I’m so happy to have Cristin from the Simplified Bee blog as a guest today!  I met her at at the Design Bloggers Conference in LA earlier this year.  She has always been such a supporter of my blog and I count her as a great friend!  Thanks Cristin!  -Tobi

I’ve been following Tobi’s Blog for a couple years, love her work and admire her impeccable design aesthetic. Last February, I had the pleasure of meeting Tobi in Los Angeles at the Design Blogger Conference where she was a presenter. She was friendly, full of Southern charm and had lots of terrific business advice. So when she asked me to be part of her All-American series, I was over-the-moon.

Tobi left the “All-American” topic broad, but the iconic Ralph Lauren came to mind instantly. For the past forty years, Ralph Lauren has not only created a $10 billion empire, but a brand that is synonymous with “American style.” As stated in a recent interview with Oprah, “Ralph Lauren sells much more than fashion: He sells the life you’d like to lead. To own a creation of Ralph Lauren’s, whether it’s his red patent-leather boots, his signature Polo shirt, or an ottoman from his furniture collection, is to savor a taste of the American dream—a dream he’s defined with cinematic ads that tell a story rather than tout a fashion trend.”

This American dream certainly resonated with my family while I was growing up. For as long as I can remember, my Mother’s wardrobe has been filled with dresses, jackets and slacks from his clothing line. Her home in Lake Tahoe is also layered in furnishings, pillows and linens from Ralph Lauren Home. She even changes the look seasonally. Jewel tones, plaids and velvets make up the look for winter, while the summer months are a fresh, nautical blue & white.

A couple years ago, my mom wanted to swap out her faded Ralph Lauren throw pillows for some new ones, but I wouldn’t let her. I convinced her that the faded look added charm and my instinct was supported by Ralph himself:
“I have always loved things that are worn, like an old plaid shirt that has been patched and mended or an old pickup truck that is a little dented and the paint a little faded. That patina is evidence of a history of work and a kind of honesty that to me is very American.”
– Ralph Lauren, from The Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Book.

{image of Ralph Lauren’s living room via Oprah.com}

Ralph’s Double RL ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado typifies his love of things worn and aged over time. The sprawling 17,000 acre estate sits just outside Telluride and includes a main lodge, five hand painted tepees and a 1960s silver Airstream trailer. As you can see, these spaces are filled with Native American textiles, the U.S. flag and of course furniture from Ralph Lauren Home. It screams, “Made in the USA!”

{Photos above by Gilles de Chabaneix for Architectural Digest 2002}

{images of Tepee via Oprah.com}

In addition to his many philanthropic initiatives, Ralph Lauren has been a key supporter of the ten year preservation effort of one of the most famous American symbols, The Star-Spangled Banner.

{The Star-Spangled Banner via The Smithsonian}

This worn and torn flag inspired the national anthem, dates back to the war of 1812. It just seems fitting to have an American icon like Ralph Lauren support this massive conservation project.
Thanks Tobi for letting me participate in your All-American series!

Cristin from Simplified Bee