Buffy Birrittella to retire from Ralph Lauren

Buffy Birrittella, Ralph Lauren’s executive vice president, senior adviser, and creative director of Ralph Lauren womenswear, is set to retire at the end of the month. Her replacement has not been named.

Birrittella’s relationship with Ralph Lauren dates back to five decades ago when she was a fashion editor at Daily News Record, and was introduced to the designer by the publication’s in-house illustrator, Michael Farina. In 1971, she began at Polo at a part-time employee, and several months later she became full-time with the company.

Birrittella would go on to become Lauren’s right hand woman traveling with him to fabric appointments in Europe and becoming responsible for the women’s collections for several of the Ralph Lauren labels including Lauren Ralph Lauren, Black Label, Blue Label, Rugby, and Collection. She would eventually go on to handle the advertising for these products as well.

During her tenure at Ralph Lauren Birrittella helped launch Ralph Lauren’s first women’s collection in 1972, started the brand’s advertising division in 1978, launched the home collection in 1983, and helped restore the Rhinelander mansion on 72nd Street and Madison to become the company’s first flagship store. She was also the force behind Ralph Lauren’s “It” bag, the signature Ricky.