From Fashion Biz

A fashion writer thinks Ralph Lauren is exercising his legendary control over the press.

Michael Gross, author of "Genuine Authentic: The Real Life of Ralph Lauren," an unauthorized biography on the designer to be published by Harper Collins in February, believes Lauren is threatening to pull advertising from media outlets that would review the book.

"I've been told that it's quite likely that he's going to leverage his media muscle to attempt to gain a shutdown of my book," Gross said.

"People, from fashion trade publications and fashion consumer publications and major magazine publishing outfits that publish glossy magazines that carry Ralph Lauren advertising, have told me bluntly that my book will not be covered in their magazines," Gross said.

Ralph Lauren and his reps did not return calls for comment.

AdvertisingAge reported that senior executives at three different magazines felt unduly pressured by Lauren ad reps to provide editorial for the company's 35th anniversary. Lauren has appeared on the covers of Town & Country, Architectural Digest and GQ in the past months.

However, the publications that would cover the book dispute Gross'charges.

A spokesman for Vogue said the magazine has not received galleys, the first step in being considered for review. Vanity Fair's spokeswoman said "Hot Type," the magazine's book column, is not slated for the February issue. "It only runs 10 times a year," she said.

A spokeswoman for fashion trade publication WWD said, "We have done a number of items on Michael's book. Whether or not it gets coverage - we'll decide at the launch," she said.