Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking a lot about the Old Money aesthetic. We even shared a full Old Money capsule wardrobe to get you started.
Today, we’re expanding on that with a deep dive into the related Ralph Lauren aesthetic.
This aesthetic is just what it sounds like. It’s a specific look inspired by Ralph Lauren’s classic East Coast prep vibes.
Below, I’ll explain the elements of the Ralph Lauren aesthetic, the clothing pieces you should consider buying, plus styling tips to make putting your outfits together so much easier!
Read on for everything you need to know about the Ralph Lauren aesthetic:
Table of Contents
Key Elements of the Ralph Lauren Aesthetic
Timeless Design
One of the things that I absolutely love about Ralph Lauren is the timeless design of their clothing.
Ralph Lauren has been around for many years, and for a good reason!
The Ralph Lauren aesthetic is all about pieces that fit in any decade. Think tailored trousers, chic button-down shirts, equestrian-inspired accessories, and cable-knit sweaters.
Color Palette
Another notable aspect of the Ralph Lauren aesthetic is the colors.
The color palette of the Ralph Lauren aesthetic is usually neutral tones with bold pops of color.
The key colors to focus on for the Ralph Lauren aesthetic are navy blue, brown, cream, pure white, and pops of red.
Seasonally, the Ralph Lauren aesthetic also includes accent colors like pastel pink, yellow, and blue, as well as Kelley green.
Patterns
Patterns are also a part of the Ralph Lauren aesthetic. Popular patterns include stripes and plaids of varying colors and styles.
Also, you may be interested in the cable knit look of the Ralph Lauren sweaters! Cable knit textures are a big part of their classic prep vibe.
Ralph Lauren Aesthetic Clothing
Now that we’ve gone over the basics of the aesthetic, here are some key pieces to invest in for those Ralph Lauren vibes.
Polo Shirts
Obviously, we have to start with Ralph Lauren’s iconic polo shirts. The brand is famous for its shirts displaying its trademark horse graphic.
If you want to nail the Ralph Lauren aesthetic, a polo shirt is a must.
The best part about polo shirts is that they come in a million different colors so you can find the perfect one to fit your vibe.
Collared Shirts
Collared button-down shirts are also a huge part of the Ralph Lauren aesthetic.
Collared shirts like this button-up striped shirt are super classic, so they go with everything in your closet and can be worn for years to come.
For example, you could wear this striped button-down as part of an everyday look with jeans and sneakers, or you could wear it for fancier occasions with tailored pants and loafers.
Blouses
If you are looking for something more casual to wear that will give you the Ralph Lauren aesthetic. I recommend going for a relaxed blouse like this one!
You can pair this cute blouse with some jeans and sandals and still achieve the Ralph Lauren aesthetic, just in a more casual way that you can style with your everyday looks.
Crewneck Sweaters
Another key item for achieving the Ralph Lauren aesthetic is a good crew neck sweater.
In particular, cable knit crewnecks like this one are one of my favorite clothing pieces from the brand since they’re timeless and can be worn for either work or casual occasions.
Again, you can find cable knit crewneck sweaters in a wide variety of colors to fit your vibe. Stay within the Ralph Lauren color palette referenced above, or expand out to include your personal best colors — it’s up to you.
Cardigans
If you love the cable knit crewnecks, you should also invest in at least one cardigan for your Ralph Lauren-inspired wardrobe.
Cardigans are another great way to get a comfy but chic Ralph Lauren-inspired look that you can wear every day.
What you will love about these cardigans is you can either wear a cardigan like this one by itself or you can also wear it unbuttoned over a cute shirt to help you achieve the aesthetic.
Shirtdresses
You might also be wondering what kind of dresses fit into the Ralph Lauren aesthetic.
To start, I recommend checking out collared shirt dresses. Collared shirt dresses like this one give off classic East Coast prep vibes and are perfect for the summer months.
These dresses are incredibly easy to style. All you need to do is pair a shirt dress with some sneakers or basic sandals for the perfect Ralph Lauren-inspired look.
Blazers
Blazers like this one are also great items to add to your closet to help you get this aesthetic.
A blazer like this striped one will not only give you the Ralph Lauren aesthetic because of the pattern and colors (navy, red, and white practically scream RL) but will also be a great item to help you get a classically preppy look.
To style a striped blazer like this, look to the image above for inspo. Blazers look amazing paired with classic jeans and ballet flats for a chic take on everyday wear.
Skorts
The Ralph Lauren aesthetic has a lot of overlap with tennis wear since tennis is a classically preppy sport.
For that reason, a pleated tennis skort like the one above is a great addition to a Ralph Lauren-inspired wardrobe.
You can obviously wear it for tennis or pickleball sessions, but it also looks great worn casually with a polo or sweater and loafers or flats.
Rugby Shirts
Rugby is another sport that’s often associated with the Ralph Lauren aesthetic, so naturally, rugby shirts fit perfectly into an RL-inspired wardrobe.
The rugby shirt seen above is classic Ralph Lauren with its red, white, and blue colorway. It’s styled in a trendy way in the photo above, but it would also look classically preppy if paired with a skort and loafers.
Varsity Jackets
For a trendier take on the Ralph Lauren aesthetic, a varsity jacket is a great addition to your wardrobe, especially if you opt for one in white and navy to fit the RL color palette.
The jacket above is super classic and can be styled a million ways. How cool does it look with navy trousers and white sneakers?
It would also look amazing worn over your favorite jeans with a crisp white tee.
Styling Tips for Achieving the Ralph Lauren Aesthetic
Here are some more quick tips for adding more Ralph Lauren vibes to your closet.
Dress Traditionally Preppy
One way to make styling your Ralph Lauren outfits so much easier is to think of how someone might style themselves if they want to look traditionally preppy. (As in polo shirt preppy, not Stanley Cup preppy!)
The Ralph Lauren aesthetic gives off a prep school / Ivy League vibe, which can help you in picturing how you would like to look in your outfits.
The video above gives you a great overview of Ivy League Preppy style, and most of these outfits would fit with the Ralph Lauren aesthetic.
Look Stylish on a Budget
When trying to achieve the Ralph Lauren aesthetic, obviously, it would be easiest to dress head to toe in Ralph Lauren. However, that’s not realistic price-wise for most of us.
But don’t worry — even if you are on a budget, you can still get this look.
One way you can still get the aesthetic while on a budget is by investing in one or two Ralph Lauren pieces and then building your look around them.
For example, you could pick out a cute Ralph Lauren button-up collared shirt, then find clothing pieces to go with your outfit and the aesthetic that have a preppy look.
Also, thrift stores can be a treasure trove for classic Ralph Lauren items — be sure to look there if you want to build your collection on a budget!
What is your favorite Ralph Lauren-inspired outfit?
What Ralph Lauren clothing items will you be adding to your wardrobe? Which Ralph Lauren clothing pieces do you already own?