Dear Ralphie...

Last summer, I wrote a letter to Ralph Lauren.  He never replied so I sent him the same letter to him a few months later.  He still never replied so I was left with no choice but to put it on my blog.  I wrote it for comedic reasons of course but my words have some truth to it.  Here is the content:

Dear Mr. Lauren:

My name is EssSee and I am currently a seventeen years old student at a regular public high school.  This summer, my plan was to get a job and buy things that I want.  My wish list doesn’t contain anything what a typical teenager would want (those would be iPods and Apple Bottoms).  I desire a Polo Ralph Lauren blazer with the big logo. The one that I’m most attracted to is the purple pin striped blazer that Serena van der Woodsen wore from your spring 2008 collection.  You are probably thinking, who is Serena van der Woodsen?  She is the character from the hit television show called Gossip Girl, played by actress Blake Lively.  Gossip Girl is a great part of my life, influencing my emotions and above all, my fashion taste.  It’s a show that basically revolves around teenagers from the Upper East Side of New York City.  These teenagers are from high income families and I’m not.  They have the luxury of being dressed with deliciously crispy clothes while I try to, with non-crispy items.  Why?  Because I cannot afford your clothes!  I cannot find a summer job yet.  Please to God, that I will be hired soon.

Even if I do get a job, the blazer that I want is the cost of someone’s rent.  I remember a few years back, checking your website and discovering the price of that blazer was $3000.  How can a regular high school student, like me, ever afford that—before they turn twenty?  Unless they are feeding off from their too-nice parents, of course they can.  My question to you is: Why are your clothes so unaffordable for everyday people?  In my opinion, you are marketing your clothes as prestigious items that can only belong to people with status.  It is apparent that this strategy works.  However, this triggers a thought in consumers’ minds.  You are alienating the average-income people from your talent, and from the rest of the high-income people.

Mr. Lauren, please do not get me wrong.  I admire you and your talent.  Your designs of clean lines and beautiful details are something that I dream to wear.  I beg you to sell clothes that are more affordable to average-income people.  If you don’t know how, here is an idea.  You can design the same thing for everybody and use different materials.    Even though your artwork would be on a less expensive fabric, I’m absolutely positive that people will still appreciate it.  Plus, you will even earn more revenue from a greater market!

Thank you for your time and consideration of my input.  Please write back because I am very much interested in your answers.

Sincerely,

 EssSee

P.S. Hint: I like gifts and my size is extra small!

Encl: photo of Blake Lively with Polo Ralph Lauren blazer

Excuse me for my mistake.  This is a Lauren by Ralph Lauren blazer.  Not a Polo Ralph Lauren blazer.  Now you know I'm not a fashion expert.  I'm still learning!

If you would like to send Ralph Lauren a letter too....or like to get this to him, here is his head quarters address in New York City:

650 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
United States