Ralph Lauren Becomes the First American Designer Highlighted in the Catwalk Book Series

By: Charlie Rincon-Rodriguez

Ralph Lauren Catwalk, published by Thames & Hudson, lands this May as both a visual time capsule and a major cultural moment, looking back on nearly six decades of one of the most influential names in American fashion.

Photo Credit: Dan Lecca

The book is the eleventh addition to the publisher’s well-known Catwalk series and, notably, the first to spotlight an American designer, so this inclusion feels significant, as it highlights not just the scale of Ralph Lauren’s brand but also the impact of his distinctly American take on style.

Photo Credit: Left: firstVIEW / Right: Dan Lecca

Written by fashion journalist Bridget Foley, the book traces Lauren’s journey through more than 1,300 runway images, starting with his first women’s collection in Fall 1972 and running through Fall 2025. What comes through is his cinematic way of thinking about fashion; each collection feels less like a lineup of clothes and more like a fully realized world.

Lauren’s story starts in 1967 with neckties under the Polo label, which eventually grew into a global lifestyle empire. By 1972, he introduced womenswear inspired by his wife, Ricky, and began shaping a design language built on contrasts: masculine and feminine, rugged and polished, classic but never static.

Photo Credit: Isidore Montag

That mindset has stayed consistent over the years. As Lauren once said, “It was never about a shirt. It was about a way of living.” You can feel that throughout the book, which goes beyond the clothes themselves to capture the worlds behind them, from the romance of the American West to the sleek energy of Manhattan and the ease of coastal life.

Photo Credit: Left: firstVIEW / Right: Isidore Montag/Courtesy of Ralph Lauren

What really sets this book apart is its focus on storytelling. Lauren’s shows have always been about identity, aspiration, and a certain idea of what life can look like. His ability to balance aspiration with something approachable is a big part of why his vision of American elegance continues to resonate globally. Ralph Lauren Catwalk reframes the brand’s history as an ongoing story about identity, ambition, and the lasting appeal of a lifestyle brand.