From Miami to Tangier, via the French Riviera, Cascais and the Hamptons, the biggest names in fashion have found summer retreats far from the catwalks and spotlights where they can express their creative genius. From legendary villas and family homes to secret workshops and castles, each of these exceptional locations embodies the spirit, audacity, and art of living of their famous owners.
This summer, LUXUS MAGAZINE takes you on a weekly tour of a prestigious residence: a nine-part journey through the iconic vacation spots of the world’s greatest fashion designers. The last chapter in our summer series on designers’ homes is Ralph Lauren‘s house in Montauk in the Hamptons, the ultimate vacation spot for the New York jet set. It is perhaps the most authentic of them all. Not because it is ostentatious—it is anything but—but because of its unique ability to embody, all by itself, the entire imagination of its owner.
An American lifestyle born on the dunes
The Hamptons, a region located northeast of Long Island in New York State, was originally inhabited by the Shinnecock Native Americans. In the 17th century, English, Dutch, and Polish settlers arrived and began farming, particularly potatoes.
In the early 20th century, the WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) elite discovered the region and built vast villas in Southampton and East Hampton.
Painters and artists followed: Edward Hopper was inspired by the area, the Surrealists took refuge there during the war, followed by Jackson Pollock, Rothko and Roy Lichtenstein.
From the 1980s onwards, Wall Street fortunes flooded the area, causing prices to skyrocket. Montauk became a bohemian hangout, especially after Andy Warhol bought a house there in 1972. Today, the Hamptons combine iconic beaches, designer hotels (Surf Lodge, Ruschmeyer’s), cult venues (Pierre’s, Sunset Beach) and an aesthetic lifestyle. Helicopter access, galas, high society… The myth continues, between artistic heritage and the fantasy of casual elegance.
Ralph Lauren has made it one of the pillars of his aesthetic, capturing the preppy spirit, rustic elegance, and equestrian heritage of the region. More than just a destination, it is a symbol of the “socialite life,” combining summer hedonism and timeless refinement. For Ralph Lauren, it is more than a destination: “It’s a natural world of blue skies, green fields, and elegant rusticity,” he says.
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Featured image: montage portrait of Ralph Lauren in the Hamptons
