I’ve decided to sell my apartment and move into the new Ralph Lauren women’s store at 888 Madison Avenue. Unfortunately, I’m not the only woman with that housing plan. Walking through this breathtaking monument to women’s fashion, I overheard at least two other women voicing that desire. (And one saleswoman nodded understandingly when I expressed my feelings).

To call this new Ralph Lauren building a store is a little like calling caviar fish eggs. Yes, the description is correct, but woefully inadequate. What Lauren and his team have created is a cross between a Fantasyland for adults and a museum that celebrates women’s fashion, past and present.

Do people really live this way, in country mansions where crystal chandeliers are draped with silk, velvet pillows embellished with silver and gold embroidery are tossed with abandon on sofas, and adorable dogs are outfitted in cashmere turtlenecks? Many of us can only dream about living like a country lord or lady, but the genius of Ralph Lauren is that he makes this lifestyle accessible to the masses.

Yes, that $8,000 sequin tulle dress may be out of our price range, but we can still leave the store with something—-a $395 pair of velvet pumps, a $275 leather belt, or a $195 fingerless fishnet pair of gloves—to live the fantasy. If even those items are out of your price range, visit the top floor where you can take home a reasonably priced fragrance candle. Your sixth-floor walkup can at least smell rich.

The new four-story limestone building out-glams the other Ralph Lauren store directly across the street and now housing the men’s collection. That building is truly a work of art, the former Rhinelander Mansion, designed in 1890 by Kimball and Thompson and regarded as an architectural wonder, a surviving structure from the when grand mansions dominated Manhattan. The new building has an advantage, however, in that it was designed to showcase the fashions. And it does so gloriously.

Before entering the building, from either Madison Avenue or 72nd Street, enjoy the expertly-designed window displays, a mix of fashion and home furnishings. Much of the merchandise on the ground floor is housed in glass cases, requiring the assistance of a salesperson. Accessories dominate here and invite close inspection.

Among newly crafted items, there are one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, beautiful silk and beaded purses, and exquisite jewelry. Shoes, boots, and handbags, including pricey alligator ones, are also on the ground floor, housed in a “Footwear Salon,” according to the website, with comfortable seating for trying on.

There are elevators, but for the full effect, take the grand staircase up to the other floors. Along the way, enjoy the framed photos (our favorite is the oversized black and white immortalizing the fox hunt), the floral arrangements, and the lifelike mannequins dressed in Ralph Lauren’s fall collection. Wander through the various rooms, each one focusing on a specific fashion theme—flowered silks, tweed jackets, velvet gowns trimmed with lace.

The home furnishings floor includes a bedroom that looks ready to be inhabited. The bed boasts a luxurious canopy and bed accessories. A Persian rug covers the floor, with comfortable chairs, including an upholstered chaise lounge, completing the picture. Adjacent to the bedroom is a living room, the focal point an ornate glass cabinet filled with rare books. Take that Kindle!

Although the store was crowded on October 16, a day after opening, there was more browsing than purchasing going on. Shoppers dressed in running clothes shared the space with tourists carrying New York City guidebooks. The sales help, both male and female, perfectly coiffed and outfitted in Ralph Lauren’s best, were welcoming and cordial, ready to help but not disappointed at the hordes just looking.

This flagship store, however, is already a success. After visiting the new store, you can’t help but be attracted to other Ralph Lauren products wherever you see them. Product branding by a genius.

We look forward to the holidays and can only imagine the amazing displays that will greet us. We will return, even if we don’t have a move in date.