Historic Oak Bluffs honored with a fresh, style-focused collection from Polo Ralph Lauren, emphasizing its rich, Black heritage.
Ralph Lauren, the iconic American fashion brand, has unveiled a new limited-edition collection called Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs. This exciting new line pays homage to the historic Black community of Oak Bluffs, located on Martha's Vineyard, and celebrates its significance as a cultural haven and summer destination for Black Americans for over a century.
Sophie Dweck, Associate Shopping Editor for Town & Country, shares her expertise on this remarkable collection, which covers all things fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. According to Dweck, the Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs collection is more than just a charming coastal town; it's a story of the American dream.
The collection blends Ralph Lauren's classic preppy aesthetic with the unique cultural and nautical style of Oak Bluffs. It features apparel and accessories like coastal crewnecks with collegiate markings and Oak Bluffs monograms, varsity jackets with embossed Oak Bluffs details, cable-knit sweaters, rugby shirts, caps, summer dinner jackets, and preppy patchwork outerwear. The color palette mixes pastels with rich maroon tones, reflecting both collegiate style and the coastal vibe of the community.
Highlights of the collection include a men's and women's twill jacket adorned with iconic landscapes and motifs, and classic sport caps in white, red, and navy. The collaboration with alumni of Morehouse and Spelman colleges resulted in timeless off-campus collegiate-style apparel for the Oak Bluffs line, including a maroon-and-white satin varsity jacket with Morehouse's Maroon Tiger and an ivory-and-light blue patchwork cardigan with Spelman's beloved jaguar mascot.
The campaign for the Oak Bluffs collection, directed by Cole Brown, brings the stories of Oak Bluffs to life. Brown, who has decades of memories from summers spent on Martha's Vineyard, has infused the campaign with a sense of nostalgia and joy that reflects the spirit of the town. The campaign includes imagery shot on-island and a short documentary film called A Portrait of the American Dream: Oak Bluffs.
Ralph Lauren emphasized that the collection is about the story of Oak Bluffs as a place where people can feel free and at home, highlighting its unique traditions and sense of community. Oak Bluffs has inspired African American writers, poets, and artists such as Langston Hughes and Dorothy West, further enriching its legacy.
The Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs collection will be available to shop globally on Thursday, July 24, through the Ralph Lauren website, app, select retail stores, and in Morehouse and Spelman's campus bookstores. For the latest updates on this collection and other fashion trends, be sure to follow Sophie Dweck's reports on Town & Country.
[1] Ralph Lauren Corporation. (2023). Press Release: Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs. [2] Town & Country. (2023). Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs: A Celebration of Black Heritage.
- Sophie Dweck, from Town & Country, discusses the Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs collection, a tribute to the historic Black community of Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, and its rich cultural tapestry.
- The collection encapsulates fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, with Ralph Lauren merging his classic preppy style with the unique nautical and cultural vibe of Oak Bluffs.
- Highlights of the collection are the twill jackets embellished with iconic Oak Bluffs imagery and the collaborative apparel with alumni of Morehouse and Spelman colleges.
- The campaign for the collection, directed by Cole Brown, evokes a sense of nostalgia and joy, mirroring the spirit of Oak Bluffs.
- The collection serves as a tribute to Oak Bluffs as a symbol of the American dream, inspired by people like Langston Hughes and Dorothy West, eminent African American writers and artists.
- The collaboration between Ralph Lauren Corporation and Town & Country offers exclusive insights into the Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs collection, along with updates about the latest fashion trends - stay tuned for Sophie Dweck's reports.
