Ralph Lauren Turns 70: PHOTOS Of The Designer Through The Years

Designer Ralph Lauren is turning the big 7-0 today. Unfortunately, new claims by model Filippa Hamilton stating that she was fired for being too fat might cast a shadow on the big day.

But "fat" models aside, since he opened his first Polo necktie store in 1967, the man formerly known as Ralph Lifshitz has become iconic American designer with his famous short-sleeved collared shirts and classic women's suit. He's also made a bunch of friends along the way, from Anna Wintour to the Clintons to Lance Armstrong.

Take a look at Ralph through the years:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • An undated photo.

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Comments

[absolut]

As a note of correction, and because it's common knowledge largely that is easily verified on the web, Ralph Lauren hates his name because it Ralph Lipschitz, not Lifschitz which appears to be Huffington Post's creation for unknown reasons.

[NilesCrane]

ralph lauren hasnt been at the helm of his company for 5 years...he barely even designs the clothes anymore, to think he actual gave the approval of those advertisements is very silly...

he just shows up at the end of a fashion show and goes home, he is very successful and doesnt need to be running things, but he should because the people who are doing it right now are running it into the ground.

[HappyRabbit]

And now he has graduated to senility or at least misogyny.

[Bearangaria]

Gee, lookin a little jowly there Ralph.
Maybe it's time to retire from telling women
they're fat.

[Veritas 1]

While i was never a big fan of Ralph Lauren clothing or its style, he has done a marvelous job developing his company.

[Veritas 1]

I do have to admire his taste in automobiles though. A very nice collection!

[Destin]

Hey Ralph, you look nothing like the models you require to fit a very narrow image. So narrow they could threat needles with their arms. And what's up with that gut? No more steak buffets for you Ralph! You gotta start eating 1 piece of lettuce and a glass of water like your models. No more indulging for you Ralph!

[Cloball]

I was thinking the same thing. Why doesn't he practice what he preaches.

[johnnygoodwud]

he's given a ton to cancer research/breast cancer research. lighten up

[wm1066]

Man, he looks so FAT! Some one should really help him go on a diet. You can really see it in his cheeks...fat fat fat!!!! I think some of his models could give him pointers on how to lose that weight.

snark! but seriously I won't be wearing any of his product until he repudiates his love of anorexia.

[Bafun]

his wife too....

[kimmmmmmmmm]

where's the picture where his head is bigger than his pelvis?---oh yeah, that's all of them!

[EmeraldWorld]

Yeah, yeah, happy b-day, jack@$$. Just a notch or two below your friend Karl Lagerfield in being the wrong type of special.

[Telemachus]

He'd look pretty good if he lost about 150 lbs.

[avajackson]

LOL! Love it.

[Venutian]

I agree and bet he is more than 120lbs and less than 5' 10". Short too.

[avajackson]

Sicko.

[Truth Wins]

It is not unfortunate that a model who was fired because allegedly being too fat (while it was not at all true) speaks out against him on his birthday.
It is called Karma, and it is better it reaches him in this lifetime. Maybe it makes a bit of an impact on him if it happens on his birthday!

This man should be sued for treating models worse than slaves.

[annschneider1]

I think that this man for all the wealth he has amassed must be a man who loves this country and this world. My home on Loghill Mesa in Colorado overlooks the RRL ranch and it is the most beautiful piece of natural earth, I believe, in the world. Just preserving this expanse of land will earn him his place in heaven. A very special man in a very special place.

[Telemachus]

Is he going to leave it in trust, undeveloped? If so, that may partially offset the damage he's done to women with his skinny clothing and disturbing ads.

I would call that a karma-neutral outcome.

[bulfinch]

Give me a break. A rich man's palace in the wilderness earns him a place in heaven? Perhaps he'll
be the one who threads the eye of the needle. Not.

[annschneider1]

I'll give you a break...He has done an incredible amount of good in this world aside from preserving this property. ....and it isn't a palace.