On Saturday, the commander in chief of the U.S. apparel industry met with his commander-in-chief as Ralph Lauren became the first fashion designer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mr Lauren, 85, wore a tweed blazer, knitted tie and soft dark trainers and was described in an introduction as “classic yet creative, timeless yet innovative”. He was praised for “reminding us of our distinctive style as a nation of dreamers and doers.”

Established by John F. Kennedy, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the country’s highest civilian honor. The award has been presented to numerous cultural, business and political figures, including Babe Ruth, Mother Teresa, Julia Child, Warren Buffett, John McCain and Rush Limbaugh.

If ever there was a fashion designer deserving of this award, it is Mr. Lauren. A son of the Bronx, Mr. Lauren marketed a preppy image to the up-and-coming masses and grew his eponymous company into a multimillion-dollar company—one of which he remains chairman and chief creative officer nearly half a century after its founding.

The fashion world, largely absent from the event in the past, was well represented at the White House on Saturday. Along with Mr. Lauren, Anna Wintour, a die-hard Brit (and long-time supporter of democratic causes), accepted President Biden’s gold medallion, who has been editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988.

In her introduction, Ms. Wintour, wearing a shin-length plaid coat and forgoing her ubiquitous oversized sunglasses for the occasion, praised Ms. Wintour for “using fashion as a mirror to reflect our culture.”

Other honorees on Saturday included Hillary Clinton, Bono, José Andrés, Lionel Messi and George Soros.

Mr. Lauren was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife of 60 years, Ricky Lauren, in a sharp black suit, and his older brother, Jerry Lauren. Also present were Mr. Lauren’s three children: Andrew, David and Dylan.

Born in New York in 1939 to immigrant parents, Mr. Lauren entered the clothing market in the late 1960s by introducing a line of men’s ties that he sold out of a drawer in a showroom in the Empire State Building. Soon after, Mr. Lauren was marketing a holistic brand of sophisticated prepwear that includes shoes and suits.

The rest is well-worn fashion history, as Mr. Lauren took his brand’s pony logo to the ethereal heights of American fashion. In a way, he succeeded by perfecting the building blocks of the All-American look: blue jeans, polo shirts, white T-shirts, flannel shirts and work boots. As Mr. Lauren told luxury magazine Robb Report in 2023, “I loved things that were American.” His brand’s well-selling American flag sweaters put an exclamation point on this.

Mr. Lauren expanded the brand to include attractive homewares and personally embodied the aspirational image conveyed through his label’s cinematic advertising campaigns. Mr. Lauren’s possessions include a garage full of cars and a sprawling ranch in the mountains of Colorado. Packed with leather furniture, saddle blankets and polished wood accents, Mr. Lauren’s oft-photographed homes are lived-in paintings of his polished, all-American look.

Through his brand, the designer was a patriotic cheerleader and if not a friend, then an acquaintance to many political figures. For decades, his company has outfitted the United States Olympic team, dressing the athletes in all kinds of sparkly and striped sportswear. In 2022, at a time of national scrutiny about racial inequality, Ralph Lauren collaborated with Morehouse College and Spelman College, two historically black colleges in Atlanta, on a collection that included silk wrap dresses and a school blazer – elegant pieces that reflect the Today’s look defies sweatpants-loving students.

Mr. Lauren’s clothing has a bipartisan appeal. Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama both wore the brand’s designs during their time in the White House. In 2017, Melania Trump wore the brand’s cashmere dress to her husband’s swearing-in ceremony. Mr. Lauren’s son David married George HW Bush’s granddaughter Lauren in 2011.

Mr. Lauren’s company appears to have special meaning for the Bidens. Mr. Biden wore a Ralph Lauren coat and suit to his inauguration in 2021, while Jill Biden, who has often been photographed wearing the brand’s designs (including on the cover of Ms. Wintour’s Vogue last year), was the marquee guest at Ralph Lauren current fashion show that took place in the Hamptons in September.