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9.19.2024

The Polo Bear, Best Dressed Bear


I found this image on Pinterest and couldn't scroll past it.  If anything describes fall and winter Paige, this would be it. The navy, the plaid, the china, the flag sweater, and all the Ralph Lauren. I have a trip to Maine next month, and I am already gathering my most preppy pieces for a fall in New England, which I have never experienced before. I have pulled out my Hunter boots, my RL sweaters, and my vintage RL blackwatch plaid pieces that have literally been waiting their whole lives for this experience. 

I shared a while back that you can create your own RL pieces with custom monograms and icons, and I will most definitely be adding my custom beagle sweater to the suitcase. Also, I have a fun spring and summer Polo Bear sweater, and now I am hunting a fun one for fall and winter.  While I was searching I realized I have never shared that I hunt for RL sweaters at estate sales and on eBay and find so many that are in amazing condition.  Sometimes they are super expensive, and sometimes they are $20.  It is really all about what you can find.  I check for holes and stains; if they are free of both in my cart, they go.  I have purchased a number of mine from estate sales and love wearing them knowing they are getting a whole new life after someone else owned and loved them so. 

I was hunting on eBay this morning and found some fantastic Polo Bear pieces to share with you.  The Polo Bear story is interesting; you can read history here. The tale begins in 1902 when Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt had an opportunity to shoot a bear that was tied to a tree and chose not to deem it unsportsmanlike. The spared bear was the news topic, and many conversations in the following days inspired Richard Steiff to create a teddy bear in his honor.  Jerry Lauren, Ralph's brother and the creative director of men's design, is a massive collector of Steiff, and in 1991, tRL released a "Preppy Bear", an actual stuffed teddy bear.  The bear was so very popular RL began using the bear in other ways, including on linens and clothing.  To this day, RL's Preppy Bear is widely popular and has almost a cult following.  You can count me as one of its followers as I find the darling bear so widely cute.  

As they describe him, he is a "man of contradictions".  

Innocent yet sophisticated. Suave yet cuddly. A beloved children’s toy…who enjoys an occasional martini. He’s been spotted hobnobbing with international celebrities, written about in leading newspapers, and even played a critical role in shaping the cover of a seminal hip-hop record. He is, of course, the Polo Bear ... 

He is most definitely the best-dressed bear in the world. 

If you snag one of these beauties, let me know.  They are all so darling!!

Have a great Thursday ... 

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