Designer

People ask how can a Jewish kid from the Bronx do preppy clothes? Does it have to do with class and money? It has to do with dreams.

When you put on something that you really like, you feel like you are that person or the person you want to be.

I'm a big fan of Woody Allen. I used to love the fact that he wrote his own screenplay and acted in the movie.

I always admired Frank Sinatra. He had ups and downs, but he didn't give up his style. He had what might have been a tough life or character.

As a kid, I wore a lot of my older brothers' hand-me-downs.

My symbol was always a polo player because I liked sports, and polo has a stylishness to it.

On one level, there's an aspirational quality to having a Polo player. On another level, it's just a great shirt with lots of colors.

I want my clothes, my stores, everything I design to have that feeling of being natural and easy. And that takes effort, but you try not to have it show.

My life has been a dream. If someone had to write a story about it, it would seem a little unreal. It's the kind of story I would read and say, 'Nah, that's not possible.'

I had a very nice life. I was a very good kid. I had nice friends. I played in the school yard. I was nice to my parents; they were nice to me. They were loving parents - they were always there.

I know it's not enjoying my success to do this, but when I see too many Polo shirts, I say to myself, 'That's the end of that.'

I went to my boss, and I said, 'Look, I'd like to design these ties because I think they could be new.' He said, 'The world isn't ready for Ralph Lauren.' I never forgot that because... I thought that was a compliment.

My father was an artist. When life was harder and he couldn't get jobs, he painted houses, but he was artistic. When I went to see his work, it was special. Somewhere along the line, I felt I was special. I didn't know why.

I think I've been happy because I've been able to do what I believe in, and on my own terms.

It's the kind of clothes that mothers and daughters can wear, in terms of concept... It's not about age. It's about taste, and it's about lifestyle. I believe women of all ages can wear anything.

I always admired Frank Sinatra. He had ups and downs, but he didn't give up his style. He had what might have been a tough life or character.

I'm a fan of people that have quality, that do what they do, and that are not into the showbiz.

I think the accessories look very modern and very exciting. These big earrings, these big hoops. I think the girls are sort of falling in love with... collars, neck collars.

My philosophy has always been that I can sell chinos and T-shirts and $5,000 gowns - they just have to be the best of what they are.

The clothes that I design and everything I've done is about life and how people live and how they want to live and how they dream they'll live. That's what I do.