From exploring the east coast to traveling the world , my journey in life has forced me to refine my perspective on luxury. Luxury is not just something tangible, such as owning a Ferrari, but rather the feeling that comes from driving that Ferrari. In other words, luxury is that experience that gives you the highest level of genuine satisfaction. That feeling, or what creates it, is different for everyone, and this is what fascinates me about the notion of luxury in an abstract sense. It’s no longer about staying at the Ritz Carlton, it’s more about finding that remote bed and breakfast that has a personality of comfort and elegance that speaks to you. While my idea of what luxury is has evolved over the years, my understanding of it began during my early years.
Growing up in Paterson, NJ, my family and I weren’t rich, but we were wealthy in life experience. My parents always made sure that my twin brother and I had
what we needed, which laid the framework for a great childhood. We would often take trips into New York City for dinner which made me feel so fortunate, as if we were the only family in the world sharing that experience. Of course I didn’t realize it then, but that feeling that came over me was my introduction to the concept of luxury. That 30-minute drive over the George Washington Bridge, through the City’s bright lights, to have dinner with my family was true luxury. Now I live here, and I’ve experienced the city a bit differently, but I never forgot about those moments and how I felt. And all it takes is the discovery of a new restaurant or a walk through Central Park, to remind me of those nights. More than anything else, the architecture of the buildings in Manhattan never ceases to blow me away. I can’t help but look up as I walk around the city, taking in the beautiful landscape. I’m always falling back in love with NYC, just as I did as a kid.
Ralph Lauren is not a fashion designer – he’s an architect of a lifestyle. That’s the genius of his brand, one that he figured out a long time ago. More than a brand, he created this atmosphere of luxurious lifestyle and the ability for you to develop your own feeling of luxury through his diverse brands, from Ralph Lauren Home, RL Watches, Purple Label for men, Blue Label for women, and more. Something happens when you wear a Ralph Lauren Polo shirt, that polo player mid swing on your chest. I call it the “power of the pony.” No matter who you are or where you’re from, you feel like you’re part of the most prestigious country club in the world.
Life is our everyday existence, it’s our habitation on this earth as living, breathing organisms, while style is the way we live it.
I’ve taken what I’ve seen, what I’ve learned, where I’ve been, and who I’ve met over the years and transformed these experiences into an opinion on lifestyle. Breaking down the term “lifestyle,” from my perspective, life is our everyday existence, it’s our habitation on this earth as living, breathing organisms, while style is the way we choose to live it. Style is our expression through forms such as fashion, art, music, design, and architecture. It’s your interpretation of our culture, unique to each individual. Whatever your chosen lifestyle, how luxury is experienced is unique to you.
Chris Collins is a Men’s Lifestyle Expert and tastemaker living in NYC. He also creates content for his lifestyle journal called the Chris Collins Report.
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