QUITE A RIDE WITH RALPH LAUREN
Argentine’s chiseled looks are familiar from menswear ads, but it’s on the polo field where his passion comes into play
The summer’s last Gatsby-like event in the Bay Area — the St. Regis Polo Cup in Santa Rosa on Saturday — will be the hotel group’s first such competition in Northern California, and along with horses and thundering hooves on the turf, there’s another powerful attraction for spectators: a glimpse of world-famous polo star Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras, who’s best known in the fashion world as a model for Ralph Lauren.
Figueras’ chiseled good looks aren’t technically all-American, because he’s actually Argentine. No matter. In fashion, it’s the fantasy that counts, and celebrity fashion photographer Bruce Weber saw potential in Figueras at a dinner party in the Hamptons more than a decade ago. He began modeling in 2000, and became the face of Ralph Lauren’s Black Label line in 2005.
But it’s polo that is his passion, and that’s why he is coming to the Bay Area to play in this cup. (He helped organize the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic in 2010, the same year he and vintage dealer Cameron Silver organized a Veuve Clicquot Cup in Los Angeles.)
This will be Figueras’ first visit to San Francisco, his first visit to Wine Country and possibly, if time allows, his first visit to Silicon Valley, too. His wife, photographer Delfina Blaquier, will be along for the ride, but they’re leaving their four kids at home. Children are on the brain, though, because the event is a benefit for Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center. “I know about the ability that horses have to do well and to heal and be wonderful for kids,” he said in a recent phone chat, “and when they told me about finding a charity with those qualities, I said right away I thought that was perfect.”
No need to actually know anything about polo to attend, or wear a Gatsby-like wardrobe to attend, either, says Figueras. (We’ve provided a few photos from other polo cups across the nation for inspiration.) It’s socializing with family and friends for a cause that counts, he said before heading onto the field for a tournament on the East Coast.
“I don’t really consider myself a model. I’m a professional athlete who represents several brands.”
Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras
Q: A lot of Americans are unfamiliar with polo. What’s cool about polo?
A: What’s cool? Polo is a wonderful sport to watch because it has all the ingredients a sport needs to be fun: speed, the adrenaline of the game, horses which are beautiful, and team action. It’s a great day out with friends, with family and you’re outdoors in a beautiful big, green park. Q: How do polo players get in shape for this sport? I mean, the horse is the one who is running. Do you have to work out in the gymor lift weights?
A: Although it looks like the horse is doing a lot of the work, we play an hour and a half and you’re going nonstop, swinging at a ball with a guy that is coming at you. The main way that we train is riding — riding a lot. You cannot substitute riding with any other kind of training. In my case, I also run three times a week, do a little bit at the gym, and play tennis to stay in shape. Q: Polo match etiquette: What type of clothing does a guest wear? A: It depends on the occasion. I always say, it’s not the same to go watch a tennis tournament in Palm Springs as going to the finals of Wimbledon. Not every polo match has the same etiquette. There are some games at 3 o’clock on Wednesday, where people come from the beach with flip-flops, but there are some matches with a cocktail party and they dress up more. There’s no rule except for the rules the game of polo requires. I assume at Sonoma, where there’s a lunch and a tent, that people will dress up more. You won’t be judged. The most important thing is to be comfortable with yourself. Q: People assume it’s easy to be a model. Which is harder: playing polo or modeling? A: I don’t really consider myself a model. I’m a professional athlete who represents several brands. My passion is playing polo. Both things are hard. It’s been a fun ride. I’ve been with Ralph Lauren 14 years. Q: Last question: Who looks better in polo clothing, you or Prince Harry?
A: Ah, heh heh. (pause) He does!