Love of cars translates into fashion

A model presents a creation from Ralph Lauren Fall 2017 Collection. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As a designer who has had many firsts — among them, the first American designer to won Coty Awards for both menswear and womenswear in the same year and the first designer to have an in-store boutique in Bloomingdale’s department store — Lauren knows what he wants.

"I have a public company. I have a company that I think 50 years in fashion industry in America is a major thing, and I think it's constantly renewing myself, constantly being tuned, but knowing who we are, knowing what the direction is, knowing what our country is about, what the world is about," he said.

"And the world is very small, so whether it's China, America or England, very strong similarity in taste and ideas."

He's also looking East.

"I think China will be a wonderful market for us. And I'd like to be more known in China," he said. "I know the Chinese like the story behind the designer and want to know where he came from what his family likes, so I think I have a story there, true and honest, and how I started. And I think it's interesting. I think the Chinese market is very contemporary and very right for Ralph Lauren."

The day after his fall collection was presented in the garage, at his 888 Madison Avenue flagship store another of Lauren's cars — a 1960 250GT Ferrari Spider — was on display in the center of the ground floor area for a limited time.

"Beautiful" and "gorgeous" were the buzzwords from guests, not for the brilliant red car, but for Lauren's "auto inspirations" — sweaters, dresses, jackets and ball gowns from the previous night's runway show.