Love of cars translates into fashion

A model presents a creation from Ralph Lauren Fall 2017 Collection. [Photo provided to China Daily]

For example, some garments have a number 8 on them, which is from a 1920s Bugatti that Lauren has. "The grill, the fabric is metal, sort of very techy, industrial and so the fabric of the dress is beautiful, elegant, but it has a little more technology to it and the number 8 goes for the sensibility of the car,'' he said.

Lauren said what he is showing is the "modernness" of his company and the "timelessness" of design, both in his clothes and the cars he collects.

"That's very important in terms of what's happening today," he said. "There's timelessness. Timeless doesn't mean it's old, yesterday's news. Timeless means it always looks better with age. It keeps looking good."

Lauren said he believes fashion has no age if it's good fashion, whether it's cars, clothes or food.

Born in the Bronx, New York, the 77-year-old Lauren (who changed his last name from Lifshitz) said he always had his own style as a young boy.

"When I was growing up, most of my friends were wearing motorcycle jackets, rock and roll was very popular, but I was always very classic, preppy and that was unusual for the time," he recalled.