Ralph Lauren Lead Designer, Collection Soft Dressing & VVIC
Company Description Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
About the role
Ralph Lauren seeking a highly creative and sophisticated Senior Designer to lead the daily design and development of Women's luxury ready-to-wear soft dressing. This role will also design and develop custom special-order creations for Celebrity, VIP, and VIC clients. Based in New York City, this role serves as a key creative partner between the North American client-facing teams and the Italy-based atelier and product development teams. The ideal candidate combines exceptional design talent with a deep understanding of luxury craftsmanship, couture development, celebrity dressing, and elevated client experiences. This individual will create distinctive products and custom concepts that reinforce the brand's luxury positioning while delivering world-class service to high-profile clients and strategic talent partners. Inspired by the growing importance of celebrity and VIC dressing within luxury brands, this role will help drive desirability, brand influence, and long-term client loyalty.
Responsibilities
Creative Design Leadership: Lead Women's Collection Soft Dressing design and development from concept, research and development, through line completion/production final product, with a clear and sophisticated point of view. Translate seasonal inspiration, runway concepts, and brand heritage into highly personalized luxury offerings. Develop compelling design narratives, mood boards, sketches, fabric concepts, and presentation materials.
Celebrity & VIC Special Orders: Create original luxury product concepts, custom garments, and special-order designs for Celebrity, VIP, and VIC clients. Design and oversee custom creations for celebrity appearances, red carpet events, editorial opportunities, and high-profile brand activations. Partner closely with styling, PR, clienteling, and merchandising teams to deliver exceptional client experiences. Interpret client needs while maintaining design integrity and brand consistency. Manage multiple custom projects simultaneously, balancing creativity, timelines, and business priorities.
Partnership with Italy Product Teams: Collaborate daily with Italy-based design, development, patternmaking, and production partners. Provide clear creative direction and technical guidance throughout the development process. Participate in fittings, prototype reviews, and design refinements to ensure exceptional execution and craftsmanship. Serve as a bridge between NYC business needs and European luxury production capabilities.
Luxury Craftsmanship & Product Excellence: Demonstrate expert knowledge of luxury construction, fabrications, embellishments, tailoring, and couture techniques. Ensure the highest standards of fit, finish, quality, and design execution. Identify innovative materials, treatments, and techniques that elevate the product offering. Maintain awareness of competitive luxury brands, celebrity dressing trends, and emerging fashion influences.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Influence and align cross-functional partners through strong communication, storytelling, and design vision. Partner with merchandising, sourcing, development, production, and client-facing teams throughout the product lifecycle. Support seasonal design reviews, executive presentations, and client-facing creative discussions. Contribute to process improvements that enhance service,