Taking Notes for Fall: Making the Vintage Ralph Lauren Runway Affordable

In one of my classes, we talked about those things that you can get so lost in, you just lose track of time. For better or for worse, the first and only thing that came to my mind was online shopping. I'm not sure what that says about me, but it did inspire me to share my internet rabbit hole of the week with you guys: vintage Ralph Lauren runway collections. As we move into the fall season, I think we can take major notes from vintage RL for our fall style lookbooks. 

Photos from Blue Collar Red Lipstick & 10 Magazine

A theme that sticks out to me from the old RL runway is the chunky belts and turtlenecks, layered and paired with dark fall tones. It is a simple, elegant, and timeless formula for dressing warmly as the season changes. As I scroll on Depop, preparing for the incoming cooler weather, I am learning that it is actually easier than I thought to mimic my favorite parts of these expensive outfits with second-hand clothes. With a bit of patience, you can easily find cute belts and quality sweaters to recreate the essence of these looks. I will link some items I found that do just that:

Cable Knit Sweater, Black & Gold Belt

If you’ve never checked out Ralph Lauren’s Runway Archive, I highly recommend it for “window” shopping and for fashion inspo. While the pieces they feature run for way upwards of $1,000, I have found ways to channel their timeless curation of pieces into my own fall shopping. I am loving this 2002 suede coat, and while I surely won’t be purchasing it with that price tag, I did find some Vintage pieces on Depop that are pretty similar.

Ralph Lauren Spring 2002 Collection

Bernardo Suede Jacket, Free People Suede Jacket

Another recurring theme across the archive collection is embellished and beaded pieces. I loved seeing these pieces, especially given the surge of embellished tops in ‘going out’ fashion trends. This skirt and dress, both from the early 2000s, show just how stunning beading is (and are making me want to buy 4 million new shirts). 

Ralph Lauren Spring 2002 Collection

Ralph Lauren Spring 2006 Collection

Here are some affordable and unique Depop finds that remind me of these gorgeous vintage pieces:

Express Beaded Tank, Navy Beaded Tank, White House Black Market Beaded Tank

As trends cycle in and out of style, timeless classics never lose their place. Looking back on old RL collections is not only a super fun pastime, but also a reminder that good style isn’t confined to luxury price tags. By taking inspiration from the details, we can translate Ralph Lauren’s elegance into realistic and affordable looks–ideally on Depop!