Ralph Lauren's Journey From The Bronx Into Closets And Homes Across The Globe

There was Oprah. Hillary Clinton. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. Anne Hathaway. Blake Lively. The roll call at Ralph Lauren’s 50th anniversary celebrations in New York’s Central Park was star-studded. But what really shone that night was the emotional and sartorial journey of a young boy from the Bronx into closets and homes across the globe. Priyanka Khanna meets the fashion legend a few hours before this extravaganza.

- Priyanka Khanna

It’s a cloudy, muggy September afternoon, when I make my way through Central Park past selfie-happy tourists, joggers, picnicking families making the most of the last days of summer, children on scooters, and a sight somewhat out of the ordinary—a phalanx of black Polo tee-wearing, head phone-wielding men and women guarding the entrance to the Bethesda Terrace. A few metres in, away from the paparazzi and crowds that have collected, are camper vans and large tents, from which emerge models at various stages of hair and make-up (hey, there’s Gigi Hadid, balancing a plate of food while chatting on her phone!). This is the staging area for Ralph Lauren’s half-centennial extravaganza, which starts in just a few hours, and given the enormity of the event, Lauren has made Central Park his base camp.

Later that evening, guests are transported to the venue in a classic trolley (mine seated actor Rose Byrne, designers Vera Wang and Donna Karan and newlywed influencer Chiara Ferragni), and welcomed by 17 large screens showcasing archival footage on loop. The fashion show that took place was an ode to diversity, showcasing both the global and cross-generational reach of Lauren—from a sleeping baby in the models’ arms, and toddlers to young teenage couples; from septuagenarians to models-of-the-moment Kaia Gerber, Bhumika Arora and Gigi Hadid. Following a standing ovation for a visibly overwhelmed Lauren, the crowd moved to dinner around the fountain. As the heirloom tomato and burrata salad, and RRL fillet from Lauren’s ranch, were served, Oprah raised a toast that celebrated Lauren’s “50 years of designing our dreams.”