Second-hand Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren covers several lines that share neither the same cut nor the same level of finish, and second-hand mixes them all together: Polo Ralph Lauren for the sportswear wardrobe, Lauren Ralph Lauren for women, Purple Label and Black Label at the top end. The most useful clue is still the inside label and the size of the embroidered polo player - a large logo usually signals a recent piece or a diffusion line, a small, discreet logo older production. On fit, the house moved from a roomy cut to Custom Fit and Slim Fit cuts that sit much closer to the body; two pieces of the same size can therefore hang very differently depending on their year. On a pre-owned piece, look at the ribbed collar and cuffs, which loosen first, the state of the embroidery, and on shirts the wear on the collar along the fold. Knits and jumpers should be checked against the light, where snags show.