On Saturday, the United States of America’s clothier in chief met its commander in chief, as Ralph Lauren became the first fashion designer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dressed in a tweed blazer, a knit necktie and squishy dark sneakers, Mr. Lauren, 85, was described in an introduction as “classic yet creative, timeless yet innovative.” He was praised for reminding “us of our distinct style as a nation of dreamers and doers.”
Established by John F. Kennedy, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. It has been bestowed upon a host of cultural, corporate and political figures, including Babe Ruth, Mother Teresa, Julia Child, Warren Buffett, John McCain and Rush Limbaugh.
If ever there was a fashion designer worthy of this award, it is Mr. Lauren. A son of the Bronx, Mr. Lauren marketed a preppy image to the upwardly mobile masses, building his eponymous company into a multimillion dollar corporation — one he remains executive chairman and chief creative officer of nearly a half-century after he founded it.
