Ralph Lauren Italian Upholstered Raymond Club Chair

To suggest that Ralph Lauren has come a long way is an understatement. From his humble beginnings as a tie salesman working out of a drawer at New York’s Empire State Building, he grew one of the world’s largest and most successful fashion empires from scratch.

For decades, Ralph Lauren’s clothing brand has blended classic, preppy Americana East Coast-style with the look of upper-crust English aristocracy. This style is the hallmark of Ralph Lauren’s design and can be seen in all facets of his brand, from its vintage apparel, accessories and jewelry to furniture and décor.

The iconic fashion designer was born Ralph Rueben Lifshitz in New York City and grew up in the Bronx. When he and his brother were in their teens, they changed their surname from Lifshitz to Lauren after being teased about it at school. Later on, Lauren took business classes at night, worked at various menswear retailers and did a stint in the U.S. Army. While working at tie manufacturer Beau Brummel, he was inspired to create his own line of ties.

In 1967, Lauren launched “Polo,” ties handmade from high-quality fabrics featuring a wide design. They were a success. Lauren sold $500,000 worth to retail giants Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Paul Stuart in his first year.

Lauren expanded his designs into clothing, with his first menswear line of classic tweed suits in 1968 and, in 1971, his first line of womenswear featuring classic feminine tailoring. Lauren’s nostalgic fashion soon captured the eye of Hollywood. He created costumes for the 1974 adaptation of The Great Gatsby and was responsible for Diane Keaton’s distinctive feminine menswear look in 1977’s Annie Hall. Ralph Lauren’s designs have since garnered national and international acclaim and recognition — from Gwyneth Paltrow’s iconic pink 1999 Oscars dress to becoming the official outfitter of Team USA for the Olympics since 2008.

In 2018, Ralph Lauren celebrated his 50th anniversary with a star-studded fashion show and, in 2019, was awarded an honorary knighthood — the highest British honor — for services to fashion.

On 1stDibs, discover a wide range of vintage Ralph Lauren shirts, sweaters and other clothing.

Renowned as one of the world’s finest luxury furniture brands, Theodore Alexander designs and produces handcrafted, high-quality pieces that are not only functional but beautiful and original.

Theodore Alexander was founded in 1996 by famed British curator, designer and entrepreneur Paul Maitland-Smith. From an early age, Maitland-Smith was a keen collector of antiques, leading to his work as a London-based antique dealer in the 1950s.

During the 1970s, Maitland-Smith lived in Southeast Asia, where he began his production of Chippendale-style chairs. He later focused on manufacturing reproduction furniture and decorative objects using materials such as porcelain, bronze, brass, leather, lacquer and shagreen. To produce his intricate designs, Maitland-Smith taught local craftspeople a range of techniques, including gilding, marquetry, inlay, reverse-painted glass and lost wax brass casting. In 2019, Maitland-Smith was inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame.

Theodore Alexander has an extensive collection of designs reflecting styles spanning from Regency to mid-century modern. Among its most popular pieces are dining room tables, consoles, side tables, end tables, coffee tables and armchairs, each produced with exquisite finishes and details. Theodore Alexander’s Living History collection includes pieces like hardwood cabinets, chests of drawers and a rare authorized copy of a Thomas Chippendale library bookcase from Princess Diana’s childhood home, the Althorp Estate.

Theodore Alexander’s furniture remains highly sought after by interior designers and luxury furniture collectors worldwide. Its pieces have been featured in leading publications, including Architectural Digest and Florida Design magazine.

On 1stDibs, discover vintage and contemporary Theodore Alexander tables, case pieces, storage cabinets, seating and more.