Despite having a banner fiscal year, Ralph Lauren has decided to close it’s “collegiate” line, Rugby.
You’re probably unmoved by this and wonder why I, a girl whose style doesn’t tend to lean towards Boston Brahmin, would even note it.
Well, Rugby Ralph Lauren launched here in Boston on Newbury St in 2004 as a tribute to Boston’s famous Ivy-League style. (Sometimes I think people in New York mistake Boston’s college scene for British boarding schools starring jovial trust funders with charming Kennedy accents but I digress.) So forgive me for having a soft spot for the RL offshoot.
I’m not preppy. I’m not even close.
I’ve never even owned one of those Ralph Lauren Polo shirts or cable knit sweaters, which is practically unheard of here in New England. But I like Rugby’s vibe and they are great for certain basics especially when fall rolls around.
So what went wrong?
Now, I’m not a retail business expert but I have a couple of thoughts:
1. I don’t recall much fanfare heralding the launch of Rugby. I remember it just suddenly being on the less impressive end of Newbury St one day near Urban Outfitters, Condom World and the now defunct Jasmine Sola (don’t you miss Jasmine Sola?) and the doomed Virgin Records space. While this block of Newbury has certainly improved with popular brands popping up, it didn’t exactly bode well for Rugby back in 2004.
2. If I didn’t regularly receive occasional press releases and look books as a girl on the fringe of the fashion industry, I probably wouldn’t even know that it existed. I know they’ve done
3. It was absurdly expensive. Those basics I mentioned earlier? Purchased on major sale.
4. Point of view. For one thing, I’m not sure that this boarding school dandy twenty-something actually exists anymore. When the line quickly took off around the world (including a much hyped store in London’s Covent Garden and in Tokyo) it diluted the brand too much and turned it into much more of a “mall” brand similar to some of Ralph’s other lifestyle lines at Macy’s. I’m not hating on those lines at all especially as their prices (usually) reflect that…Rugby’s price point stayed high.
I loved poking around the Rugby store on Newbury St and I’m going to pout when it shutters for good in January.
I wish RL would decide to keep the line and store as a Boston/online exclusive although it would probably do better at a different location.
The good part? Pretty much every fall style is 40% off in store and online now through November 7th.
(Photos Courtesy Rugby Ralph Lauren and The Boston Globe)
https://w.atcontent.com/-/2c9F4CeioFT/TheBostonista/1HtTAV7-nu7.text/Panel/Autocheck
7 Comments
I love it! I follow you my dear!
and I also follow you on facebook, twitter and tumblr.
I would be happy if you will follow me, too.
I leave you my links, so it will be easier to find me.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/toprosemary
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Thank you, dear!
Good luck
cool pictures!:)
xx Kate
http://style-department.blogspot.com
I don't know how well Rugby translated outside of the store. My husband LOVED it. He would go in a drool over the clothes, but when I bought them for him he would never actually wear them. He was in LOVE with the blue and white striped blazer, for example, which I purchased as a fun Christmas gift for him. Four years later, he's never worn it. I think it was just hard to translate their clothes from the store to real life?
sooo New England! haha love it.
I loved Rugby! I had no idea they were closing the line. Ralph Lauren Rugby always felt so Boston. It was typical New England preppy style at its finest. I'll be sad to see it go!
~ Caroline
peachykeencaroline.blogspot.com
I think it is so perfectly Boston also – it's quite sad that they will be no longer 🙁
I loved Rugby! I own the coolest and preppiest rugby shirt and totally regret not buying more. I hope RL makes preppier women's clothes or I will move on to Brooks Brothers.