How Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluff Collection Reignited My Love for Fashion

All images created by Nakia Reine

For a while, the fashion industry has felt... stale.

As someone who majored in fashion, graduated with a degree, and worked for some of the most well-known houses, I never thought I’d say that. But here we are. With the rise of fast fashion, social media mimicry, and micro-trends that vanish overnight, everything and everyone has started to look the same.

The sparkle? Gone.The storytelling? Fizzled.The uniqueness that once made fashion feel magical? Now buried under algorithm, approved sameness.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what I was missing, until recently.

It started slowly. I began stumbling across niche pockets of influencers celebrating traditional and era-specific styles. Quiet luxury, “old money” aesthetics... and suddenly I was hooked. It wasn’t just nostalgia; it was something deeper. Something familiar. Something soulful.

Then Ralph Lauren dropped his Oak Bluff collection. And that’s when it all clicked.

All images created by Nakia Reine

I was immediately captivated by the visuals—the rich tones, the timeless silhouettes—but what moved me most was the story behind it. The campaign drew from the legacy of Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard, a place where Black excellence and style have always thrived.

And in true algorithmic magic, a video soon popped up on my YouTube feed—a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration for the line. I sat, fully mesmerized, for all 20-something minutes.

What struck me wasn’t just the fashion, it was the reminder:

Black people have always had style.

But more importantly, our style has always been shaped by our ingenuity and the environments in which we’ve thrived, despite the odds.

Seeing stories told through the eyes of grandchildren who grew up hearing about and living in Oak Bluffs, I was transported. I was reminded of what fashion used to be. Of what it could be again.

All images created by Nakia Reine

Back in the day, even vacation was an occasion. Suits. Linen. Knit sets. Perfectly packed wardrobes that made you ask, “Are you going somewhere special?” And the answer was often, “No, it’s just another day.”

That kind of care, that kind of pride, that’s what I grew up seeing.

My mother never missed a moment to dress us up. I remember her taking me to Macy’s, Hecht’s, and Woodies to find matching outfits for vacations. Even backyard cookouts had a dress code: frilly dresses, lace socks, Mary Janes, and bows. We showed up not to impress, but to express.

That’s what fashion is supposed to be. Not a trend. A story.

And Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluff collection reminded me of that. It brought the roots of fashion back to the forefront. Roots built by people who understood that clothes were more than fabric—they were culture, pride, and identity woven into every thread.

This wasn’t just about fashion. It was about us. Our legacy. Our elegance. Our storytelling. Our style.

If you haven’t seen the collection, I’ve linked it below, along with the beautifully produced short film that shares the stories behind Oak Bluffs, told by those who lived it, loved it, and learned from it.

For the first time, I want to visit Martha’s Vineyard, not for the vacation photos or coastal chic vibes, but to walk where our stories were born. To show my children a place where Black elegance wasn’t just admired, it was expected.

Fashion may have felt flat to me for years, but this collection reminded me that it hasn’t lost its soul. It just needed to return home.

Ralph Lauren- Oak Bluff