Entering Ralph Lauren

The first thing that sensually hits me is the aroma of fresh flowers coming from the impressively large display that welcomes you as you enter. The staff are well dressed in suits and they have a calmness about them which is so appealing compared to the headless chicken rushing that high street store staff are required to do to keep the store tidy. I wonder if it's a good thing that nothing is out of place here, customers have respect for the clothing which is great but does repect lead to the unwillingness to look through the clothes, to touch, to feel, to try on? The store balances this lifelessness which its homely cluttered layout which personally as a shopper I adore. The thick wooden walls form small square rooms that lead me onto the next and I am engulfed in a gentlemen's club.
Large scale oil paintings and 20th century American and French photography line the staircases and lend themselves to a cultural feeling giving the clothes a mood to reflect with, whilst antiques like the six mantles that were collected throughout Europe fill the small rooms to the brink in order to portray a sense of art Deco style. The main feature of the layout would be the mezzanine balcony allowing the womens' wear floor to peer down below to view the mens' collection on the ground floor beneath. There is the apparent likeness to a ship on this balcony but it felt more like the balcony of a country mansion or an old Grammar school. I find it funny that the traditional English Country style captivates America so much especially the Ralph Lauren Brand, I feel like i'm in an American stereotypical view of English life. Nether the less at least the over the top decor isn't lacking in inspiration in its child like optimism on the luxury of life.