The authentic and timeless world of Ralph Lauren
April 2025
RL/Women

The Birth of Hamptons Style

A curation of Ralph Lauren Vintage looks starting from the early 2000s traces a path to quintessential East Coast style, steeped in past, present, and future
By Shannon Adducci
On the surface, Hamptons style might seem easy to spot. One could start by defining it as an elevated form of summer vacation fashion, given the seasonality of Hamptons visitors and the promise of leisure. Proximity to the beach is also essential, and for many it’s about crisp, breezy linens, swimsuits, sandals, and the like. The legacy of the white-attire party looms large in the collective style mindset. These details are not wrong, but they are only one layer of a tapestry created by the many histories of the eastern end of Long Island. From its Indigenous and farming roots to the various artists and writers that have flocked to the area through the years to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s commentary on class divide some towns over in The Great Gatsby (a story that Ralph told sartorially as a costume designer of the 1974 film), the region has proven itself to be multidimensional and multi-aesthetic, appealing to and reflecting all walks of life.
Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in The Great Gatsby (a story that Ralph told sartorially as a costume designer of the 1974 film)
Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in The Great Gatsby (a story that Ralph told sartorially as a costume designer of the 1974 film)
These varying influences that have come to define the Hamptons style can also be seen in Ralph Lauren’s runway collections through the years, as the designer explored different sensibilities through the seasons. From delicate chintz and breezy coastal interiors to the flora of afternoon garden parties, marinière influences, and Fitzgerald-inspired Art Deco details, Ralph’s collections have given depth, drama, and definition to the Out East look. On the occasion of the Hamptons-inspired Spring 2025 Collection debut, Ralph Lauren Vintage has curated pieces from a handful of seasons, from the early 2000s all the way to Spring 2022, that show a throughline of the designer’s enduring Hamptons style.
Blanc de Blancs
Spring 2002
The Collection was almost entirely comprised of looks in all white, both inspiring and reflecting a major trend at the time. The designer chose shades of pearl, ivory, alabaster, sand, and salt for what was then described as “homespun heritage” and the “ultimate palate cleanser.” But its real impact was in the details, with tiered tea linens, vintage handkerchiefs, tattered hemlines, and fringed shawls adding bohemian texture, while Western influences came in the form of caramel brown leather belts, deerskin jeans, and suede pieces—such as a buttoned jacket, which was originally styled on the runway with a long white tiered skirt. Embellished skirts and dresses added glamour to balance out the Collection’s delicate nature.
The Art of Craft
Spring 2006
Provençal charm, Giverny florals, and a distinctively French take on the color blue swept over the Collection, in linen, silk, cotton, and indigo. Delicate, hand-done details once again dominated this aughts moment, with a focus on hand-painted fabrics, sumptuous embroidery, and gold accents against silhouettes in crisp white and cream. Crocheted cotton, eyelet detailing, peasant embroidery, and ribbon details added more flourishes, as did an embroidered cotton jacket that evoked the blue-and-white florals of French country wallpaper (and contrasted with marinière stripes and denim). An indigo patchwork skirt suit gave contrast, dimension, and a raw texture, while a fluted white antiqued-linen skirt was decorated with bands of silk broadcloth stripes, twisted and placed in a decorative pattern.
Art Deco Details
Spring 2011
A Collection that focused squarely on the American West, the season reflected one of Ralph’s most enduring themes. There were white leather fringe jackets and matching fringed chaps, whipstitched pieces, concho belts and wide silver buckles, and plaid shirts tucked into pencil skirts. While Western was the Collection’s overarching theme, key details also revealed an Art Deco lens that has been integral to the Hamptons style point of view. An intricately beaded skirt featured tiers of scalloped edging, a hallmark pattern of the style that dominated the 1920s and ’30s.
Sailor Stripes
Spring 2016
The Collection was released less than 10 years ago, but it has already helped to define the retrospective look of the mid- to late-2010s. Ralph returned once more to the French Riviera, channeling its glamorous spirit and sportiness from the early 1930s as a starting point for a Collection that remixed the inspiration through a decidedly modern lens. Nautical flags, sailor stripes, and maritime accessories dominated the line, and bold head-to-toe patterns on long dresses highlighted a key silhouette of the decade.
SHANNON ADDUCCI is a writer and fashion editor based in New York. Her work has appeared in Elle, GQ, Departures, Robb Report, WWD, and T: The New York Times Style Magazine.
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