Dan's Papers - August 10, 2007

You see it everywhere, from Jobs to Newtown Lane, over the left breast of every man, woman and child in the Hamptons. It is as recognizable as the American flag, yet somehow, more alluring. The iconic image of horse and rider evokes a lifestyle incomparable to that of swamp-dwelling crocodiles and timid golden lambs hanging from ribbons and bows. The Ralph Lauren polo player's image is fast, powerful and commands attention.

This year, perhaps due to its creator's sponsorship of the Black Watch polo team, the Big Pony has muscled out the traditional little pony, making even more of a statement than the classic insignia.

The Big Pony is everywhere this year - at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon and even on the limited-edition Black Watch team Polo shirts, complete with their Captain, Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras,' number "2" emblazoned on the back.

Polo Ralph Lauren is deeming it "an icon reinvented" and while the strategy of Ralph Lauren seems to have always been reinventing classic styles, this newfound fascination with the image of a polo player shows the company's dedication to their team and respect for its players and their mounts.

We've all been wearing the little pony for decades and by now, have paddocks of them. Not overtly obnoxious, the clothing is exceedingly comfortable and timeless. A navy blue Polo shirt with a red pony will never go out of style. For almost 38 years, the normal pony logo set a precedent as to who the Polo clientele was supposed to be - subtle, yet distinguishable.

Now, like everything in the Hamptons, the polo ponies have caught Black Watch fever and they are stepping up to the plate.

The newest addition to the Polo pony family, the "Polo Match," takes its place at the front and back of the new Polo shirts. Perfectly embroidered in bold, lifelike colors, these oversized ponies gallop across their fabric field on the way to scoring yet another goal for the prestigious Black Watch team.

This isn't the first time Ralph Lauren has utilized their iconic logo to promote awareness of a worthy cause. The must-have emblem of a few years ago, the Pink Pony, raised awareness and funds for breast cancer research. These Polo shirts were more than just fashion statements - they were an emblem Polo fans could wear with pride.

Although the understated miniature Polo pony of years past will never go out of style, Ralph Lauren's innovative new logos have caught they eye of a new genration - a generation of Polo fans who are athletic, philanthropic and of course, just as stylish as ever.