Ralph Lauren® Brown
Psychology, Brand History, Fashion + Interior Design, Pantone® & More
Happy Tuesday! I had a hard time picking this week’s color…something that both sets the tone for the week and fits the fall season.
Then earlier today, I was thinking about how “autumnal” the Ralph Lauren brand inherently is, aesthetically-speaking, and ultimately settled on the dark, mahogany-toned brown you see below…inspired by RL, of course.
Now, RL doesn’t necessarily have official colors, but the brand undeniably has a color palette that it always seems to return to, especially during fall.
Psychology
This shade of brown represents warmth, comfort, and a grounded sense of stability. Its mahogany undertone gives it further polish and confidence. It’s calm, dependable, and quietly powerful.
Brand History
Brown has always played an important role in Ralph Lauren’s aesthetic world. Wood interiors with atmospheric lighting, saddle leather within equestrian scenery, country estate and luxury Americana heritage.
But as I mentioned earlier, RL has an entire color palette that the brand has remained loyal to through the years. Typically the classic palette, from what I’ve observed, consists of beige, cream, black, blue and navy shades.
In the 1980s, his color palette defined aspirational American living. In a sense, this was the birth of quiet luxury before the term even existed, elevating the mostly neutral palette to an aesthetic of permanence.
And brown specifically is the color of craftsmanship that’s meant to last…leather goods, old classic literature, a wooden desk.
The entire brand aesthetic feel perpetually autumnal. Check out this instagram moodboard reel I found to see what I mean: Autumn by RL
Fashion Design
Let’s see how RL has leaned into brown through the years 2000 to today, reaffirming the brand’s mastery of classic elegance rooted in heritage.
Ralph Lauren Fall 2025 RTW
Across suede jackets, pleated skirts, and chunky knits, brown in this ready-to-wear collection isn’t treated as a mere canvas neutral, but rather as a foundational palette color.
Ralph Lauren Fall 2010 RTW
This 2010 equestrian-bohemian fall collection also showcased the brown as an anchor of its rustic elegance through suede pants, textured knits, leather boots, and layered fabrics.
Ralph Lauren Fall 2000 RTW
I went as far back as you can go on Vogue for this one. RL’s Fall 2000 RTW collection proves that this deep brown has always been part of the brand’s DNA, whether through sleek leather skirts and boots or tailored blazers.
Interior Design
For interior design we’re actually gonna look at two different types of interior design by Ralph Lauren: one of their famous restaurant locations and some classic store design.
Store Design
In stores, brown is very much a signature element for RL. Dark wood paneling, leather accents, and vintage cabinetry all create a sense of warmth, tradition, and quiet luxury.
Polo Bar NYC
The Polo Bar in New York City (one of 5 restaurant locations by RL) further captures the brands signature aesthetic with rich brown leather seating, dark wood paneling, and warm, intimate lighting. I’m a fan of this one.
Pantone® & More
Now, if you’re interested in working with this dark, mahogany-toned brown, a close Pantone match I found is Pantone 732 C “Rustic Brown”. HEX, CMYK, and RGB details are all included in the image below as well.
As always, thank you for reading! I hope you learned something new about today’s brown inspired by Ralph Lauren! If you enjoyed reading, please give this post a like so I know what you guys want to see more of :)
Or tell me, which color should I feature next? See you next Tuesday!