Rumours are swirling in the fashion world that American legend Ralph Lauren is to move his shows from his native New York to Europe.
The speculation comes after the decision to show his men's Purple Label collection in Milan this Saturday. According to WWD, the possibility of him showing women's collections is high. Despite stressing that he had no urgent plans to leave New York he did highlight the importance of strengthening the image of Ralph Lauren as an international brand, and how crucial the move to Europe could be in doing so. When questioned whether the move was a possibility, he replied with "absolutely." Ohh-err!
Ralph Lauren Fall 2015
However, thankfully for now he's sticking to his American roots, showing men's Polo on July 16 during the beginning of NYFW: Men's.
He told WWD, "I don't really believe there is an American look," and dismissed the idea that his classic American look didn't mean he couldn't have European influences. "The obvious would be cowboy, the obvious would be preppy. But in reality there are a lot of preppy looks in Italy, a lot of preppy looks in England. There's a more sophisticated look, too. We're playing into all of the worlds."
The brand expansion comes with brand extension. Lauren said, "Our stores are all different. We have stores that are more wood and stores that are more modern. As time moves on, you sort of feel the change in decor and environments. My goal is really to set a tone that is timeless… [but also] has a sense of what's new at the moment that's exciting. You have to be aware that the world changes very quickly."
He said, "You have to be tuned in." We certainly will be here at Grazia Towers. Watch this space Europe, Ralph Lauren and his team could soon be taking over.