Established only eight years ago, Ralph Lauren’s younger and more expressive line “Rugby” has officially shut down. The going-out-of business sales were great for the sweater and corduroy collections of our nation’s preppiest, but by and large few will be affected.
Rugby was a caricature of prep school clothing. Each season, Rugby overdosed on tweed, tartan, blazers and cable knit dresses. If you ever wore a complete Rugby outfit, you would have drawn a great deal of unwanted attention. That’s not to say Rugby didn’t have its moments.
Basics were wonderful and were available in a variety of colors. Button downs with adorable details, such as patterns under the collars—presumably for when you wanted to “pop” them—and gold buttons on every sweater made staples special.
Rugby’s greatest strength was their accessories. While some of the apparel was too “out there” for most people, accessories were your best bet. So now, where are you going to get your preppy clutches, hats and wallets? Look no further than Sloane Ranger.
Sloane Ranger embodies a preppy, feminine ethos that is casual enough for a day at the beach and also sophisticated enough for a weekend out. See the lookbook here.
These are a few of my favorite items:
Tablet clutch via Sloane Ranger.
Duffel via Sloane Ranger.
Sloane Ranger makes totes, weekenders, duffels, clutches, smartphone cases, wristlets, belts and much more. The wide variety of patterns means that everyone will find something she likes, and pieces are priced very reasonably.
There is definitely a more nautical vibe in Sloane Ranger’s collection that was not part of Rugby. There are lots of anchor-patterned items and navy/white combinations. The equestrian theme that was a major part of Rugby’s collections is an element in Sloane Ranger, but not to such an extreme degree. I like that Sloane Ranger is not as costume-ish as Rugby—it makes it easier to match the pieces to everyday outfits.
Sloane Ranger is at a reasonable price point, which is especially important in making their items great gifts. The collection is based around a number of items that are offered in many prints. The beauty of prints is that they appeal to nearly all age groups. I would be happy to give my roommate, my teacher or my little sister a clutch from Sloane Ranger.
To those devastated by Rugby’s demise: do not fret, Sloane Ranger is an excellent substitute. And to those indifferent to Rugby’s failure: don’t be afraid of having a few preppy accessories in your closet.