A couple weeks back we wrote that Prince Harry would be competing in in the second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic during his first official visit to the U.S. In the match, which took place this past weekend on Governor's Island, the Prince's Sentebale polo team triumphed over Ralph Lauren's Black Watch, captained by Polo model Nacho Figueras, five goals to four. VIP spectators at the historic event who enjoyed afternoon tea prepared by Sandro Micheli, executive pastry chef at Adour Alain Ducasse at The St. Regis New York, included Madonna and her male model pal Jesus Luz, Kate Hudson, Louis Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Chloe Sevigny and LL Cool J.

Ralph Lauren is celebrating thirty years of its signature fragrance with a new sensational scent, Polo Modern Reserve. Today's gentleman can embrace a fresh yet sensual combination crafted for the next generation of Polo men. The eight ounce bottle showcases 24-carat gold details and arrives in a luxurious leather box making a bold statement. Nobody wants to smell just like everyone else -- here's your chance to stand out in the crowd wearing a subtle yet tantalizing limited edition scent that only Polo can create available for $200. There is also a four-ounce bottle of the eau de toilette for $62.50.

In celebration of Ralph Lauren's relationship with the East Hampton Historical Society, the company is introducing a new collection of EHHS-branded apparel and accessories under the Polo label for Summer 2009, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Society. The new collection includes men's waffle t-shirts; hooded sweatshirts and t-shirts adorned with archival imagery from the EHHS; baseball caps; and canvas beach totes (above). The trademark whale logo is a nod to the whaling industry that was an important component to the Hamptons' economy during Colonial times.

Beginning in June 2008, Polo Ralph Lauren announced that it would underwrite the ongoing restoration of the barns and landscape of the East Hampton Historical Society's renowned Mulford Farm, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered one of America's most significant, intact English Colonial farmsteads. Lauren's support will allow the Society to complete its goal of restoring the estate to its former glory. The EHHS collection will be available online and at select Ralph Lauren stores.

The ultra-rare 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (which my colleague Noah Joseph wrote about back in February) just set a new world record for the most expensive motor car ever to be sold at auction, achieving a final price of €9,020,000 or about $12.2 million at RM Auctions' annual Leggenda e Passione event in Italy. The beautiful Scaglietti-designed "pontoon-fender" 250 TR was one of only 22 made. One of the most instantly recognizable cars in Ferrari's history, it's highly coveted by collectors - Ralph Lauren owns two of them.

"The historical significance of this car attracted a bidding war as collectors from around the world - both in the room and on the telephone – competed to secure one of the most alluring and iconic of all Ferrari racing cars," said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe. "The eyes of the world were watching today's sale as cars of this quality are so rarely offered to the market. The quality and the provenance of the Testa Rossa speaks for itself and the price we achieved today is testament to that."

On May 30 Britain's Prince Harry will play in the second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic during his first official visit to the U.S. Last year we told you about the launch of the Manhattan Classic, the first polo match to be played in NYC in 70 years. For this year's event the famed St. Regis hotel is offering an Aficionado package, including a stay at the ultra-luxe hotel, VIP seating at the match for two guests, and brunch the next day with Nacho Figueras, captain of Ralph Lauren's Black Watch polo team (and a Ralph Lauren model).

The St. Regis will feature its renowned Afternoon Tea at the polo match, and Sandro Micheli of Adour Alain Ducasse at The St. Regis New York has created a special menu for the occasion. At the match taking place on Governor's Island, the Prince will play opposite Black Watch on a team captained by Nick Roldan. Veuve Clicquot is donating proceeds from the event to American Friends of Sentebale, a charity supporting at-risk children in Lesotho, Africa, founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso.

[via JustLuxe]

At the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy on April 24-26, designer Ralph Lauren will be presenting his multiple concours-winning 1938 Bugatti Atlantic 57SC (above), one of only three built. At the event, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, Lauren's beautiful car, worth several million dollars, will be making its first European appearance in 18 years. The Concorso is held at the ultra-luxurious Grand Hotel Villa d'Este on the shores of Lake Como, where part of Casino Royale was filmed, and which we featured in our post on the world's most luxurious private gardens. More than 50 classic beauties spanning six decades of motoring history have been selected to appear at this year's Concorso, which is presented by BMW with sponsorship from Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux, while bespoke coachbuilders Bertone and Zagato will stage world premieres of their new concept cars.

[via JustLuxe]

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Ralph Lauren to create a one-of-a-kind Valentine's Day getaway for stylish couples, called "Ralph Lauren Romance Always Yours." Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Ralph Lauren's Romance fragrance and the launch of their newest scent, Romance Always Yours, the package is available at select Rosewood properties including the famed Carlyle Hotel in New York (above); Rosewood's flagship hotels in Dallas, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and Rosewood Crescent Hotel; as well as the Inn of the Anasazi, A Rosewood Hotel in Sante Fe; the Mansion on Peachtree, A Rosewood Hotel & Residence in Atlanta; and CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort in San Martin, CA.

The two-night package, which starts at $799, includes a luxe room stocked with gifts including a bottle of champagne upon arrival and a custom monogrammed Ralph Lauren cashmere throw. A private candlelit dinner, created specially by one of Rosewood's acclaimed Executive Chefs, will be served en-suite. The indulgence will continue the following day with complimentary spa treatments for two and a limited edition bottle of Ralph Lauren's Always Yours, featuring a delicately hand-crafted glass dauber faceted like a diamond, to take home as a souvenir of an incredible weekend. See the gallery for pix of the participating properties.

This is the last of the first collections for the newly unveiled Ralph Lauren watch brand. The Classic Slim collection here is very different from the Sporting or Stirrup collection, though they all share use of Roman numeral dials. The Classic Slim collection houses the very thin RL430 movement derived from Piaget, another company by joint parent the Richemont Group. This slim Ralph Lauren watch is only 5.35mm thick.

The most noticeable element of the Classic Slim collection watches is the beautiful use of guilloche engraving machine work on the dial and bezel. The 42mm 18k rose gold case and silvered dial each share similar engraving patterns. Guilloche work is often done by hand on very old machines that must be kept running, as new ones aren't manufactured often or any longer.

Style is similar to Breguet, complete with the engraving, broad Roman numerals, and pomme hands. It is a nice look from the brand that makes luxury sensible. The decorated, yet practical look of the Classic Slim watch works well with the demure logo. Around your wrist goes a dark-colored crocodile strap attached to lugs that appear just a bit too small, but enhance the roundness of the dial.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

First for the new Ralph Lauren watch brand I discussed the Stirrup Collection. Featured here is the second line, the Sporting Collection. I commented on how the Stirrup Collection looked like a design melding between Cartier and Hermes; well the same is true here. True to its name, the Sporting Collection is more sporty then the Stirrup of Classic Slim collection. Six large screws keep the bezel looking strong, yet can pass for being functional if necessary. It's strong looks aren't aggressive looking though, which is nice as this watch says "I bathe horses for fun."

I am on the fence about the application of the Ralph Lauren logo, and whether I admire it or not. It is certainly retro, reminding you of a time when branding was less of an issue that it is today. The models come in three flavors. A subsidiary seconds model (the Classic) , the Chronograph, and the World Timer with power reserve. Metals are either steel or gold. Again, Richemont gives Ralph Lauren access to the parts bin, and the Sporting Collection features IWC mechanical movements such as the RL98295 for the world timer. My pick is the black-faced chronograph on the metal bracelet, that is a sure hit.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

As the luxury watch market feels the pressure from the economy on its shoulders, you wouldn't expect to see new brands popping up. Regardless, this partnership between Polo Ralph Lauren and the Richemont Group took seed before the economic hit really began and there was no stopping this seemingly immune connection of fashion and haute horology.

The new Equestrian line from Ralph Lauren is separated into three collections. The first of which is the aptly named "Stirrup Collection" due to the shape of the watch case. No, it isn't the tombstone collection. These are no mere fashion watches as can be seen from their unveiling at which occurred at the luxury watch show SIHH 2009. Richemont is the name behind many luxury brands, some of which the Ralph Lauren collection borrows from literally and thematically.

Inside the Ralph Lauren Stirrup collection watches are all Jaeger LeCoultre (Richemont owned) movements, such as the caliber RL750 in the power reserve version of the watch. The 18k rose gold case has a domed anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal, with a water-resistance of 30 meters. The watch designs look to me like a cross between Cartier (Richemont owned) and Hermes (not Richemont owned). Think of the Roman numbers (Cartier) and the shape of the case that looks like the Hermes lock-shaped watch. The stirrup collection is mounted on a wide crocodile band that is almost like a bund strap given how the lugs are attached. It's attractive and sober looking - just what the economy needs right now.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Polo Ralph Lauren was recently admitted to the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), a prestigious luxury watch industry trade show. Interestingly enough Ralph Lauren does not currently offer any luxury watches. That is all going to change soon as Ralph Lauren has partnered with the prestigious watch making Richemont Group to produce watches with a license from popular fashion house. The new watches will be distributed through a number of global retailers under the "Polo Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelery Company" name.

Richemont is the controlling group behind a number of high performing luxury watch brands such and IWC, Officine Panerai, and Cartier. The ensuing Polo Ralph Lauren watches will be established as luxury models, though no images of the designs have been made available just yet. This will all change in less than two weeks as the new watch brand is set to release its first line of models at the 2009 SIHH show later this month in Geneva.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

This past holiday season we broke out the black tie as usual, for what's become basically an annual airing. This got us musing on subjects sartorial and formal attire in particular; then Michael Williams, author of the genius men's style blog A Continuous Lean, pointed us to a page on Ralph Lauren's website for his Rugby line citing the brilliant 1990 movie Metropolitan by Whit Stillman as inspiration. Describing the film (scene pictured above) as "a pitch-perfect examination of our two favorite things: urbane style and preppy angst," Lauren's site declares it can also be viewed as a textbook on how to wear black tie (are you listening, Barack Obama?).

With Metropolitan as a frame of reference, the Rugby writers list a set of rules for stylish evening attire. As Stillman's a good friend of ours, we asked him for his views on the tribute. Actually, he told us, "When we were preparing Metropolitan there was a great two page Ralph Lauren ad running in magazines that we clipped and showed around to illustrate the style the film would aspire to." So, in a way, Stillman notes, "Ralph Lauren influenced the film before it might have inspired Rugby."

And while he says that both the Rubgy site and its commenters "did a good job discussing the film," Stillman takes issue with their 2nd rule for sporting black tie, which states: "You don't need to wear a cummerbund with a tuxedo - that's a personal choice. If you lose the cummerbund, wear suspenders (never a belt), and don't forget that they need not be black; in fact, they probably shouldn't be." Stillman insists that, in fact, "either a cummerbund or waistcoat is required, and suspenders should be worn with either, as with no belt the laws of gravity must be resisted." There you have it, straight from the master (and we fully concur).



We neither of us have any quarrel with Rugby's rule #5, however, which states the following: "You should look sharp in your tux, but there will come a point in the night when jackets are off, ties are undone and anything goes (as evidenced in the movie). If, while wearing your tux, you're invited to dance a rumba: you do. If you're asked to play strip poker: you do. And if you're forced into a fistfight with a count of dubious provenance: by all means, do. Just try not to get any blood on your sweet threads, ok?"

Meanwhile, it seems that Ralph and Rugby aren't the only ones channeling Whit; the hit TV show Gossip Girl also seems to be taking some cues from Metropolitan. Of course, with such an influential film any really comprehensive list of appropriators would have be an extremely long one.

Ralph Lauren is continuing his theme of ultra-luxe accessories in go-to-hell colors with his latest offering for men, the Garda Alligator Driver (above). The classic Italian driving shoe is given a stylish twist in brilliantly-hued genuine alligator skin with equestrian hardware. The loafers come in five colors: Emerald Green, Cherry Red, Marine Blue, Purple, and Black, and are priced at $3,800 a pair. For an additional $920, you can also get a matching alligator skin belt (available in most of the same colors) with an engravable sterling silver buckle. Lauren has also made belts and boots in vivid alligator for women, but it's in the men's items that these colors really pop.

This holiday season, Ralph Lauren is coming out with luxurious and exorbitantly colorful collection of modern classics, featuring decadent accessories for men, women and the home. One of our favorite items is this vintage-inspired sterling silver flask with an enameled portrait of a 19th-century jockey, priced at $2,495. Other highlights include eye-popping takes on the elegant alligator and crocodile belts Lauren has been doing for decades, in shocking go-to-hell colors like purple and orange. The women's version features a horseshoe-shaped buckle and costs $1,895.

In addition, there are velvet slippers for men embroidered with a bold equestrian figure in several colors for $950; a pillow made from a silk equestrian-themed scarf backed by luxurious cashmere for $795; cashmere throw blankets in bright tones bordered with contrasting suede for $995; and saddle leather jewelry boxes with brightly-hued alligator lids for $2,895. Lauren was just named the most powerful man in men's fashion meanwhile by industry bible DNR, beating out Giorgio Armani for the top spot.

Times are tough, people are cutting back and yet now seems to be the time that designers are trotting out the ultra high-end fragrances. Recently Ralph Lauren's Limited-Edition Love Eau de Parfum Amethyst hit the market, selling for $2,200 at Neiman Marcus and boasting a 47 carat amethyst as a bottle topper. Now here comes Donatella Versace with her four-figure offering, Gianni Versace Couture, a new fragrance that will retail for $2,100. The new fragrance comes in a white leather train case and has notes of bergamot and tangerine with a floral kick from jasmine, heliotrope and almond blossom and a base that includes tonka bean, patchouli heart and sandalwood. The scent will be sold in Versace's boutiques, launching in November in Europe and not hitting the U.S. until December. There will be 100 pieces made to start out with but more will be made if wallets remain flush through the new year.