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 Véronique 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
