Carla Gem Buyo

The Five Style Icons Who Shaped Ralph Lauren's Vision of American Elegance

Article (news)

<p>Style, in <strong>Ralph Lauren</strong>’s view, has little to do with wealth, visibility or the size of a wardrobe. For the 86-year-old American designer, style is all about identity. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786355668689wmag_1728924262_3478791310998433370_146182543.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @ralphlauren on Instagram</span></span></span></div><p>In a recent YouTube interview, Ralph reflected on the five people who, in different ways, shaped his understanding of style and influenced what his namesake brand is today. His choices span Hollywood royalty, British aristocracy and figures who helped define the visual language of American fashion. Some were lifelong friends; others he admired from afar. What connects them is not a particular designer label or a formula of perfectly assembled clothes, but an ease that made their wardrobes feel inseparable from who they were.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Steve McQueen</strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17863555711696.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><br/></div><p>The actor and racing enthusiast Steve McQueen became the archetype of a distinctly American kind of cool: denim, leather, worn-in knits and tailoring stripped of ceremony.</p><div><br/></div><p>“When most people think about Steve McQueen, they remember the movie star. I remember the man who walked into a room as if he had somewhere better to be. That was his secret,” Lauren continues, “I often thought about him when designing my menswear collections. American style was never supposed to look perfect. It was supposed to look lived-in, comfortable, honest.”</p><div><br/></div><p>For Ralph, Steve embodied the idea that a leather jacket should tell a story and a pair of jeans should look as though they have travelled.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Princess Diana</strong><strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17863555917274.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></strong><br/></div><p>Princess Diana transformed many lives, Ralph including one of them. He watched her style evolve as she became increasingly comfortable with her own identity. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Most people remember the glittering evening gowns and the tiaras. Those moments were beautiful, but what stayed with me was everything in between—a simple blazer, a crisp white shirt, a pair of jeans, and a baseball cap,” Ralph said.</p><div><br/></div><p>“No matter what she wore, you notice the woman first before you notice the outfit.” It is perhaps the ultimate compliment to a style icon!</p><div style="text-align:center"><strong><br/></strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Audrey Hepburn</strong><strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17863556083073.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></strong><br/></div><p>Audrey’s influence on fashion is often reduced to the little black dress, but her real contribution was a lesson in simple elegance. From ballet flats and slim trousers to cropped silhouettes, simple pearls and crisp shirts, she demonstrated how a pared-back wardrobe could be more expressive than an extravagant one.</p><div><br/></div><p>“The first time I truly appreciated her style, it wasn’t because of a glamorous gown,” Ralph shares, “It was because of how little she needed—a black dress, a pair of ballet flats, simple pearls, sometimes nothing more than a white shirt tucked into slim trousers.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Audrey understood proportion and simplicity. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Cary Grant</strong><strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17863556248882.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></strong><br/></div><p>Few actors made traditional menswear look as natural as Cary Grant. His tailored suits, navy blazers and minimalist timepieces were polished without ever appearing stiff.</p><div><br/></div><p>“He had a way of making every jacket look effortless. Every tie looked like it belonged exactly where it was. Nothing appeared calculated,” Ralph said. For all the precision of Grant’s wardrobe, it was his ease that mattered most. “I’ve met men with closets full of custom tailoring who never looked half as comfortable as Cary Grant did in a simple navy blazer.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis</strong><strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17863556404095.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></strong><br/></div><p>Jacqueline occupies a singular place in American fashion history. As First Lady, she helped establish a new vocabulary of polished American dressing, from pillbox hats and impeccably tailored suits to oversized sunglasses. Decades later, her wardrobe still reads as a lesson in quiet luxury.</p><div><br/></div><p>“No one ever influenced American style quite the way Jackie did. When she entered the room, there was no need for extravagant colors or extravagant jewelry.” Her restraint was precisely what made her presence so commanding—and perhaps why her style continues to feel relevant long after the era she defined has passed.</p>

<p>The American designer reveals the five people who have inspired his namesake brand.</p>

The American designer reveals the five people who have inspired his namesake brand.

The 5 Most Stylish People in the World, According to Ralph Lauren

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

Fashion

The 5 Most Stylish People in the World, According to Ralph Lauren

Metro.Style

Published August 11, 2026 09:00 AM PHT

|

Updated August 11, 2026 09:25 AM PHT

Read More:

ralph lauren

steve mcqueen

cary grant

princess diana

jacqueline kennedy onassis

audrey hepburn

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.