Retro Ralph-Bringing Back THE Bear

 Via  RL Vintage

 "I have always loved things that better with age"-Ralph Lauren 

It is hard to think of any Ralph Lauren piece as "vintage" as the iconic designer's style is so classic that his pieces define timeless.  Creating a lifestyle reflective of "worlds" that have inspired him from The Classic American West, School Prep, Hollywood Glamour and as we have seen with his connection to Downton Abbey, The Traditional English Estate, the Ralph Lauren brand can never grow old but many pieces from 45 years of designing the American look are highly collectible.  The designer has launched RL Vintage

to celebrate specific and collectable pieces from his design archives of over 45 years that demonstrate his passion for craftsmanship and heritage...and that reflect Ralph Lauren's belief  in "...a simpler kind of beauty that's connected to the past but not bound by it."   

 These are rare and authentic pieces and not replicas of designs.  The first pieces in the RL Vintage offering, which is almost all sold out, were from his passion for The American West.  This is how we came to know and love Ralph Lauren style-rugged workman denim, cowboy boots, cowhide, serape stripes, prairie skirts, concha belts, turquoise jewelry, fringed suede and leather jackets, shearling, Southwest inspired sweaters and coats

 and the iconic America Flag sweater.  

  Visiting the RL Vintage site is like a wonderful musuem trip to see curated pieces from America's most beloved designer and part of the fun is the "Bring it Back" Program where you can vote to decide from a selected group of iconic Ralph Lauren products  which will be put back into limited production.  The Teddy Bear lover, knitter and Ralph Lauren Teddy Bear collector in me was excited to see that the first group released for voting in  Bring it Back was the Polo Bear sweater!

 

 In the early years of the Ralph Lauren design house his staff presented Mr. Lauren with a custom designed Steiff Bear for his birthday sporting the Ralph Lauren denim look.  Mr. Lauren loved it so much that this became a birthday tradition and each year the Lauren team worked to design a Steiff bear that was dressed in an outfit Mr. Lauren had worn.

 Over the years he was presented with a Western Bear, a ski bear, a preppy bear, a dinner jacket bear...  Since Mr.  Lauren is a bear lover he released limited edition collectable bears with impeccable detail which made them very costly and highly sought after.

  To make the Bears more accessible the Polo Bear Sweater was created in 1991.   Knit in each sweater was one of the well dressed Polo Bears and these became part of the signature of the Polo Brand and among the most collectable of the designers products.  

 Polo Bear Sweaters from the 1990s can be found on Ebay  for as much as $800

...and the winners are...

 

Dates have not yet been given as to when these precious two will be released for sale but in the meantime, maybe I will cast on one of my favorite Vintage RL sweater designs---timeless!

Fall 1981 via

images via ralphlauren.com and RLWintage.com

Waiting for Downton

via

In one short week the third Season of Downton Abbey premieres!  Alas, not here :(  but all the pre-press and teasers ,featuring wonderful sparks between Maggie and Shirley, have me seeing Downton Style everywhere! 

Ralph Lauren via

Of course I am crossing the Sundays off til January 6th when it is time for dinner with the Crawleys once again.  There are so many reasons to look forward to the new season not the least of which are all the unanswered  questions-will Mary and Matthew marry?  will Lady Sybil and her chauffeur/activist Branson stay together?  Will Lady Edith capture the man she wants?  and what about Bates??? 

Vintage Chanel via

... but I am also looking forward to seeing the wardrobe for this season.  The new season takes place in the twenties and that means shorter skirts, shorter hair and change in the air at every turn. 

Ralph Lauren

 Ralph Lauren was obviously looking forward to it as well!  His Fall 2012 runway last February was a love letter to Downton style-tweeds, fairisles,top hats, and horse bits- Lauren took on British tradition with plenty  of twenties glam.

via

So what to do between now and January??  Well of course check out the previews  and I am immersed in  re-discovering the original British class style soap-Upstairs Downstairs.  So much fun to get reacquainted with the Bellamys and their staff, this series begins  just a bit earlier than Downton but goes through the war and into the twenties.  Upstairs Downstairs was amazingly ahead of its time as it took on some very adult issue for early 1970s television.  The characters remain as beloved today as they did when the series ended in 1975 and the storylines don't seem the least bit dated to me.  You may also want to watch the 2010 Upstairs Downstairs .  So while we wait for the Crawleys to return, don a top hat, and find yourself a chauffeur to kiss!

Helmut Newton via

A Sweater AfFAIR-Classic Fair Isle Inspiration

Every knitter loves the Fall...new yarns, gorgeous patterns, crunchy knits in glorious colors. I think this Fall's designs are among the best collections in many years---I don't know where to start! There are books and skeins and needles all over the place as I rework and redesign and just play! Love it!!

Kim Hargreaves

I really cannot remember a time when I was not a knitter. I try to think back to what brought me to cast on my first stitches. I do remember falling in love with a sweater and thinking "I can make that!" Whenever I walk into a shop or open a magazine or catalogue I have sweater radar and zoom right into designs that inspire. I am famous for standing outside a shop with a pad and pen and scribbling and sketching something I just saw(not polite to do it in the shop!)

Gorsuch

Somehow,however, I always turn back to go forward. I love classic. The new knitting has been a lot about architecture-form, fit, angles...and its all fabulous and interesting and fun to knit as it pushes us as knitters to knit out of the box. For my knitting style,however, I find particularly at this time of year that I am reaching for design that fits any mood and any decade. Sweaters my Mother wore and sweaters that are a joy to knit.

Vogue Knitting

Vintage Vogue is a great resource that inspires me , but I often turn to Ralph Lauren who has never strayed very far from bringing looks that echo history yet move easily in a new age.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren has captured classic and made traditional style his own with his design signature that echos classic American Prep, Western Prairie, Ski Chic,English Country House and Grace Kelly Elegance. Time and again the Lauren runway returns to the classic Sweater Girl look and it often starts with one of my favorite techniques to knit come fall -Fair Isle. Come Visit Winding Yarn.