my campaign for Ralph Lauren x Rosewood hospitality

step into Ralph Lauren's dreamy world for a night...

I’ve always been captivated by the timeless allure of the Ralph Lauren brand. I mean, what’s not to love? The Americana, inspirational and beautiful heritage the brand has built is something I admire not only because it’s alluring, but it’s also somewhat attainable. The brand’s marketing is in fact SO spot on that the magazine spreads, social media campaigns and other marketing tactics go beyond just advertising the brand. RL completely immerses you in a totally different world - Ralph’s world. Whether it be a Purple label gown in a Manhattan penthouse, a Double RL shearling jacket on the back of a horse out west, the iconic American Flag cashmere sweater sailing around Rhode Island - the pieces Ralph creates are not only timeless works of art, but they tell a story - inspiring who and where you want to be.

I once had the great privilege of attending a Ralph Lauren Purple label show for menswear at the showroom in Milan. I was there only as a guest, but I was immediately drawn into the story they were telling. Handsome men waltz throughout the elegant showroom modeling various looks from the collection. Every room has a different theme to showcase the collections and display a different feel and story with each piece. Beautifully dressed guests sip on Aperol spritzes and wander around the piazza. A vintage jaguar sits parked in the entrance elegantly greeting guests. It’s all very chic, and long story short, I didn’t want to leave this dreamy world RL had so masterfully created.

Pulled from the 2021 PR Release - “There is something about Milan that touches me—its timeless beauty, its winding cobbled streets, the patina of ancient facades, the sound of bells marking the time of day and a way of living imbued with traditions of both past and future. These are the things that inspired me to share my world of fashion and hospitality in the heart of Milan in the beauty of a Milanese residence and The Bar at Ralph Lauren— a place to gather and enjoy a morning coffee or an evening aperitivo in the intimacy of a romantic courtyard.” – Ralph Lauren

Ever since my first visit into Ralph’s world, I’ve been looking for ways to incorporate this luxurious lifestyle into my every day routine. A homemade latte in my RL mug, a cozy teddy cashmere sweater to wear lounging around in the house, a coffee table book to peruse (this new Way of Living is my favorite, and perfectly incapsulates Ralph’s lifestyle and inspiration) I love sipping a cocktail in the evening and flipping through a coffee table book. It’s like a more tangible Pinterest - try it.

All of my efforts into living a Ralph-influenced lifestyle got me thinking: what if Ralph Lauren collaborated with a hotel group to give guests the opportunity to immerse themselves into the world of Ralph Lauren? I had this thought while staying at The Carlyle hotel - the iconic Rosewood hotel located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. To me, The Carlyle perfectly embodies the classic, yet classy, aspirational allure of living in New York. So bear with me here as I walk you through my idea of a Rosewood Hotel Group x Ralph Lauren collaboration. Rosewood hotels are iconic, timeless and tasteful, so this just makes sense! Below are some locations I think are perfectly suitable to host a Ralph Lauren-themed suite. Again, this is just for fun and something I think that would be a fabulous collaboration for both the Rosewood and Ralph Lauren brands. Selfishly, I would personally love to stay in any of these suites!

Available in all suites - the classic Ralph Lauren teddy bear sitting on the bed, cheerfully welcoming you into the every suite. Beautiful barware with champagne chilling in a beautiful silver bucket upon guest’s arrival. The Polo Bar snack trio including the warmed nuts, fried olives and perfectly crisped potato chips served in silver bowls. Ralph Lauren coffee table books placed aesthetically around the room. Ralph’s coffee, tea and mugs available in every suite, of course. Music = ambiance. We’ll need a classic playlist going to set the room of every suite. This Ralph Lauren, Polo Bar playlist checks all of the boxes.

Ok, now onto the location-specific suite ideas:

Ralph Lauren x The Carlyle (New York City) - “an Upper East Side Escape” I’m thinking Purple Label-inspired decor. This Upper-East Side suite should immediately transport the guest into a classic and elegant New York night. Similarly to the penthouse showroom on the top floor at the Madison Ave RL store, this suite will boast black lacquered furniture, with a main-character-sized crystal chandelier in the center of the room. A baby grand piano sits in the corner of the room - and perhaps a guest visit from one of the many talented performers from Cafe Carlyle? A signature RL martini is available to enjoy inside the iconic and cozy Bemelman’s bar located downstairs. A personalized shopping excursion is available at the flagship store on Madison Ave. The highly-coveted Polo Bar dinner reservation is also available as a part of the hotel stay. This is my personal favorite of the suite offerings.

Ralph Lauren x Rosewood Castilian De Bosco (Tuscany, Italy) - “an Endless Aperitivo Hour” This Italian stay in the countryside pairs perfectly with the RL Home Palazzo Collection. With the intention to bring a warm, yet elegant feel to the room, I’m envisioning dark, rich jewel tones throughout the suite. A dark red Persian rug cascades the room. Fresh florals and plants are scattered throughout the suite bringing life into the room. A Negroni station with beautiful barware sits available with the additional refreshments, which include a traditional aperitivo hour of olives, nuts and potato chips. A cooking class is available at the La Canonica Cooking School located on the property grounds. A vintage Ferrari is also available for guests to venture off grounds.

Ralph Lauren x Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi (Santa Fe, NM) - “Luxury Out West” I envision dark, rich woods throughout the room. This suite is a take on the Double RL line featuring classic, yet elevated western wear. Ralph has a home in Colorado featured in his Way of Living book that I believe should be the blueprint for this suite’s decor. After all, the goal is to enter Ralph’s world! I’m picturing lots of layered rugs bringing rustic, earthy tones into the room. A large fireplace burning at all hours of the day. Horseback rides available as an excursion with the suite. These suites are rustic, but chic.

Ralph Lauren x Rosewood Miramar Beach (Montecito, CA) - “Vintage Americana” As the name suggests, this suite will encompass a classic “All American” inspired immersive experience. The room will embody the ease and breeze of California living - including neutral colors and linen room treatments. Many of the suites already have an ocean view, and this will also be crucial for the RL suite to incorporate an open-air environment. I’m imagining the iconic American Flag sweater, but in the form of a California hotel suite. This suite will complement the Rosewood’s already old-Hollywood meets California-chic inspired ambiance. A vintage Mercedes is available for guests to cruise around in Montecito. A signature RL cocktail is available in the luxurious Caruso’s bar for guests to enjoy.

Thanks for reading! Would love to hear if anyone has more ideas of ways to vamp up these Ralph Lauren suites. I’m manifesting a stay at The Carlyle x RL suite one day….

XX,

Caroline