Ralph Lauren Store Associate Tells Black Fashion Designer She Can Only Try On Clothes If She’s Shopping To Purchase

Store Associate Tells Black Fashion Designer She Can Only Try On Clothes If She’s Shopping To Purchase

A video is currently making rounds online, showing the moment a first-year African American college student studying fashion design had a discriminating experience at a Ralph Lauren store.

The upcoming fashion designer is speaking out following the disheartening incident that happened during her school’s annual fashion study abroad tour in New York City.

In the clip was shared on TikTok to the account “#777,” the student detailed the moment she says she was denied the opportunity to try on high-end garments during a visit to the brand’s women’s department. She had asked an employee if she and her roommate were allowed to try on clothes, specifically a $3K corset top and a $7k skirt.

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According to her, the employee responded by asking, “Are you purchasing to shop?” and reiterated that trying on clothes was only permitted if the intention was to buy.

The student claims despite emphasizing she meant “we,” including her roommate, the employee allegedly maintained that she could not try anything on unless she intended to make a purchase.

“I didn’t want to cause a scene, so I walked away,” the student explained in the video. She says she later approached another employee, who told her that trying on items was allowed, contradicting the earlier response.

According to TNT, the student returned to the first employee to request her name for a formal complaint. “I felt defeated and discouraged,” she said. “I not only felt disrespected and discriminated against, but I also felt as though she was judging my character and class.”

“To try something so gorgeous and expensive would have been a dream,” she said, adding that the incident left her emotional and upset. As of now, Ralph Lauren has not publicly commented on the matter.