Lauren was born on October 14, 1939, in the Bronx, New York City, [3] [4] to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants [5] [6] [7] [8] Frieda (Cutler) and Frank Lifshitz, an artist and house painter, [9] [10] from Pinsk, Second Polish Republic (now Belarus). [11] [12] His mother was from Drahichyn, Belarus. [13] The youngest of four siblings, [14] [15] he has two brothers and one sister. At age 16, he legally changed his second name from Lifshitz to Lauren along with his brother George Poitras Lauren, due to bullying at school. [16] His choice of the name followed his older brother Jerry Lauren, who had first done so after experiencing bullying in the U.S. Air Force. [17] Saner, Emine (October 2, 2015). " 'It's not about fabric, it's about dreams': how Ralph Lauren created an empire". The Guardian . Retrieved May 4, 2018. In 1971, Ralph Lauren Corporation launched a line of tailored shirts for women, which introduced the Polo player emblem to the world for the first time, appearing on the shirt's cuff. The first full women's collection was launched the following year. In 1971 Lauren also opened a store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California; this was the first freestanding store for an American designer. [25] Ralph Lauren opens Polo Bar restaurant in New York". The Telegraph. January 9, 2015. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015 . Retrieved November 17, 2016.

Ralph Lauren's breast cancer campaign turns 20 years old". The Telegraph . Retrieved November 8, 2016. Ralph Lauren Timeline". The Fashion Capital. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016 . Retrieved October 3, 2016. Yes, But Is It Kosher For Passover? Ralph Lauren's Daughter Dylan Readying Candy Bar For Easter". Jewish Business News. April 2, 2015 . Retrieved May 10, 2015. Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.Ralph Lauren Joins Coty's Fashion Hall of Fame". The New York Times. June 10, 1977 . Retrieved November 16, 2016.

Dylan Lauren Introduces Twins Cooper Blue and Kingsley Rainbow". PEOPLE.com . Retrieved October 3, 2018. Ralph Lauren Biography - Money, Politics, Biography of Ralph Lauren, Campaign Contributions". www.campaignmoney.com.Lauren, Ralph (October 2002). "Oprah Interviews Ralph Lauren". O, the Oprah Magazine; oprah.com. Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey . Retrieved December 12, 2012. They have three children: Andrew Lauren (b. 1969), a film producer and actor; [37] David Lauren (b. 1971), an executive vice president at Ralph Lauren Corporation; [38] [ citation needed] and Dylan Lauren (b. 1974). [39] In September 2011, David married Lauren Bush, granddaughter of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. [40] Lauren and David have three children and live in Manhattan. [41] [42] Dylan Lauren, owner of Dylan's Candy Bar in New York City, was married in June 2011 to hedge fund manager Paul Arrouet. [43] Dylan and Paul had twins on April 13, 2015, via surrogate in New York City. [44] Ralph Lauren and Leonardo DiCaprio are honored at the 50th Anniversary Riverkeeper Fishermen's Ball at Chelsea Piers in New York City. [93]