A new volume in Thames & Hudson’s Catwalk series spotlights Ralph Lauren’s womenswear shows from 1972 through 2025. Written by veteran fashion journalist Bridget Foley, the book marks the first time an American designer has been featured in the collection. It arrives amid renewed interest in the brand’s consistent vision and cultural impact.
Foley describes Lauren as the most successful designer-founder in American fashion history. She notes that after the death of Giorgio Armani in 2025, only Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto remain as comparably long-running founders who still control their companies. The book examines every womenswear collection Lauren presented in that period, many of which Foley attended in person.