Ralph Lauren

“My life has been a dream. If someone had to write a story about it, it would seem a little unreal. It's the kind of story I would read and say, 'Nah, that's not possible.'”

“My father was an artist. When life was harder and he couldn't get jobs, he painted houses, but he was artistic. When I went to see his work, it was special. Somewhere along the line, I felt I was special. I didn't know why.”

“Some women think that if the look this season is minis, they have to wear minis. If you don't have great legs, there are plenty of alternatives.”

“I don't design clothes, I design dreams.”

“On one level, there's an aspirational quality to having a Polo player. On another level, it's just a great shirt with lots of colors.”

“I never went to fashion school. I didn't know what a designer was. I knew I had something, but I didn't know what it was. And it could just have easily been nothing.”

“I always admired Frank Sinatra. He had ups and downs, but he didn't give up his style. He had what might have been a tough life or character.”

“They know they're going to look beautiful, and I don't think women should look like costumes. They shouldn't look like fashion victims.”

“I know it's not enjoying my success to do this, but when I see too many Polo shirts, I say to myself, 'That's the end of that.'”

“I always feel like I have to keep going. You can sit back and say, 'Maybe I can stop.' But then you're yesterday, and I love tomorrow.”

“I think I've been happy because I've been able to do what I believe in, and on my own terms.”

“I don't like it when a woman looks like a fashion victim.”

“When I was growing up, officers in uniform were very impressive to me. They were doing a job. They were protecting our country; they were heroes. When you wear an old military jacket, there's some sort of connection to those qualities - to being strong, to being tough, to being a warrior.”

“My philosophy was that I never had focus groups.”

“I don't think women should look like costumes. I don't think they should look like fashion victims. I think these (clothes) are for women that want to look sexy. They want to look smart.”

“You have to create something from nothing.”

“I think the accessories look very modern and very exciting. These big earrings, these big hoops. I think the girls are sort of falling in love with... collars, neck collars.”

“My symbol was always a polo player because I liked sports, and polo has a stylishness to it.”

“I was never money conscious. I would never have succeeded if I thought I was going to be a millionaire.”

“You don't have to wear a label to be important.”