Page 1 of 11 Pages

                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                 SCHEDULE 13D

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              (Amendment No. )*

                           
                            POLO RALPH LAUREN CORP.
             -----------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)
 
                                   CLASS A    
             -----------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                  731572103
             -----------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                  Linda S. Martinson, Esq. (212) 583-2000
                767 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10153
             -----------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                
             -----------------------------------------------------
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ].
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous  statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).

                                                    SEC 1746 (12-91)


                             Schedule 13D (continued)

CUSIP No. 731572103                                Page 2 of 11 Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
    
       Baron Capital Group, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ ]
                                                             (b)  [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS

       OO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
       2(C) OR 2(E)    [ ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES               370,000
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             10,027,500
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH                370,000
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       10,027,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       10,397,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       30.6%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       HC, CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT



                        Schedule 13D (continued)

CUSIP No. 731572103                       Page 3 of 11 Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
    
       BAMCO, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ ]
                                                             (b)  [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS

       OO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
       2(C) OR 2(E)    [ ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             8,874,600
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH              
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       8,874,600
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       8,874,600
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       26.1%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       IA, CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT



                       Schedule 13D (continued)

CUSIP No. 731572103                        Page 4 of 11 Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
    
       Baron Capital Management, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ ]
                                                             (b)  [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS

       OO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
       2(C) OR 2(E)    [ ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES              370,000
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             1,152,900
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH               370,000
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       1,152,900
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       1,522,900
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       4.5%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       IA, CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT



                           Schedule 13D (continued)

CUSIP No. 731572103                        Page 5 of 11 Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
    
       Baron Asset Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ ]
                                                             (b)  [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS

       OO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
       2(C) OR 2(E)    [ ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH              8,654,600
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH             
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                        8,654,600
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

        8,654,600
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       25.5%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       IV, OO 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT



                      Schedule 13D (continued)

CUSIP No. 731572103                   Page 6 of 11 Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

      Ronald Baron
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [  ]
                                                             (b)  [  ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS

       OO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDING IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS
       2(C) OR 2(E)    [ ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       USA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES               370,000
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             10,027,500 
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH                370,000
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       10,027,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       10,397,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       30.6%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       IN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT



                                              Page 7 of 11 Pages

Item 1.   Security and Issuer
          (a)  Name of Issuer:
               Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.
          (b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
               650 Madison Avenue
               New York, NY 10022
          (c)  Title and Class of Securities:
               Class A    

Item 2.   Identity and Background
          (a)  Name:
               Baron Capital Group, Inc.  ('BCG')
               BAMCO, Inc.  ('BAMCO')
               Baron Capital Management, Inc.  ('BCM')
               Baron Asset Fund ('BAF')
               Ronald Baron
          (b)  Business Address:
               767 Fifth Avenue
               New York, NY 10153
          (c)  Present Principal Employment:
               BCG:             Holding company
               BAMCO:           Investment adviser
               BCM:             Investment adviser
               BAF:             Registered investment company
               Ronald Baron:    President: BCG, BAMCO, BCM; CEO OF BAF
               767 Fifth Avenue
               New York, NY 10153
          (d)  Record of Convictions:
               During the last five years, Filing Persons were not convicted
               in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or
               similar misdemeanors.)
          (e)  Record of Civil Proceedings:
               During the last five years, Filing Persons were not a party to
               a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of
               competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was
               or is subject to a judgement, decree or final order enjoining
               future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating such
               activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or
               finding any violation with respect to such laws.
          (f)  Citizenship:
               BCG, BAMCO and BCM are New York corporations.  BAF is a 
               Massachusetts business trust.  Ronald Baron is a citizen
               of the United States.

 Item 3.   Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
           Ronald Baron owns no shares of the issuer directly. BAMCO directed
           the purchase of 8,874,600 shares of the Issuer for its investment
           advisory clients for an aggregate purchase price of $234,790,638.
           Of these shares, 8,654,600 were acquired for the account of BAF for
           an aggregate purchase price of $229,309,596. BCM directed the
           purchase of 1,152,900 shares of the issuer for its investment
           advisory clients for an aggregate purchase price of $29,624,193.
           And BCM also purchased 370,000 shares of the issuer for two 
           investment partnerships for an aggregate price of 48,676,794.  All
           of the shares were paid for by cash assets in the respective      
           clients' accounts and/or by margin borrowings pursuant to 
           standard margin agreements.
          

          



                                                          Page 8 of 11 Pages


 Item 4.   Purpose of Transaction
           The securities referred to herein were acquired in the ordinary
           course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and
           do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of 
           the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection
           with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes
           of effect. Filing Persons reserve the right to discuss management
           and other proposals with other persons.

 Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer
           (a) Amount and percentage beneficially owned:
               BCG:            10,397,500     30.6%
               BAMCO:           8,874,600     26.1%
               BCM:             1,522,900      4.5%
               BAF:             8,654,600     25.5% 
               Ronald Baron:   10,397,500     30.6%

           (b) Number of shares as to which such person has:
               (i)   sole power to vote or direct the vote:
               BCG:               370,000
               BAMCO:                   0      
               BCM:               370,000
               BAF:                     0
               Ronald Baron:      370,000
               (ii)  shared power to vote or direct the vote:
               BCG:            10,027,500
               BAMCO:           8,874,600      
               BCM:             1,152,900
               BAF:             8,654,600
               Ronald Baron:   10,027,500                       
               (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:
               BCG:               370,000
               BAMCO:                   0      
               BCM:               370,000
               BAF:                     0
               Ronald Baron:      370,000
              (iv)  shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
               BCG:            10,027,500
               BAMCO:           8,874,600     
               BCM:             1,152,900
               BAF:             8,654,600
               Ronald Baron:   10,027,500
          
              *Reporting Persons may be deemed to share power to vote and
               dispose of shares referred to herein as a result of control
               relationships (BCG and Ronald Baron with respect to all of
               the shares; BAMCO with respect to the BAF shares) and 
               pursuant to investment advisory relationships with advisory
               clients.  Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership
               of the shares for which they share power.
              

           (c) A schedule of transactions effected in the last sixty days is
               attached hereto.



                                                          Page 9 of 11 Pages

           (d) Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
               The investment advisory clients have the right to receive the
               dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of the securities
               in their respective accounts. To the best of Reporting Person's
               knowledge, other than the shares reported herein, no person has
               such interest relating to more than 5% of the outstanding class
               of securities.

           (e) Ownership of Less than Five Percent:
               Not applicable.

Item 6.    Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with
           Respect to Securities of the Issuer
           
           By virtue of their investment advisory agreements with their 
           clients, BCM and BAMCO have been given the discretion to dispose
           or direct the disposition of the securities in the advisory
           accounts.  All such agreements are, however, revocable.  The
           advisory agreements for the Baron Funds have been approved by their
           Board of Trustees.  The agreements of the Baron Funds are filed as
           exhibit 99 to Form N1-A for Baron Asset Fund and are incorporated
           by reference herein. All the advisory agreements are pursuant
           to a standard form.
           
Item 7.    Material to be Filed as Exhibits
           Exhibit 99 - 60 days of trading.
 
 Signature

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.

Date:     October 9, 1998


                               Baron Capital Group, Inc., BAMCO, Inc.,
                               Baron Capital Management, Inc.  and
                               Baron Assert Fund
                               By:

                                /s/ Ronald Baron
                                _______________________________________
                                    Ronald Baron, President


                               Ronald Baron, Individually
                               By:
  
                                /s/ Ronald Baron
                                _______________________________________
                                    Ronald Baron
         

Transaction Schedule
From 07-30-98 To 09-30-98

                                            Exec. 
Date      Acct ID     Trans    Qty          Price
- --------  -------     -----    -------      -------
08-03-98  bamco       buy       55,200      27.2644
08-04-98  bamco       buy       59,800      27.0422
08-04-98  bamco       buy       10,000      27.7500
08-06-98  bamco       buy       10,000      26.3750
08-07-98  bamco       buy       15,000      27.6459
08-11-98  bamco       buy       10,000      26.3719
08-14-98  bamco       buy       10,000      27.0000
08-14-98  bcm         buy        6,300      27.0238
08-14-98  bcm         buy        5,000      27.0238
08-17-98  bamco       buy       20,000      26.1898
08-17-98  bcm         buy       10,000      26.1898
08-17-98  bcm         buy        7,500      26.1898
08-18-98  bamco       buy       20,000      26.3750
08-18-98  bcm         buy        6,000      26.3750
08-19-98  bamco       buy       50,000      25.8625
08-20-98  bamco       buy       20,000      25.5625
08-21-98  bamco       buy       10,000      24.9225
08-24-98  bamco       buy       20,000      24.4413
08-25-98  bamco       buy       25,000      25.0189
08-25-98  bcm         buy       65,000      25.0189
08-26-98  bamco       buy        9,600      24.4319
08-26-98  bcm         buy       50,000      24.4319
08-27-98  bcm         buy       40,000      23.7969
08-28-98  bcm         buy        5,000      23.3750
08-28-98  bcm         buy        2,500      22.8750
08-28-98  bcm         buy        7,500      22.8750
09-09-98  bcm         buy       60,000      20.9375
09-11-98  bcm         buy       20,000      21.2325
09-14-98  bcm         buy       20,000      22.8798
09-14-98  bamco       buy       20,000      22.8798
09-15-98  bcm         buy        8,000      23.1435
09-15-98  bamco       buy       20,000      23.1435
09-16-98  bcm         buy       25,000      22.9673
09-18-98  bcm         buy       10,000      22.4841
09-18-98  bcm         buy        5,000      22.4841
09-18-98  bcm         buy       12,000      22.4841
09-18-98  bamco       buy       10,000      22.4841
09-21-98  bcm         buy       20,000      21.8750
09-23-98  bcm         buy       20,000      20.6667
09-23-98  bcm         buy       10,000      20.6667
09-25-98  bcm         buy       11,000      20.7716
09-25-98  bcm         buy        4,700      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        7,500      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        6,000      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        6,500      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        1,700      20.6250
09-25-98  bcm         buy        7,500      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        1,500      20.7716
09-25-98  bcm         buy       10,500      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        1,900      20.9717
09-25-98  bcm         buy        4,500      20.9717
09-25-98  bcm         buy        1,400      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        1,400      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy        2,500      20.7881
09-25-98  bcm         buy       11,500      20.7716
09-25-98  bcm         buy       11,000      20.7881
09-28-98  bcm        buy       20,000      21.2500
09-29-98  bcm        buy       40,000      20.5788