NEW YORK — Ralph Lauren wanted to be a baseball player, a basketball player, a cowboy, a dancer — even Batman — before settling on a career in fashion.
The press-shy designer opened the doors to his 17,000 square-foot Double RL Ranch outside Telluride, Colo., for Wednesday's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" as Winfrey continues her schedule of high-profile guests in preparation for her talk show's finale on May 25.
Lauren told Winfrey about his hopes and dreams as the son of a Bronx, N.Y., house painter. He said he was drawn to Batman because of "the ability to stay young, the ability to enjoy what you enjoyed when you were a kid, not to give up the hope and excitement."
He got into the fashion business as a student hanging returns in a department store, and later designing men's ties. An avid sports fan, Lauren went with the brand name Polo because "I felt like I couldn't call it basketball."