Genuine Authentic: The Real Life of Ralph Lauren – A Revealing Biography of the Fashion Designer's Meteoric Success and the Secrets Behind the Empire
Product ID: 2480080
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A fascinating and comprehensive look into the life of American fashion designer Ralph Lauren, now with an afterword. “Deep-dish...sharp-clawed...honestly admiring.”—New York Times There are at least two Ralph Laurens. To the public he's a gentle, modest, yet secure and purposeful man. Inside the walls of Polo Ralph Lauren, though, he was long seen by some as a narcissist, an insecure ditherer, and, at times, a rampaging tyrant. Michael Gross, author of the bestsellers Model and 740 Park, lays bare the truths of this fashion emperor's rise, and reveals not only the secrets of his meteoric success in marketing our shared fantasies, but also a widely unknown side that's behind the designer’s chic façade. But who is the real Ralph Lauren? From Lifshitz to Lauren: Go inside the story of the ambitious boy from the Bronx, Ralph Lifshitz, and discover the real reason he changed his name on his journey to becoming a cultural icon. The Two Ralphs: Uncover the stark contrast between the gentle, purposeful public figure and the man some insiders knew as a rampaging tyrant. Fashion Emperor: Learn the secrets behind the meteoric rise of the Polo Ralph Lauren empire and the vision that turned a single tie into a global brand. An Aristocratic Secret: Discover the astonishing, unknown truth of Lauren’s maternal lineage—a connection to an aristocratic Jewish dynasty he never knew he had. Investigative Journalism: Based on years of research by bestselling author Michael Gross, this definitive account lays bare the truth behind the chic façade. Review: Great Service and Fast delivery - The book arrived quickly and I am now reading it. This is an unauthorized book and Ralph Lauren kept his everyone he knew uncooperative. It is out of print and so I came to this site to find it. The delivery and condition are as described by the seller. I probably will not have Ralph sign it as he was not happy it was published. Ralph is writing his own autobiography and it is being released or may have by now. I like to read unauthorizied biographys and biographys that tell the story in the way the subject likes them told. It gives two points of view. Review: The REAL Ralph Lauren! - I was enthralled with who the original Ralph Lauren was and who he created himself into. I was the publicist for the Original Marlboro Man, the late William Thourlby. I think Bill would have enjoyed it too. Ralph is example of British royalty mixed with American Old West. The author does an excellent job as an investigative reporter/author just I did for Post Newsweek/CBS.
| Best Sellers Rank | #375,319 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #120 in Jewish Biographies #147 in Textile & Costume (Books) #150 in Fashion History |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 82 Reviews |
K**R
Great Service and Fast delivery
The book arrived quickly and I am now reading it. This is an unauthorized book and Ralph Lauren kept his everyone he knew uncooperative. It is out of print and so I came to this site to find it. The delivery and condition are as described by the seller. I probably will not have Ralph sign it as he was not happy it was published. Ralph is writing his own autobiography and it is being released or may have by now. I like to read unauthorizied biographys and biographys that tell the story in the way the subject likes them told. It gives two points of view.
H**N
The REAL Ralph Lauren!
I was enthralled with who the original Ralph Lauren was and who he created himself into. I was the publicist for the Original Marlboro Man, the late William Thourlby. I think Bill would have enjoyed it too. Ralph is example of British royalty mixed with American Old West. The author does an excellent job as an investigative reporter/author just I did for Post Newsweek/CBS.
J**N
Great book!
The book arrived quickly and is in great condition. My only comment is the “M” in the authors name is scratched but I’m not super particular about the cover quality as long as the pages are intact. The book is a great read and I’m super happy with it!
S**T
Sounds like Mr. Lauren (Lifshitz) was talented but a volatile ...
Interesting bio - lot's of facts I was not aware of. Sounds like Mr. Lauren (Lifshitz) was talented but a volatile person as well as a "cheater" too bad, I do love his clothes.
K**N
Great Book!
I enjoyed reading this book. I love RL clothes and how he got started was interesting and inspiring!
F**G
PRINT IS WAY TOO SMALL & TOO LIGHT !
I KNOW MICHAEL GROSS IS A GREAT WRITER BUT THE PRINT IN THE BOOK IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO SEE BECAUSE THE WORDS ARE SMALL AND VERY LIGHT IN COLOR ! IT'S ABOUT 400 PAGES BUT IF IT WAS LARGER PRINT, IT MIGHT BE CLOSER TO 500 PAGES. BUT IF THE PRINT WAS DARKER, THE SMALL SIZE OF THE PRINT WOULDN'T MATTER AS MUCH... READING IT LIKE THIS GIVES ME EYE STRAIN & A HEADACHE ! I'M LOOKING FOR A LARGER PRINT VERSION.... I HAVE TONS OF PAPERBACK BOOKS & THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I CAN'T READ !
B**.
Just arrived and an excellent condition, quickly
Just arrived and an excellent condition, quickly
R**S
Really enjoy Mr. Gross
Love this guy. Read other books by him and this one is no exception. Informative, dramatic...couldn't put it down. Who needs fiction!
F**L
Balanced but with lovely gossipy titbits
I loved the book. I've been in the fashion industry for over 20 years. I've worked for a top level designer and 2 family businesses and so much of this book rang scarily true to my own professional experiences. I became a fan of RL back in the mid 80's as a teenager when I began buying Vogue and drooled over the beautiful ads. Luckily, because I've only now just read this book it hasn't hurt my appreciation of RL. However, I can't help but think he is a symptom of his time - as the book acknowledges. He completely absorbed the Hollywood myths about Cary Grant e.t.c. and the waspy / preppy image but I can't help but agree with those who wonder if there really is a degree of self hate given the nerd-level intensity of his obsession. Although I've been in the fashion industry for a long time, a real eye opener for me was the realisation that Designer labels actually create ranges specifically to sell at discount retail stores. I always assumed they were filled with left over stock! I loved this book so much I may buy the hardback edition as my second-hand copy was very battered and I know I'll want to read this book again.
A**H
Bad
I recieved a dvd of some band instead of my book !!! Fraud !!! I am really not satisfied. A
J**N
Four Stars
Great book. Came in good condition
V**I
Uma boa visão por trás dos bastidores
O livro faz um bom trabalho em mostrar a história por trás do mito que se tornou o designer e fundador da marca. O estilo de coleção de entrevistas e informações retiradas de reportagens às vezes torna a narrativa um pouco caótica, porém.
J**1
Enjoyable, entertaining and inspiring
If ever the saying "Never judge a book by its cover" were true, it applies to this title. The cover art was cheap (pixelated images), the supporting endorsements made it sound like a soap opera. Given that the book is unauthorised, that's understandable. But the book itself is excellent. What begins as a catty, bitchy rant against the man himself turns into a at times loving portrait of a man driven to succeed. It's interspersed with gossip and titter tatter, but Ralph's rise - despite his own personal foibles - is inspirational. Yes, the man is filled with contradictions, can be unmovable and difficult to work with. But what immensely successful men aren't? If you love the business of fashion and the story of American design, this is a must-read.
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