Ralph, if you are listening......

Ralph,

Is it just me or why is it that when you get a good nail polish, shade of lipstick or like just the right type or shade of something it inevitably changes, is discontinued or gone all together?

 My mother used to say, if she found something like that she would buy several tubes or bottles."You know as soon as I like this shade, it will be gone".

 Such was a weekend struggle for a client of mine, we had picked out the perfect shade of Edwardian Gold, from the Thoroughbred RL paint collection, and only a few short years ago. Painted her office and many other rooms with Ralph.

Now, I am a realist, and have to admit that when it comes to paint I am more concerned with color and clarity that the label of that is on the can. That said, I miss the entire Ralph Lauren line of paints from Home Depot! There were classic colors that were never replicated in other lines.

I am also a huge follower of the P & L line, but even their jewel box color lines were not like Ralph!

On my last paint matching excursion, I chatted over several attempts to get just that right shade of a color.

Ralph is out and Martha is in or so I was told in no certain terms.

Funny how the look and feel of a brand is a huge factor in what is carried to the general public. 

How could this be?

I wondered to myself there always seemed to be an interest and at least here in the Midwest a demand for his line. I had known the line was lost, but I was assurred that ALL colors could be matched and were in the system. This of course, proved to be untrue as the formula was nowhere to be found in the computer.

Well, long story short we went to the local independent paint store ( Elder paint ), a local icon and able to match any color or finish. 

 With the help of a pretty old paint swatch we were back in business.

Ralph and me were collaborating once again and all was right in the world, or atleast until the paint dried!

So, I suppose the moral to the story is get what you like when you can get it. As far as paint, I have gathered a collection of all the paint chips of the R L line, so they are now at my disposal.

But, Ralph if you are listening we are without you in our part of the world, and the plains are not near as painted as they once were.

RL Paint