Ralph Lauren’s 10 Most Iconic Collection Pieces

Layton 20 MM Burnished Calfskin Oxford

The Ralph Calfskin Tote

C$5,200.00

Stirrup Ricky Sunglasses

C$430.00

Charmain Slim Fit Stretch Poplin Shirt

C$1,050.00

No. 2

The Capri Shirt

Sun, sea, and sprezzatura define the Capri shirt, which started as a classic warm-weather men’s shirting style around 2008 before moving to womenswear in 2016, when it walked the runway in Ralph’s nautical-tinged Spring 2016 show. There, the button-down mingled with other pieces in the now-signature blue-and-white stripe, from dramatic strapless and halter-style evening gowns to playful swimwear. Since then, the Capri shirt has stood the test of time as the rare foundational garment that serves as both a neutral and a statement-making piece. Its versatility is endless: It wears easily with most blazers; it serves as the ultimate backdrop for either delicate, personal jewelry or statement-making artistic pieces; it’s the chicest impromptu poolside cover-up; and it holds its own with just a pair of jeans and flats, its sleeves casually but impeccably rolled up.

Capri Relaxed Fit Striped Cotton Shirt

C$1,050.00

Cable-Knit Silk Crewneck Sweater

Leonarda Cashmere Wrap Coat

C$8,200.00

Adela 95 MM Woven Lambskin Mule

C$1,900.00

No. 3

The Flag Sweater

In 1988, Ralph and his brother Jerry were testing out different sweater styles that would capture the essence of Americana through one symbol. While Jerry favored a prototype with an American bald eagle, Ralph opted for another version with the American flag. He wore the sweater with jeans and a denim jacket for a Polo Country ad, instantly creating a new icon for the brand.

While Polo’s version is made with a twisted cotton, the Ralph Lauren Collection flag sweater is done in a 100 percent cashmere that is made in Italy and Cradle to Cradle Certified®, using a global standard for the safety of products made for a circular economy. The crewneck’s relaxed silhouette has ribbed cuffs and a ribbed hem, and its historic American flag is knit on the front with an overlocked hem and embroidered stars, sans the Polo logo.

Flag Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

C$2,450.00

Tri-Strap O-Ring Pebbled Calfskin Belt

C$890.00

The Ralph Calfskin Small Bucket Bag

C$3,690.00

Briar Calfskin Loafer

Ellis Rib-Knit Cotton-Blend Tank Top

When Audrey Hepburn presented Ralph Lauren with the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992, she told the designer, “Your story is not about trends and fleeting moments but about values and things that last.” This was also the opening scene of the 2019 documentary Very Ralph, the biopic that endeavored to explain exactly what it is that defines the Ralph’s sensibility.

You often know it when you see it—but what makes something “very Ralph” is as much about the specific design, craftsmanship, and provenance of an individual piece as it is about a formula for dressing, or the sum of its parts. It has been 53 years since he first presented a women’s collection, in 1972—a five-decade body of work which continues to be the framework for what he considers to be a foundational wardrobe of garments and accessories that define a sense of style that is timeless yet new, each iteration of a piece’s iconographic history being a kind of building block for what comes next.

The fabrication, finishing, and color of a jacket or the tailoring of a pair of trousers might shift ever so slightly to reflect a moment in time, but there is a metaphorical thread that always connects the present with the past, creating an enduring heritage that can be spotted from one season to the next. It is only through this thoughtful, uncompromising approach to handcraft and design that something truly achieves icon status in Ralph’s world. These 10 current-day pieces are just a few we consider to be nothing less than quintessential.

No. 4

The Parker Jacket

If there is one blazer that can do it all, it’s the Parker jacket. This timeless piece is singular in the Collection for its single-button silhouette, but it’s also unique in its many fabrications, colors, and treatments. It can be a seasonless piece, offered in classic neutrals and textiles such linen and wool. Since it first walked the runway in 2017, it has also served as a canvas for Ralph to experiment with more directional treatments and embellishments. Come fall, it often comes in a variety of leathers, but through the years it has also been crafted with denim, metallics, patchwork, floral flocking, embellishments, and tweed herringbones. For spring, it translates to linen as an easy, elegant layer. Look for its signature pocket placement: two on the right; one on the left.

Parker Linen Jacket

C$2,450.00

C$475.00

The Ralph Calfskin Top Handle

C$4,650.00

Antonella 35 MM Woven Lambskin Pump

C$1,750.00

Abstract-Plaque-Buckle Leather Belt

C$990.00

No. 5

The Silk Cable-Knit Sweater

The cable knit has a long maritime history as a protective piece of knitwear that sailors wore against harsh, seafaring climates. In Ralph’s world, the nautical knot–inspired motif translates to texture and pattern that can be worn anywhere and layered with many other garments. The Ralph Lauren Collection cable-knit sweaters come in both cashmere and silk, the latter of which becomes the quintessential fabrication for spring and summer’s transitional moments, when evenings are cool but it’s too warm for cashmere, wool, or even cotton.

This version has all of the elements of Ralph’s iconic cable knits: a ribbed crewneck collar, cuffs, and hem and a relaxed but not oversize fit that hits right at the hip. The difference sits in its 100 percent silk construction, using tussah, a type of silk that comes from silkworms that live in the wild instead of in controlled environments. The tussah silkworm’s varied diet of leaves gives its silk threads a more intense sheen, which translates to a lustrous interpretation of the cable-knit weave. The garment both drapes and clings languidly to the body; a completely unique wearing experience.

Cable-Knit Silk Crewneck Sweater

Embellished Racerback Sweater Tank Top

C$3,950.00

Calfskin Buckle Belt

C$550.00

Cleary 95 MM Calfskin Sandal

Daria Washed Satin Wide-Leg Pant

C$2,150.00

No. 6

The Eldred Dress

Finding a day dress that is both smart and elegant is no easy feat, especially in warm weather. Since its debut at Ralph’s influential Hamptons runway show for Spring 2025, the Eldred has come to represent the pinnacle of summertime aspiration: crisp, cool, elegant, just a bit retro. It’s the dress to wear to a tailgate brunch, or to Wimbledon. The dress is crafted with 100 percent cotton broadcloth, the same weave used for other classic shirtdress silhouettes. Just like its shirting counterparts, the Eldred uses a yarn-dyed end-on-end fabric that gives a subtle color, depth, and dimension. Its sleeveless halter neckline is punctuated with a crisp white spread collar that’s finished with contrasting blue buttons, and a concealed button placket of genuine mother-of-pearl buttons sits beneath it. Like any great dress, it has pockets, designed discreetly into the side of the seam.

Eldred Cotton Day Dress

C$2,300.00

The Ralph Calfskin Top Handle

C$4,650.00

Stirrup Ricky Sunglasses

C$430.00

Cashmere Pashmina Scarf

Cleary 125 MM Calfskin Platform Sandal

C$1,600.00

Hemp-Blend Wide-Brim Hat

C$1,750.00

No. 7

The Preston II Jacket

The most “very Ralph” of fabrics is tweed. While there’s a long history of the textile in menswear (and many heritage purveyors), Ralph’s sartorial scope makes room for a woman’s point of view, taking inspiration from classic English silhouettes and finessing a tweed jacket for her without any trace of caricature or costume. The Preston II is an update on a previous iteration, inspired by one of Ralph’s own sport coats. It is made in Italy, crafted with a wool-blend herringbone tweed that’s brushed and fiber-dyed to create a soft hand feel. A back vent, throatlatch, and wool twill undercollar give just the right amount of menswear flair, while its lamb-suede elbow patches take the jacket ever so slightly into academia. For all of its tweediness, the Preston II can also be done in linen or a silk-and-wool blend—a testament to the garment’s sturdy but fluid design.

Preston II Herringbone Tweed Jacket

C$3,690.00

Christie Woven Leather Oxford

Capri Relaxed Fit Cotton Shirt

The Ralph Calfskin Tote

C$5,200.00

C$1,050.00

RL Square Sunglasses

C$375.00

No. 8

The Chilton Dress

Ralph has experimented with a variety of halter dress silhouettes throughout the years, notably in 1994 and 1995. But a silk halter in black from the Fall 2000 Runway Show, worn by Gisele Bündchen, gave a lasting impression that would set the tone for the Chilton, an evening gown that was introduced in Spring 2023. Floor-length, with a straight silhouette, it is unlined, with pleats at the bust to give structure to its fluidity. Like other Collection pieces, it is made in Italy and uses a stretch satin that is known for its sheen and elegant draping. The halter silhouette has evolved to include a bow that, depending on how you knot it, cascades down the back.

Graison 95 MM Lambskin Sandal

Cashmere Pashmina Scarf

Sawyer Wool Crepe Tuxedo Jacket

Leather Cast Concho Belt

C$4,050.00

C$3,800.00

No. 9

The Mercer Jean

It goes without saying that denim is ubiquitous. It’s no longer reserved for weekends or casual Fridays; it’s a bona fide part of any professional wardrobe. And yet, there are certain requirements needed to bring a pair of jeans up to par with elevated dress codes. They shouldn’t be too tight (or too loose); sit higher on the waist, the way a pair of trousers would; and drape the same way. The Mercer jean was created in 2025 with all of this in mind. Just like a great pair of tailored bottoms, they are made in Italy, using a Japanese cotton denim with just a hint of stretch. The mid-rise sits just so and wears well with a belt, while the wide-leg silhouette drapes but does not slouch; this is not a baggy jean. A leather patch engraved with “Ralph Lauren Made in Italy” at the back of the waistband distinguishes it from being just any old pair.

Robbin Striped Jersey Cropped Tee

C$650.00

Stirrup Pilot Sunglasses

C$445.00

Antonella 35 MM Woven Lambskin Pump

C$1,750.00

Camden Linen Jacket

C$2,700.00

No. 10

The Cashmere Crewneck

In any wardrobe, there are statement pieces and basics, the latter of which are often overlooked, obscured by a jacket, layered under suiting, the backdrop of great jewelry. But these are the pieces doing the sartorial heavy lifting, sitting directly against the skin, moving with the body throughout the day. The cashmere crewneck is one such piece. It is concise and effortless, designed to be a layer, with a more subtle ribbed collar, cuffs, and hem. Made in Italy from 100 percent cashmere, the cashmere crewneck uses the Gold-level certification of Cradle to Cradle, partnering with the independent testing organization to verify that every component of the sweater meets C2C Certified® manufacturing standards, established by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

Kaida Relaxed Bootcut Jean

Donnely 25 MM Calfskin Boot

Parker Lambskin Jacket

C$5,850.00

C$2,550.00

Leather Cast Concho Belt

C$4,050.00

Cashmere Crewneck Sweater