Profile

All of Ralph’s lines are represented in the West Village boutique—vintage, Collection, and Black and Blue labels—meaning there’s something for everyone, price-wise. But not stylewise. Looking for a power suit or glamorous gown? Go uptown. This shop is more about casual chic. — Jeannette Park

Sales

Fall/winter and spring/summer sales are usually held twice a year.

Key Departments

Bridal

Spring 2005 featured an array of sophisticated suiting perfect for brides who want to wear the traditional color, but in a nontraditional style. Expect to see flowy white pantsuits and silky linen knee-length skirt suits that you can wear long after you've tied the knot.

Handbags

There’s a bag to suit any Ralph Lauren moment—a dark-brown croc satchel, a dark-brown croc clutch with tortoise, or maybe a berry velvet antique-frame clutch ($1,350).

Women's Clothing

You can count on the purveyor of prep-school fashion for the perfect blazer—and pretty much anything plaid or tweed. But Ralph Lauren never fails to serve up some surprises each season, as well, like a camel-hair full skirt, a wool-cashmere bouclé jacket, a washed-cashmere herringbone double-breasted jacket. All of Ralph’s lines are represented in the West Village boutique—vintage, Collection, and Black and Blue labels—meaning there’s something for everyone, price-wise. But not stylewise. Looking for a power suit or glamorous gown? Go uptown. This shop is more about casual chic—we liked a perfect-for-fall chocolate-brown corduroy blazer with leather trim and elbow patches. Into vests? Get a puffy one at a pretty price, or the goatskin, which costs as much as a PowerBook. Preppies will delight in the wall of wide-wale corduroys in a rainbow of colors (each with a contrasting ribbon belt).