-with-the-headdress-shirt.html and more questionable discourse here https://www.reddit.com/r/KansasCityChiefs/comments/y3cfq7/my_dad_gave_me_this_shirt_debating_if_i_should/
Adrienne K.
Native Appropriations
Daily Encounters and Activist Fatigue: The Girl with the Headdress ...
Yesterday morning I walked into my 7:15 am
Reddit
From the KansasCityChiefs community on Reddit: My dad gave me this ...
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Ralph has appropriated a lot of native american imagery over the years.
:hell:
I was aware of it before but I'd not known of any pieces from his that was noticeably appropriating.
part of it might be cultural
there's a greater population of indigenous americans in the us vs other countries so stuff like headdresses or aztec prints (for example) may not be as obvious to you
enjoying RRL (and certain vintage polo or 'ralph lauren') imo means having to recognize and address this as it's a part of his design language
on a completely unrelated note, i have a yarmouth but part of me wants to sub in an actual Big Shirt
There are some beautiful old Polo Country pieces that are entirely ruined by a chief headdress or similar
Oh, I forgot to post the fully sick Polo bit I picked up while I was banned
Perfect weight, slight crop, really nice detail on the stitching and cuffs. A properly sewn-in V insert
i'm looking at some RL belts
The price range i'm getting is 80 to 180
https://www.ralphlauren.co.uk/en/triplicate-pony-leather-trim-cotton-belt-100036203.html#srule=price-low-high&start=1&sz=30&cgid=men-accessories-belts-braces ok £55 isn't too bad.
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Defining modern luxury with romantic elegance and timeless style since 1967.
I'm getting the feeling tho that they're in the winter sale for a reason...
my hot take is i don't fw PRL accessories other than ties
👔
I can probably just get a belt at a second hand store anyway
Yeah Polo leather products are usually subpar
:why_dissolve:
It's kinda a shame
I wanted to get a polo leather wallet a few months ago
But then I also should know :xdcrying:
I got these polo trainers from TK Maxx and, I've only worn them about once or twice outside
I've started to distance myself from the brand in general. At the end of the day, the majority of the products that Ralph sold and is presently selling is just copying another product that a brand already produces, and usually at a lower price per the quality that you get with that brand. There are very few pieces by Ralph that are original.
I agree that PRL is overpriced but I think you have it backwards. Ralph is OG, and most brands copy them, especially vintage PRL
No. Polo in the 60s revitalized and modernized Ivy Prep by copying the original Ivy brands like J. Press, Brooks Brothers, O'Connells, etc. and marketed it better than all of those other brands could that contributed to Ralph Lauren's success and the revitalization of Ivy.
Many items even like the Polo Coat which are considered to be original to Polo were basically just copies from British tailoring from Savile Row, Bond Street, etc. Even the Polo shirt is a copy from Lacoste. Nothing Ralph Lauren has made throughout it's history has been revolutionary or groundbreaking. It's all been copying and marketing
I do have to agree with you, yeah, despite my reputation here as the horsepower person lol. I remember in the summer when I didn't have as much Polo as I do now, it was a much more interesting brand, but now I'm coming more to my senses.
Again, I do respect Polo for what they did for revitalizing Ivy to a degree, but it's also just not worth it for it's price when the OGs do it better imo. Vintage Polo is a gold mine, but again, even those are copies to a degree
Lol
damn
Anybody seen this tag before? On a MIUSA sport coat I have. Neck tag also says “Ralph Lauren” in cursive. Guessing late 70s based on the union tag
I see a couple other examples online but not really a great idea of where they fit in the product line
From a little digging, this is a 'Blue Label/Signature' diffusion line that was previously the higher end Polo stuff that's made in Italy by Corneliani
thanks! i wonder who made this one. maybe a transition step into making the production costs cheaper as it still advertises the fabric as italian
Its from one of the best factories they use apparently!
I've seen tags like this and I think it's the same line as Ralph Ralph Lauren. They're not as good as PRL is, but I believe they're in the same category as LRL/Polo University Club.
Even many of the "lower" end things that Ralph made was in the US up until the mid to late 90s. Then, even the suits/sport jackets started to be moved overseas.
It is sometimes hard to tell from tags alone, as there is still a ton of confusion within the community of all of the different lines that Ralph did when he was still at the helm of the company. Things have become much more streamlined once he stepped down
I should clarify one thing, Ralph made a ton of his suits and jackets in the US up until the 90s. He used other factories in many other countries for other items basically when he went mainstream.
Really interesting stuff
Thanks!
That’s the same tag as Purple Label. I would be shocked if they reused tags from a cheaper line for their top tier/most expensive items.
so...i did find more information. The care instructions says WPL 5596, which a etsy post mentions as made by Joseph J. Pietrafesa Co., of Syracuse NY. It looks like that company made clothes for RL, BB, as well as under their own brand, Learbury.
sadly that company was sold to PE in 1990 and went out of business in 2000
the american story
Nice work, I love learning about some obscure American label I can eBay search for.