Once aspirational, companies like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger have lost their luster, while innovative new brands are shining bright.
Once aspirational, companies like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger have lost their luster, while innovative new brands are shining bright.
Fifteen years ago, when I was in high school, I remember flipping through the pages of Teen Vogue and marveling at glossy Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein spreads. These brands each still represented distinct styles: Ralph Lauren portrayed fresh-faced girls with bouncy ponytails wearing tennis skirts and polo shirts, while Calvin Klein was edgier, with black-and-white photos of skinny models wearing nothing more than jeans and a tank top (if that). Depending on whether I was in an optimistic or angst-ridden phase, I’d gravitate toward one aesthetic or the other.
