courtesy of oprah Two years ago Oprah got to interview Ralph Lauren because she's Oprah. He doesn't offer many interviews so this was truly an "exclusive" appearance. Because I've always thought highly of him and felt he might have some good advice, I had my notebook and ball point pen ready! And boy am I glad I did. What happened next was one of the most influential interviews I've ever watched. The sit down took place at their 17,000 acre ranch/family compound in Telluride, Colorado. He had me from the first moment I laid eyes on that Jeep, so chippy and vintage and the color of a robins egg. OH, be still my vintage lovin' heart!
I was struck by so much of what took place over the next hour. I liked the way he spoke about the "hope and excitement of a child" when looking at the details of design. Living life through the eyes of a child where all is fresh, new and alive! "I'm not about fashion, I'm about living." When asked what he was most proud of, he said his wife and children and the way he's run his business, "I've done it honorably and with integrity."
courtesy of tim hamilton He and Ricky have been married for 46 years, (CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND AGAIN)!! Oprah asked them what it takes to keep something like this? "Be a good friend" said Ricky. She said the secret to their happy marriage is a friendship. "Ralph is my best friend, and I'm just so comfortable with him, and he is with me as well--we could be ourselves," she says. "We see the world as a team." "We had nothing when we started and we worked hard and we had values."
By the way, get this....Ralph says he hardly has any clothes. He likes to keep the same thing and wear it again and again, making it truly vintage, very worn, and truly "his own." Who knew that Ralph is more like our husbands then we realized? He says he doesn't have much closet space either because my wife has it all! Now they really sound like the typical married couple don't they?
By the way, get this....Ralph says he hardly has any clothes. He likes to keep the same thing and wear it again and again, making it truly vintage, very worn, and truly "his own." Who knew that Ralph is more like our husbands then we realized? He says he doesn't have much closet space either because my wife has it all! Now they really sound like the typical married couple don't they?
courtesy of ralph lauren Their kids were at the ranch too and joined their parents toward the end of the show. The bond they had AS A FAMILY was so obvious you could just about feel it through the TV. There was a closeness, ease and comfort they had. It's the kind of thing that happens from being together a lot. Of course we only watched for 30 minutes, but I don't think you can fake that kind of thing, that kind of love. "My parents were always home" their one child said in response to the question about their family ties. "We shared a room until college" said the one son. "WE SHARED LIFE AND LIVED CLOSE!"
Can you imagine the mansion they lived in? And they shared a room? I LOVE that! And they don't get their clothing for free either. Ralph exclaimed "it's a public company, they get a discount, but not for free!" Ricky says they learned most of their parenting skills from their own mothers and fathers. "They were good people, they worked hard, they had values that we learned from them." Ralph also mentioned that he and his wife made sure to spend as much time as they could with their children. "When we went away, the kids were with us," he says. When they were children, David says his parents were always there when they got home from school and when it was time for dinner. "It was never said about us, 'their parents are out at some big function.' We really felt like it was a family, and that was the priority—to be together."
Can you imagine the mansion they lived in? And they shared a room? I LOVE that! And they don't get their clothing for free either. Ralph exclaimed "it's a public company, they get a discount, but not for free!" Ricky says they learned most of their parenting skills from their own mothers and fathers. "They were good people, they worked hard, they had values that we learned from them." Ralph also mentioned that he and his wife made sure to spend as much time as they could with their children. "When we went away, the kids were with us," he says. When they were children, David says his parents were always there when they got home from school and when it was time for dinner. "It was never said about us, 'their parents are out at some big function.' We really felt like it was a family, and that was the priority—to be together."
courtesy of ralph lauren
"It's never one memory,
it's the life we live together."
courtesy of vogue When asked about some memories they have of their parents, the children all mentioned that they watched them "just loving life". "It's never one memory, it's the life we live together. Mom chronicled our life in pictures, notes and words so we know her perspective of us."
They started speaking of Dylan's soon approaching wedding day and the dress that, of course, her Dad will be making. With tears in his eyes and a quiver in his chin, "this is the most important dress I'll ever make." "I'm not giving her away, we're taking him!" said her Mother. Watch Ralph and Dylan talk about her wedding dress.
Andrew, David and Dylan say their parents always encouraged them to pursue their passions. "There was never any pressure to do anything or be anything more than what we felt comfortable with," David says. "Whether it was with our homework or with our jobs, it was always a feeling of 'Just be happy.'"
They started speaking of Dylan's soon approaching wedding day and the dress that, of course, her Dad will be making. With tears in his eyes and a quiver in his chin, "this is the most important dress I'll ever make." "I'm not giving her away, we're taking him!" said her Mother. Watch Ralph and Dylan talk about her wedding dress.
Andrew, David and Dylan say their parents always encouraged them to pursue their passions. "There was never any pressure to do anything or be anything more than what we felt comfortable with," David says. "Whether it was with our homework or with our jobs, it was always a feeling of 'Just be happy.'"
courtesy of lazio images And for all of us, all around this world, that looks differently, comes in different shapes and sizes, colors and circumstances.
For some, it's just you and your husband, newlyweds living in your first little apartment, with barely enough cabinet space for all your wedding presents. For others, it's just a Mother and her children around the table, no Daddy in the picture, but LOVE is not missing.
Or, like ours, it's a table full of "sit down", "chew with your mouth closed", "don't say poopy at the kitchen table!"
Maybe it's all quiet for you and you only hear the tick-tick-ticking of that fifty-two year old clock resting on your mantle surrounded by beloved photos of a life well-lived and well-loved.
Whatever it looks like, the bottom line is IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. Those that walk beside you and live life with you, (whether it's your family by blood or by choice). We were made for community and I believe we function at our highest potential when we are with others, for others!
For some, it's just you and your husband, newlyweds living in your first little apartment, with barely enough cabinet space for all your wedding presents. For others, it's just a Mother and her children around the table, no Daddy in the picture, but LOVE is not missing.
Or, like ours, it's a table full of "sit down", "chew with your mouth closed", "don't say poopy at the kitchen table!"
Maybe it's all quiet for you and you only hear the tick-tick-ticking of that fifty-two year old clock resting on your mantle surrounded by beloved photos of a life well-lived and well-loved.
Whatever it looks like, the bottom line is IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. Those that walk beside you and live life with you, (whether it's your family by blood or by choice). We were made for community and I believe we function at our highest potential when we are with others, for others!
courtesy of ralph lauren And so the interview ended, the camera panning away from an old window pane through which we watched them eating their dinner together. They sat around an old barn board table laden with fresh food.
And I pondered what I just watched, how they, in that moment, were choosing to maintain a spirit of simplicity in spite of their wealth. It doesn't matter if you have what people perceive as the "perfect" family. It matters that you CARE about those that are placed in your family. Those sitting in the chairs around YOUR kitchen table.
And I pondered what I just watched, how they, in that moment, were choosing to maintain a spirit of simplicity in spite of their wealth. It doesn't matter if you have what people perceive as the "perfect" family. It matters that you CARE about those that are placed in your family. Those sitting in the chairs around YOUR kitchen table.
Because it's not who you love, it's how you love!
"What I do is about living. It's about living the best life you
can and enjoying the fullness of the life around you~
from what you wear, to the way you live,
to the way you love."
RL
"What I do is about living. It's about living the best life you
can and enjoying the fullness of the life around you~
from what you wear, to the way you live,
to the way you love."
RL
