Ralph Lauren is synonymous with quiet luxury, with long days out playing tennis, or walking the beaches on the East Coast of the United States. The brand has been steered for many years by the pioneering Ralph Lauren himself, who embodies the elegant practicality of his clothing designs. Throughout his career, Lauren has drawn on his love of sports, particularly polo - the game that inspired his most famous line of clothing, emblazoned with a small embroidered polo player on the breast. Lauren cemented his spot as tailor to the elite with many of his early cultural and artistic contributions. In 1974, he designed all of the clothing for the male cast members of the film version of The Great Gatsby - one of the most renowned explorations of the American dream. As part of this work he designed the now iconic pink suit for Robert Redford in the role of Jay Gatsby himself. He also outfitted Diane Keaton and Woody Allen in Annie Hall. There is no doubt that Lauren's designs are emblematic of what it means to be fashionable, artistic and cultured on the East Coast of the United States of America and indeed all across the world.
The Gulfstream Effect
With all this good and hard work, it's no wonder that when Lauren travels he does so in absolute style in his $58.5 million Hawker private jet and his Gulfstream G650. These jets are the ultimate way to travel, providing total luxury and comfort on long haul trips.
The Gulfstream G650 is such a sought after plane that celebrities and business people were lining up to even get on the list to buy one. Those wanting to buy one of these planes have to sign a special contract agreeing that they won't try to sell their place in the waiting list or sell the plane immediately after they receive it. There are not many of these planes out in the world, and the company wants to keep it that way. That makes it all the more special that Ralph Lauren has one in his possession.
This plane is the largest private jet in the world. It flies higher and faster than the planes we might take to travel commercially and, on the inside, it is quiet and incredibly comfortable.
High-Class Interiors, High in the Sky
Ralph Lauren's jet is as gorgeous as you might expect. The materials and colour schemes chosen for the inside reflect the Ralph Lauren brand: the interior is decked out in cream and warm browns and earth tones, with leather, stained woods, and textured cottons playing a central role. The plane is equipped with a galley kitchen and plenty of comfortable seating space. In the main cabin seating area there is a faux control panel decorating the wall. The panel is inspired by the dashboards of vintage cars as Lauren has a passion for these vehicles and collecting them is one of his hobbies. Lauren has over 100 vintage automobiles with some of his collection being extremely rare. In 2005 some of his collection was exhibited at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, and later, in 2011 some were displayed at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. The control panel shows where the plane is, how quickly it is travelling and at what height. It is also where Lauren controls the music and the temperature of the cabin so he can travel exactly as he likes.
In the seating area there is also a digital display of fabric and colour swatches so that Lauren can do what he does best - design - while he is on the go. After all, the Gulfstream G650 is designed for business people who need to get where they are going quickly, privately and comfortably. And although Lauren has taken a step back from managing Ralph Lauren in recent years he is still creatively involved and it is clear from all the work he has done for the arts and for charity over the years that the man is always working on something, be it fashion design, cancer fundraising, or contributing to the cultural fabric of the world.
Further down the plane there is a long leather sofa that can be used either as a spot to watch the large television, or as a spot to take a proper nap on those longer flights.
The Icon’s Icon
Lauren is symbolic of what it means to be a creative force and a generous spirit in a shifting business landscape. The Gulfstream G650 is the perfect vehicle for the kinds of luxury embodied in the Ralph Lauren brand. The interior of the plane is customisable and it provides the ideal space for those who need to travel, work, and get enough rest. This exclusive jet is truly top of the line, and befits a personality as iconic as Ralph Lauren.
