Ralph Lauren's goal - a sartorial Celtic

HIS look is described as American classic, and he is best-known for dressing movie stars and US presidents. Now, Ralph Lauren has turned his attention to Celtic Football club.

The US fashion label has been announced as the official outfitter of the Glasgow team's formal attire, and has designed an exclusive suit and tie for the club. The close-fitting grey wool suit and striped green and silver silk tie retails at 3,000, and will be the formal wear of all Celtic players and members of management at official occasions.

The suits, which are made to measure, come with leather shoes, a belt and a white shirt, and even include green and silver cufflinks. They mark a pronounced departure from the usual formal wear worn by football teams of dark blazers and light trousers.

The outfits, which will be debuted at the Scottish Cup Semi Final match against Aberdeen at Hampden next Sunday, were presented to the team last week and include a style guide that show the players exactly how to wear their suits.

Glasgow-born Brian Duffy, Ralph Lauren's group president for Europe and a Celtic board member, was instrumental to the tie-up.

"The reality is Ralph Lauren wouldn't typically do this and I've been in a position to help influence that," he told Scotland on Sunday.

"We wanted to do something contemporary and elegant. It looks like a reasonably straightforward outfit but we've gone through a lot of permutations to get it just right.

"We had a session with the players telling them how it needs to be worn from top to tail, the shoes, the belts the cufflinks, even the pocket square. We told them they should feel as proud to put on this outfit as they do when they put on a Celtic jersey."

The deal marks the first time Ralph Lauren has been involved in a football club. The label currently designs the outfits for tennis players at Wimbledon and the US Open, and has dressed the American Olympic team. Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana have a contract to dress Chelsea FC, while fashion chain Cruise supplies the Rangers squad with a blazer and slacks. Neil Lennon, Celtic's manager, said: "The club is delighted to enter this new partnership with Ralph Lauren. The new suits are fantastic. I personally feel it is important that the players are as smart as possible at all times when they represent the club and thanks to Brian Duffy and Ralph Lauren, this will certainly be the case."

Glasgow-based fashion stylist Jade Halbert, of style company Dresser, said it was a surprising tie-up.

"I think it will be an excellent influence on football fans. A lot of young men are quite susceptible to the image that footballers and football clubs in general give - that's why the Celtic Shop is such a huge success.So maybe as a result of this we're going to see a lot more Celtic fans dressed like gentlemen."

However, some Celtic fans keen to emulate their idols may baulk at the prices. Although the full suit is not for sale to the general public, fans can purchase the shoes for 800 and belt for 170.

Fashion stylist Lindsay Campbell said that football and fashion did not always make for easy bedfellows.

"Fashion labels have not had the best relationship with football," she said. "Look at what the casuals did to Burberry check. Then the English team's 1996 World Cup white suits by Armani - they were mocked. I think Ralph Lauren have to be careful in which way they decided to take it. Football is known for WAG time behaviour and garish designs. Maybe it's time someone like Ralph Lauren added a little understated elegance to the pot."