If nothing else, people in my life will remember me by the blue Polo button-down I stole from my dad's closet in middle school and have been wearing regularly ever since. So, when I say nothing beats Polo or my reverence of it, I really do mean nothing does, and nobody can. And it is because of this high regard that I hold for Ralph Lauren's golden child label that I can immediately tell when other brands are leeching off its powers. 

They don't do it in an entirely unwelcome way, necessarily. But it is an obvious one: stitched into nearly every luxury shirt under the sun today, from Prada to LOEWE, Chanel to Saint Laurent, Miu Miu to Dior, one will find each house's own version of Ralph Lauren's iconic embroidered polo player — which is itself what I consider the only tolerable and cool logo remaining.

Michael Rider's CELINE deserves a special shoutout here, especially considering the American designer's previous gig at none other than Polo Women's. Coincidence? I think not, nor do I mind. What’s interesting about this longer term trend is that it isn't solely about staples stamped with subtle insignia. There's something deeper at play, gesturing toward an even higher debt owed to the King of prep. 

Far more than once have I applauded the best of current designers’ commitment to careful tailoring, thoughtful shapes, and prioritization of styling well-made items above the theatrics of attention-seeking statementwear. These are principles Polo has abided by for close to 60 years — arguably, it defined them —  and we’ve seen the non-stop success of that formula  across decades and demographics, through pre- and post-logo times.

A few days ago, the Lyst Index's latest report on 2025 awarded Polo's quarter-zip its hottest Q4 product honors, with the Ralph Lauren company on 4th place of the equivalent hottest brand ranking. However controversial that winning garment might be, it somehow embodies fashion du jour's bigger picture; the quarter-zip is both symptom and catalyst of how everything from ready-to-wear to straight-up couture is focused on the wearability of clothes that are to make sense, feel nice, and look good.

Desirability is no longer anchored in fantasy, but tethered to reality. As a shopper, I’ve been trained (or perhaps empowered) to want something I can get real use out of, especially if I'm spending loads of money on it. Crucially, I want to live in these pieces, not enshrine them. “Everyday” is no longer a euphemism for boring basics; it is now the industry’s greatest aspiration.

It's almost ironic then, how inanimate presentations like CELINE's, featuring a single room filled with tower-stacked jeans, layered outfits on hangers, and color-sorted rows of shoes, will scratch my brain just right. These are products. They're pragmatic, and they’re gorgeous because of that quality. They don't pretend otherwise. 

Like the many Polo treasures I found both inside my father's vault and beyond, some favorite examples of what's coming to stores now are marked, quite literally, by similarly simple yet charismatic details. Sure, nothing will ever make me feel as strangely sentimental as a tiny left-chest pony. While the imitators’ respective executions might run the spectrum between fun and a bit logomanic, these little crests of belonging have, in their own way, become shorthand for decent clothes that speak for themselves. Lest we forget, Ralph wrote that dictionary. 

Written by Max Migowski, Highsnobiety Shopping Editor

Anyone who owns Ralph Lauren probably can count a bit of Barbour in  their collection, too. And if not, Kaptain Sunshine's deconstructed, mixed-materials collaboration is an excellent (fittingly Ametora-coded) place to start. 

When thinking of Ametora, one thinks of L.L.Bean. From there the mind wanders to cotton totes, in which case — my God, please invest in this England-made, Auralee-approved beauty by Brady.

And now wouldn't that tote look great with these equally England-made, premium leather New Balances? Or this faintly snoafer-recalling Prada shoe?

If England or New England aesthetics (or Japanese reimaginings of them) aren’t your cup of tea right now, maybe Our Legacy's Swedish taste in padded jackets resonates more?

On the topic of jackets: How did we get from last week's furry to this week's GORE-TEX Stüssy so fast? Not complaining though…

A personal rule of mine is to never spend too much on sunnies since I have a habit of losing them. But if I did have $1,000 to spare on sunglasses (and wasn't so forgetful), I’m afraid these Brunello Cucinellis would make my rotation — at least, until they vanished.

If wherever you are is as cold as it is here in Berlin, you're gonna wanna get in on some UNIQLO longjohns…

… and a chic wool base layer, like this one by Berner Kühl that'll moonlight as a sexy, body-hugging longsleeve. It's also washing-machine-safe.

Whether to boost one’s glow for looming Valentine's Day dates, or for some much-needed light therapy, some of us over here at Highsnobiety have been pretty into this infrared mask. It might end up being responsible for the best 10 minutes of your day, at least until spring!

In sports, recovery is as important as the activity itself. It's a fact any athlete competing at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan can attest to. Next to their exquisite — you guessed it — Ralph Lauren gear for the day, Team USA has been equipped with SKIMS for a good night's rest. Of the latter, the boxer briefs and sleep tees, his and hers, should be added to your shopping cart.

By Max Migowski

with Herbert Hofmann, Delia Cai & Youri Chapelle