Originally designed in the 1890s by Kimball & Thompson, the Rhinelander Mansion is an architectural treasure and among the few remaining turn-of-the-century great homes in Manhattan. With a classic Beaux-Arts façade, the building is a large French Renaissance Revival mansion exemplary of the grand architecture of the Upper East Side. In 1983, Ralph Lauren began an extensive renovation to re-create and restore the classic opulence of the original structure. The store is unrivaled in terms of preservation, architecture and design, and serves as the perfect showcase for the timeless style of Ralph Lauren.

The store’s interior evokes a masculine ambience, providing an intimate setting for the full breadth of iconic Ralph Lauren apparel and accessories for men, including dedicated areas for Purple Label, Black Label and Polo Ralph Lauren, as well as shops for RRL and RLX. Continuing Ralph Lauren’s tradition of service at the highest level, the store features impeccably crafted Made to Measure suits, dress shirts, trousers, topcoats, sport coats and formalwear customized to exacting measurements, as well as made-to-order accessories and leather goods. Every room on the first, second and third floors of the Men’s flagship resonate with authentic décor that keeps with the Neoclassical style of the original grand residence.

The first floor includes a refined selection of Purple Label and Polo Ralph Lauren haberdashery, with a dramatic display of luxurious Ralph Lauren timepieces. Among notable architectural and design details is one of the largest hand-carved staircases in the United States—crafted on-site by European artisans.

The second floor is home to the world of Purple Label, Made to Measure, and made-to-order accessories, luggage and antiques. The dramatic Beaux-Arts interior is enhanced by accents of charcoal grey, black and deep purple with polished nickel and antique silver hardware and metalwork.

The ornate architecture and classic details continue on the third floor, which is fully dedicated to Polo Ralph Lauren apparel and accessories. Evoking the collection’s signature preppy heritage, this floor recalls the private clubs of Harvard, Princeton and Yale. Accents of stained oak furnish the rooms and galleries, which showcase sportswear, accessories and a Create Your Own polo shirt outpost. This floor is also home to an authentically vintage environment dedicated to RRL.

The fourth floor features Ralph Lauren’s Black Label collection and is inspired by racing cars and speedboats, with mid-century furniture and decorative elements that include light mahogany millwork accented by ebonized details, Italian leather-wrapped shelving, polished stainless steel and camel-colored floor coloring. The fourth floor is also home to the luxe, innovative RLX collection, which is featured in a sleek, contemporary setting with loft inspired concrete flooring, white plaster walls, lacquer fixtures and a large light-box ceiling fixture.

Over 25 years ago, I stood on the corner of Madison Avenue and 72nd Street and watched the amazing restoration of the historic Rhinelander Mansion. I invited people into a world, not just a store. Today I stand on the opposite corner reveling once again in the elegant beauty of a new mansion. It is the most romantic setting for all my women’s collections, accessories and fine jewelry as well as Home. It fulfills my dream of the ultimate experience for women in New York City.
—Ralph Lauren (2010)

Reminiscent of the grand Beaux-Arts architecture of the early 20th century, the exterior’s Neoclassical French design is inspired by the rich architectural heritage of the Upper East Side. The stately four-story building’s scale and detailing are an elegant complement to the Rhinelander Mansion across the street.

The exterior is finished in signature Indiana limestone and beautifully accented with hand-carved details. Vast windows on the ground floor are framed in black wrought iron, and soaring archways signal the two grand entryways on Madison Avenue and 72nd Street. In keeping with the grand residences on neighboring Fifth and Madison Avenues, the building’s upper floor exterior is highlighted with a focal terrace and painted wood windows with decorative ironwork railings. The rich detailing of the brackets, corbels, window frames and balustrades across the façade complete the Beaux-Arts design.

The store’s interior displays feminine details in the Neoclassical style and creates an elegant and intimate setting for three floors of glamorous salons dedicated to luxe women’s apparel and accessories, as well as a full breadth of the Ralph Lauren Home collection, which resides on the fourth floor. A feminine Rococo design flows throughout, with limestone and parquet wood flooring, French polished millwork, hand-cast plaster paneling and moldings, and decorative wrought iron metalwork. The space is luxuriously accented with crystal chandeliers, authentic Persian rugs, antique furniture and artwork, hand-blocked wall coverings and rich fabric upholstery—creating an elegant and dynamic counterpoint to the masculine, stained mahogany and oak world of the Rhinelander Mansion.

On Madison Avenue, entry to the ground floor is gained through a soaring archway with commanding glass doors framed in handwrought iron. The entrance opens to the main salon, featuring a backdrop of stained mahogany wood cases with hand-carved detailing and revealing a luxurious display of Ralph Lauren handbags and leather goods. Carved wood and plaster framed openings lead to a series of magnificent salons showcasing fine watches and jewelry, accessories and footwear. The Footwear Salon captures the feeling of French Rococo with a magnificent antique marble fireplace. A focal point of the ground floor is the Watch and Fine Jewelry Salon, the first of its kind in the United States, which resides in a dramatic background of black French-polished wall paneling accented with antique silver metalwork. This intimate salon showcases the three iconic collections of Ralph Lauren Timepieces—the Ralph Lauren Stirrup, the Ralph Lauren Slim Classique and the Ralph Lauren Sporting—and the exclusive debut of the Fine Jewelry collection.

A grand staircase ascends to all floors and creates a sweeping viewpoint adorned with custom sconces, limestone steps and handwrought French metal railing inspired by the grand New York residences of the Astor’s and Duke’s. The detailing and mood is reflective of the Ralph Lauren stores on Boulevard Saint-Germain and Avenue Montaigne in Paris. The space contains moldings cast directly from these historic interiors in Paris, as well as limestone and stained-wood flooring, luxe fabric upholstery, and crystal sconces and chandeliers.

The staircase arrives on second floor in the Grand Salon, which displays the modern elegance of Collection apparel and accessories. From here, one enters a small intimate salon on the same axis with the Grand Salon, where two large French doors open onto the second floor terrace and a perfectly framed view of the landmark Rhinelander Mansion. Antique Aubosson rugs, custom furniture, artwork and antiques recall the residential feel of a grand New York residence on Fifth Avenue. Continuing through the residential setting, one arrives at the VIP suite and tailoring room, where an exclusive offering of women’s Made to Measure services are available. Through arched passages, in matching North and South salons, one finds the premiere of Ralph Lauren Collection sleepwear, exclusive to this flagship. Collection sleepwear for women is inspired by the couture luxury of Ralph Lauren’s dramatic runway Collection and is fashioned from the finest silk and cashmere in glamorous color palettes.

The grand-staircase landing on the third floor opens into a swing shop highlighting the chic sophistication of Black Label, which sets the tone for the floor each season. One can also experience a complete world of the youthful elegance of Blue Label on this floor, including footwear, handbags and belts. Juxtaposed to the Main Salon is a dedicated women’s RRL shop, emanating a vintage atmosphere with aged millwork and antique fixtures that capture the rustic mood of the collection. Adjacent to this, the RLX shop complements the floor with a modern tone by highlighting luxurious activewear in a contemporary, sleek environment with concrete floors, lacquered fixtures and brushed stainless steel. Also on the third floor, the signature Create Your Own area allows shoppers to personalize their apparel instantly using an innovative touch screen display. Customization is completed in-store, allowing shoppers the convenience of leaving with their new items directly after purchasing them.

The grand staircase peaks at the top floor, which is devoted to Ralph Lauren Home. This space features two dramatic seasonal lifestyle collections and an iconic luxury assortment of gifts, decorative accessories and tabletop products, as well as fine bed and bath linens. A comprehensive design center completes the presentation with a full representation of furniture, fabric, wallcovering, lighting and window hardware.