RRL

Profile

To many, the name Ralph Lauren evokes images of upper-crust Ivy Leaguers sunbathing on yachts and playing polo. But RRL—the label’s cowboy-influenced offshoot—replaces preppy with rugged for a clothing line straight out of the Marlboro Man’s closet. Racks are stuffed with vintage flannel shirts, artfully wrinkled blouses, and outdoorsy vests while the array of cowboy boots look so beat up you’ll wonder if they'd make it through a New York winter. Jeans are the focal point: The store carries over 14 different washes, some with intentional holes and stains; all with their own corresponding pocket designs. What with the tattered rugs, faded black-and-white photos, and Americana music, if it weren't for the sales clerks, who look a little too gelled for the prairies, you'd think you’d taken a wrong turn and wound up somewhere way down Route 66. — Melissa Noble