Ralph Lauren’s Greatest Menswear Hits of 2026
The designer has another CFDA trophy on the shelf and a year’s worth of proof that when it comes to dressing men, the American original still calls the shots
- Ralph Lauren wins American Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards, marking his third time receiving the honor.
- His SS27 collection revisits rugged Americana through a worldly mix of timeless sportswear, bohemian romance, and preppy dressing.
Winning American Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2026 CFDA Awards
Ralph Lauren has spent the better part of six decades making sure the old things never go out of style. And judging by his latest accolade, the industry is still keen on his point of view.
At the 2026 CFDA FashionFashionThe art and industry of designing, producing, and styling clothing, footwear, accessories, and beauty trends. It reflects cultural influences, personal expression, and evolving styles across seasons and markets.Go to Fashion Glossary Awards, held at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, the American designer was named American Menswear Designer of the Year for the third time. Presented by actor Matt Damon, the award saw Ralph beat a formidable shortlist featuring Thom Browne, Todd Snyder, Willy Chavarria, and Public School New York’s Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne.
It marks another significant addition to an already extraordinary career, following his previous menswear wins in 1996 and 2007, and his American Womenswear Designer of the Year title in 2025.
If anyone was wondering whether Ralph Lauren still has a say in how men dress, there’s your question answered. He is, after all, the only designer to have collected every one of the CFDA’s top honors, from Menswear and Womenswear Designer of the Year to Lifetime Achievement and Retailer of the Year.
The old guard? Ralph Lauren would like a word
But his power is hardly a matter of nostalgia. His SS27 collection, presented this year, offered a fresh reminder of just how much room there is to play within his American universe. Built around the idea of a life well-travelled, the collection brought together rugged Americana, familiar sportswear, and a bohemian-preppyPreppyA style inspired by American private school and Ivy League culture, defined by polo shirts, blazers, chinos, boat shoes, and bright colors. Preppy dressing conveys relaxed, polished refinement, and periodicallyGo to Preppy Glossary streak.
In his show notes, Ralph Lauren called it an “irreverent take on romance that creates a new elegance,” with an emphasis on originality and the pleasures of dressing entirely for oneself. The clothes were designed to move between the open road and the permanent wardrobe, resisting the usual pressure to look new for the sake of looking new.
Menswear’s favorite American
The great trick of the brand is that it’s never really sold men the idea of dressing for a particular season. He sells them a way of dressing for a life: one that might involve a country estate, a long-haul flight, a weekend in the Hamptons, or simply a very good dinner.
His aesthetic is aspirational, but never entirely out of reach. There’s room for polish, imperfection, tradition, and a little mischief. The clothes look better when they appear to have been lived in.
With another CFDA trophy under his belt, Ralph has given the industry yet another reason to revisit the wardrobe he’s spent decades building. The fashion calendar will keep turning, new names will come and go, and trends will inevitably find something else to obsess over. Ralph Lauren, however, has other plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Ralph Lauren won American Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards, marking his third time receiving the honor after previous wins in 1996 and 2007.
Ralph Lauren has won the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award three times, in 1996, 2007, and 2026.
The collection explored the idea of a life well-travelled, combining timeless American sportswear with rugged Americana and a bohemian-preppy aesthetic.
Ralph Lauren’s 2026 menswear combines classic American sportswear, preppy influences, and rugged sophistication.
Ralph Lauren is the only designer to have received all of the CFDA’s top honors, including Menswear Designer of the Year, Womenswear Designer of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Retailer of the Year. His influence spans nearly six decades of American fashion.
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