The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2021 - Issue 30

bitedesignerprofile something that got me excited.” The first boutique he opened was The Polo by Ralph Lauren in luxury depart- ment store Bloomingdale’s in 1970. The designer over- saw every detail, including the wood panelling. The following year, The Polo by Ralph Lauren opened its first standalone store on Beverly Hills’ storied Ro- deo Drive which would eventually be joined by Polo outposts in Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale by the end of the dec- ade. That same year, the iconic Polo Pony debuted on the cuff of a new line of women’s smartly tailored shirts, featuring details inspired by his men’s line, in answer to women’s requests. Lauren introduced the Polo Shirt in 1972 crafted from the finest materials and available in a rainbow of vivid colours. “On one level, there’s an aspiration quality to having a polo player on it,” the designer once said. “On another level, it’s just a great shirt with lots of colours.” Interestedly, the men’s garments worn in 1974 The Great Gatsby film came from the latest Polo collection except for a pink suit Ralph Lauren designed specifically for Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby. The Polo for Men fragrance in a signature green bottle, introduced in 1978, was inspired by a vintage flask with masculine notes of pine, leather and tobacco. Polo West- ern, a line of denim, apparel and accessories influenced by the purpose-built clothes of the American West fol- lowed in 1979 and then two years later, Lauren intro- duced the Sante Fe collection influenced by the city’s artistry and free spirit, bringing the craftsmanship of the Southwest to the forefront of high fashion. London welcomed Polo when the brand opened the first freestanding shop in Europe for an American designer in Bond Street in 1981. The store located in a former pharmacy exemplified the timeless gentleman’s club aes- thetic that Ralph Lauren stores have become known for. He then expanded into the home collection, a first for a