On July 24, 2025, Ralph Lauren dropped a limited-edition capsule that blended timeless prep with unmistakable cultural roots. Titled “Polo for Oak Bluffs,” the collection pays tribute to one of Black America’s most storied summer enclaves; Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard.
But this wasn’t just another luxury brand attempting diversity through design. This was heritage work. Real, intentional, and deeply stylish.
Oak Bluffs has long been a Black cultural stronghold, a place where history, rest, and style converge. From the dignified beach looks of the 1940s to the Ivy League cool of HBCU grads in the ’90s, Oak Bluffs has always told its own sartorial story.
Ralph Lauren tapped into that energy with a line designed by Morehouse and Spelman alumni, infusing classic nautical silhouettes with unmistakable HBCU pride. Think Morehouse maroon blazers with crest buttons, pleated tennis skirts with Spelman-blue accents, and cable-knit sweaters that would feel at home on an early morning dock or at homecoming.
Top 5 Looks from the Oak Bluffs Drop
1. The Spelman College Cropped Linen Blazer
2. The Oak Bluffs Patchwork Jacket
3. The Oak Bluffs Sweater
4. The Oak Bluffs Popover Shirt
5. The Morehouse College Logo Sweatshirt
Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluffs collection isn’t just a retail play; it’s a reclamation. It places Black narratives at the centre of American leisurewear, the exact place they’ve always belonged to but rarely been featured.
It also comes at a time when many fashion houses are being called to not just reference Blackness, but respect it, employ it, and platform it. This drop checks those boxes; alumni from Morehouse and Spelman weren’t just inspiration, they were decision-makers.
With limited quantities and several styles already selling out, Polo for Oak Bluffs is shaping up to be more than a capsule, it’s becoming a collector’s item. Expect to see it on Martha’s Vineyard piers, at Afropunk festivals, and on the ‘fits of Black style icons well into fall.
If you missed your shot, Ralph Lauren is hosting a pop-up exhibit in Oak Bluffs through mid-August, featuring a lookbook of Black Vineyard style through the decades alongside pieces from the new drop.
This collection isn’t just about clothes; it’s about legacy. It’s about leisure as resistance, heritage as high fashion, and what it means to look good while holding space.
So the next time someone asks what Black summer style looks like? Point them to Oak Bluffs. Then point them to Ralph.
More photos
English