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Rating: 
Summary: A treat for fashion fans!
Review: Fans of this runway king will enjoy this biography. The man behind the threads is as fascinating as his clothing line, and if this book has a fault, it's that there aren't enough photos of his sensational clothes. Lauren's taste and style are legendary - he seems to be one of the few fashion designers who actually likes women! Roll on, Ralph.
Rating: 
Summary: More Marketing
Review: Goodness, what EGO. Perhaps Ralph is allowed. He's very successful and has largely transformed himself into who he wants to be. How many of us can claim that? Lovely images in the book. But, this kind of marketing - "behind the scenes shots of Ralph's lifestyle" is so heavy handed. Are these behind the scene shots really any less choreographed than any of his other advertising? Are we to feel special because Ralph lets us vicariously live his "lifestyle"? Come now, how insecure are we? Yes, I suppose for some they can put on their little Polo shirts and maybe pour a gin and tonic and dream of children in white linen playing along the shore in their backyard in the Hamptons......If he's a genius, he's a genius at image making; an image which, apparently, given the abundant presence of "Polo" shirts in suburban outlet stores and on the backs of dark socked folk most appeals to the yearning middle classes. Buy the book so you can forget about mowing the lawn, paying the mortgage, and the tawdriness of middle America......dream of ocean breezes, yachts, private schools, cucumber sandwiches, white duck trousers, and refinement.......dream on Gatsby. Do establishment WASPS really wear this stuff, anyway? I would think they'd avoid logos - a bit vulgar, really.
Rating:
Summary: Not enough on "the Style"
Review: I am a Ralph Lauren fan, but like others who've reviewed this title, I was disappointed that there weren't more photos of the beautiful clothes -- the style -- from the archives. I had hoped to see more fashion than what was included. In a recent fashion magazine tribute, for example, there were several pieces of wonderful fashion from the archives -- a military jacket, tuxedo jacket, etc -- that epitomized the Lauren style. This sort of thing was sorely lacking in this book. Just not enough of a good thing, and not as lush as you'd expect.
Rating: 
Summary: an airbrushed rehash
Review: I was thoroughly disappointed in this book that purports to be an inside look of Ralph Lauren.It is hardly that. The pictures are old and there aren't many outside observers, including folks who wear the clothes, who comment on one of America's leading designer businesses. I also read the Michael Gross book which is far more titillating and detailed...at least you get a fuller portrait of the designer.
Rating:
Summary: Good but could have been better...
Review: I've been anxiously awaiting this book's release for the past couple of years. It was originally going to be titled Ralph Lauren and the Spirit of America. Rumor had it last year that Ralph previewed the book and demanded a re-write because he didn't like the copy. It's a nice book, and if you are into Ralph Lauren, you should check it out. However, be aware that it's not up to the standard Ralph himself would have produced. It covers all aspects of Ralph Lauren, from his childhood and personal life to the history of Polo. It is fawning as the reviews say, and the writing is just plain boring at times. Still, it is a good overview of Ralph. The photographs are where it really disappointed me. There are relatively few, and many of them have been seen before. The pictures are not comprehensive in any sense. It offers reprints of ads (mostly recent, although a few from over the years), a few personal photographs of Ralph and his family, and pictures of the stores (for some reason heavily focused on the Chicago location - almost no photos of the mansion). I would have appreciated a bigger selection from the archives or older ads and a few more "behind the scenes" shots. The shots of Ralph's office and of him in a fitting session are so small you can hardly make anything out of them. I read the Michael Gross biography first, definitely more readable, but it's mostly second hand gossip. Here you get the sanitized version, in a prettier package. Don't expect any surprises though.
Rating:
Summary: Not enough on "the Style"
Review: This new book on RL is AWESOME!!! From first page to last!! Easy reading text, clean, clear wonderful photos and behind the scenes glances. Can't say enough about all the pics!! Examples from Lauren's private life to his clothing ads to the stores. Everything Lauren fans will jump for joy over.
The text is well written. Informative and clear..BUT..not in an obsessive "he's the ONLY person in the world" kind of way. I have been following Ralph since I first bought one of his shirts 23 years ago. The man is genius. This book gives a very nice look into the world of RL and RL himself.
This is a PERFECT book for all the Ralphilites the world over. A great looking coffee table book well worth the reading. I have been following this book's on-again-off-again release for almost 2 years now...All I can say is it lives up to all the hype it has stirred up on both sides of the ocean.
5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank God For Ralph!! One GREAT Book!!!!
Review: This new book on RL is AWESOME!!! From first page to last!! Easy reading text, clean, clear wonderful photos and behind the scenes glances. Can't say enough about all the pics!! Examples from Lauren's private life to his clothing ads to the stores. Everything Lauren fans will jump for joy over.
The text is well written. Informative and clear..BUT..not in an obsessive "he's the ONLY person in the world" kind of way. I have been following Ralph since I first bought one of his shirts 23 years ago. The man is genius. This book gives a very nice look into the world of RL and RL himself.
This is a PERFECT book for all the Ralphilites the world over. A great looking coffee table book well worth the reading. I have been following this book's on-again-off-again release for almost 2 years now...All I can say is it lives up to all the hype it has stirred up on both sides of the ocean.
5 stars.
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