By Janani Vithanage
If you’re all for a little bit of extra glamour in your outfits, we’ve got great news! Sri Lanka’s premier fashion & lifestyle department store, ODEL has launched the country’s first ever Polo Ralph Lauren store at their outlet at One Galle Face Mall, a soaring milestone for not only the rapidly expanding retail store, but also for all Sri Lankan shopaholics.
As we walked into the store, our first impression was a sense of refinement. Nothing too flashy; the prevailing factor appeared to be that of class and a subtle sense of style. The store is fairly large, with pieces displayed creatively, rather than just the mundane clothes racks and shelves that are most often seen at clothing stores; Ralph Lauren has clearly taken care to strategically use their layout and lighting elements to bring out the best of their range of products.
Considering that the Polo Ralph Lauren store is the first exclusive PRL Brand store in Sri Lanka, we were pleasantly surprised by the range of items available for shoppers. The Men’s section included classic crewnecks and polo tees (all attractively showcased in colour coded, size sorted piles), shorts, trousers and jeans of superbly cut material, as well as staples such as long and short-sleeved shirts. We were really impressed by these; the exquisitely tailored silhouettes and colours ranging from soft pastels to bold prints exuded the very hip, semi-formal vibe beloved of all Gen-Z men. They also offer a selection of caps and shoes.
We were told that the store is currently stocked with 70% men’s clothing and 30% women’s clothing at the moment. However, we really didn’t feel the Ladies’ range lacked in any way. While it’s not as extensive as the menswear section, you still find a plethora of items to suit almost any fashion sense. Here again, we found ourselves browsing through a collection of crewnecks and polos in some very pretty shades. Something that really caught my eye was the range of stunning satin blouses. You can tell by the feel and look of these garments that the material is of the best possible quality, with styles ranging from party wear to work wear. These, put together with the work pants, belts, shoes and handbags on display are sure to deliver a very chic look. One area that we believe could be improved was the collection of dresses. While the materials used were undoubtedly amazing, the prints and cuts give an overall vintage vibe, which may not cater to the tastes of all shoppers.
We felt that a factor that really sets this store apart from those of other designer labels is their collection of winter wear. On display in the Men’s section were jumpers, sweaters and even a few coats, which judging by the gorgeous materials are bound to keep you toasty warm and looking effortlessly stylish on trips to colder climates. I really adored the winter wear available in the Women’s section as well; the woolly cardigans look really cute and cozy and the selection of coloured hoodies is guaranteed to get all you girls hyped!
Overall, our experience at Polo Ralph Lauren was very satisfying. Their items are on the pricier side, starting from LKR 20,000 onwards, but it really does seem worth it when you look at the quality and the statement made by all their clothes and accessories. Happy shopping at Polo Ralph Lauren, ODEL, OGF Mall!
