A major but often overlooked key to Lauren’s success was his marriage in 1964 to Ricky Low-Beer. In many respects she was the girl he needed to meet in order to reach the next level. A blond Viennese dancer, educated and sophisticated with a European outlook, she was his ideal muse. Her influence helped Ralph Lauren to become one of the very few American designers to have gained both critical and commercial success outside of the United States. Pictures of Ricky feature heavily in the tome and her sensibility seems to shine most clearly through her husband’s home collections. The juxtaposition of silver framed family snapshots with Apache Indian throws in the Lauren’s country retreat indicates a homely yet refined woman’s touch.