Quotes from Ralph Lauren

My father was an artist. When life was harder and he couldn't get jobs, he painted houses, but he was artistic. When I went to see his work, it was special. Somewhere along the line, I felt I was special. I didn't know why.

I was never money conscious. I would never have succeeded if I thought I was going to be a millionaire.

My philosophy was that I never had focus groups.

When I was growing up, officers in uniform were very impressive to me. They were doing a job. They were protecting our country; they were heroes. When you wear an old military jacket, there's some sort of connection to those qualities - to being strong, to being tough, to being a warrior.

I don't design clothes, I design dreams.

It's the kind of clothes that mothers and daughters can wear, in terms of concept... It's not about age. It's about taste, and it's about lifestyle. I believe women of all ages can wear anything.

People ask how can a Jewish kid from the Bronx do preppy clothes? Does it have to do with class and money? It has to do with dreams.

I'm designing what I want. If it's a man's coat with a pair of skinny-leg jeans, I'll do that. It's whatever my mood is. But it's about style, and it's about an understated taste that's cool.

People ask how can a Jewish kid from the Bronx do preppy clothes? Does it have to do with class and money? It has to do with dreams.

It's the kind of clothes that mothers and daughters can wear, in terms of concept... It's not about age. It's about taste, and it's about lifestyle. I believe women of all ages can wear anything.

I have always done what I love myself. My philosophy was that I never had focus groups. I did what I wear.

I have had a lot of good things happen, but I've also had a lot of terrible things happen.

My symbol was always a polo player because I liked sports, and polo has a stylishness to it.

You don't have to wear a label to be important.

My thing was always about individuality and about creating a world - because you don't just wear clothes, you live a life. You have style. You project who you are.

I know it's not enjoying my success to do this, but when I see too many Polo shirts, I say to myself, 'That's the end of that.'

On one level, there's an aspirational quality to having a Polo player. On another level, it's just a great shirt with lots of colors.

You have to create something from nothing.

The clothes that I design and everything I've done is about life and how people live and how they want to live and how they dream they'll live. That's what I do.

My life has been a dream. If someone had to write a story about it, it would seem a little unreal. It's the kind of story I would read and say, 'Nah, that's not possible.'

And I'm excited when I find somebody stimulating to talk with. That's one of the great treasures in life.

Having success at an early age gave me more of a sense of what's important in life rather than always driving to make it.

I believe in God. I believe in doing the right thing. I believe in helping people if I can.

I'm a fan of people that have quality, that do what they do, and that are not into the showbiz.