Lincoln Center was abuzz Monday night as a star-studded guest list including Anna Wintour, Martha Stewart and Uma Thurman turned up for “An Evening with Ralph Lauren,” hosted by none other than Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey chatted with the iconic designer about his 45-plus years in the industry in a conversation similar to the interview that ran on her former show in May. “You are one of the top fashion brands in the world. How do you re-invent it?” Winfrey asked, to which Lauren jokingly replied, “You copy.” A dinner followed the talk, with the gala raising over $7 million for the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention and the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts.
Quoted
Do you remember your first Ralph Lauren purchase?
“The first thing I ever owned was simple chinos, sort of from grade school. Actually, no, I take that back — someone gave me a Ralph Lauren fragrance when I was born.” Lauren Bush
Does Oprah still get nervous hosting an event like this?
“No, oh my God, no. She adores Ralph Lauren, they are actually friends. She was very excited to do this for him. Listen, you don’t get Oprah out on a school night — but when she was asked by the Ralph Lauren people, there was no question that she would be here tonight.” Gayle King
What are you hoping Oprah will ask Ralph Lauren?
“How do you stay on course to your vision? That is one formula that I want to take back with me.” Prabal Gurung
What was your first Ralph Lauren piece?
“It might have been a blazer. I wear [them] a lot because they fit perfectly and go with everything.” Camilla Belle
What do you think 2012 will bring?
“Hopefully better luck for us and for my husband — quieter and no scandals. It’s been a tough year.”
Wendi Murdoch
“Well she’s very smart, very optimistic woman, very professional and I think she has done her job really well and has made a lot people very happy and she’s there for the right reasons.” Ralph Lauren on Oprah
What are you looking forward to the most tonight?
“For people to see my dad in live action, you know because normally you see him from behind a magazine interview or television interview that has been edited. I’m sure he’ll do great and I think he’s such a young spirit at heart so it’s good that people get to see that, and see how creative he is a how good looking he is — he would be happy I said that. He’s every young at heart.” Dylan Lauren
What was your first piece of Ralph Lauren?
“ I think it was probably a classic Polo Pony shirt, or I was really big on long sleeve rugby shirts. I wear and wore a lot of Polo clothes.” Andy Cohen
What are you hoping she will ask?
“I don’t know, I couldn’t put words in Oprah’s mouth.” Andy Cohen
What are you looking forward to tonight?
“I have been interviewed by Oprah 80 times and I know how she can ask you difficult questions and I know how those questions can sneak up on you and force you to be honest with yourself and I think she will do that with Ralph Lauren well. I am curious to why he picked breast cancer and what he saw important in it. He’s to deep a thinker to have backed his way into that charity.” Dr. Oz
What was your first piece of Ralph Lauren?
“Oh polo shirts, I should own stock in that company after every Ralph Lauren product I have purchased.” Dr. Oz
