As the couturier of the American Dream for more than 40 years, Ralph Lauren stands alone as the ideal of the patriotic sartorial aesthetic. His designs are an indelible fashion narration of the aspirations and exuberant achievements of the land of hopes and dreams. Yet, his patriotism and production sources have recently been called into question.
Within the rarefied world of the luxury goods industry, Bernard Arnault is the single most influential taste maker. With a stable of over 60 prestigious brands including Givenchy, Bulgari, TAG Heuer and Dom Pérignon, LVMH is at the epicenter of the aspiration business. Behind all the champagne and diamonds, Arnault, the corporate virtuoso, has orchestrated some of fashion's most dramatic collaborations and corporate takeovers.