Ralph Lauren and the Ivy League are a natural pairing, given that the designer has helped redefine preppy style. So it’s no surprise that Lauren is the latest name to anchor a book from Yale University Press’s Catwalk series, which has previously featured brands like Prada and Chanel. For our May issue, fashion features director VĂ©ronique Hyland asked the man himself and his son David, the chief branding and innovation officer at the company, to share their highlight reel after poring over more than a half-century’s worth of indelible runway imagery. What struck me was how fresh these pieces—from menswear-inspired tweeds to rugged denim—feel in 2026. As the designer puts it, “The things I treasure most have no age, no time, no trend; it’s about creating something that lasts.”
—Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief