Neiman Marcus Launches 2008 Christmas Book

The 2008 Christmas Book was unveiled today by luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas. The 82nd edition of this world-renowned book continues Neiman Marcus’s longstanding tradition of offering its customers the ultimate in awe-inspiring gifts.

This year’s edition of the Christmas Book caters to a broad range of consumer tastes and interests with gifts sure to delight both customers with the most discerning eye and shoppers in search of luxurious items to incorporate into their everyday life. A new selection of extraordinary fantasy gifts includes an array of amazing items and packages, including His and Hers life-size LEGO(R) sculptures, a Dallas Cowboys(R) Texas Stadium(R) end zone, the M-Velope(R) transformable structure, and medieval and Renaissance-era rings. This year’s featured car is the NM limited-edition 2009 BMW(R) Individual 7 Series sedan.

First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store’s best customers. Building on tradition through the years, the book has maintained its personal touch while evolving into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts. The arrival of the book has come to mark the official start of the holiday season for many of the Christmas Book’s subscribers.

“This year’s collection of remarkable fantasy gifts is sure to capture the imaginations of our loyal customers who have come to expect the unexpected from the Christmas Book and from Neiman Marcus,” said Burt Tansky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Neiman Marcus Group. “Every year we seek to exceed the expectations set by the previous year’s selection of gifts, and this year will surely not disappoint.”

Among the selection of extravagant gifts in the 2008 Christmas Book are some amazing items, including:

TITANIUM FIGHTER MOTORCYCLE
There’s the startling design that fuses raw power with crisp simplicity. It’s an evolution of the machine, at once taken back down to its core elements while being reinvented and re-engineered for optimal performance. It’s our street-legal sci-fi dream come to life, in the form of the limited-edition Fighter Motorcycle. Ours exclusively courtesy of Confederate Motor Company(R), the first ever Fighter packs 190 mph of performance into its cutting-edge carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum chassis. There’s the 62″ wheelbase, 27″H seat, integrated braking system, lots of high-tech bells and whistles, and custom NM edition features. Only 45 of these raging, right-on machines are available.
($110,000.00; page 69)

DALLAS COWBOYS(R) TEXAS STADIUM(R) END ZONE
You can put 530 square yards of sporting history into your own backyard: An entire Cowboys Texas Stadium end zone. Our exclusive package also includes the VIP treatment for the last regular season Cowboys game in Texas Stadium. Your crew gets pre-game photos in your zone with Jerry Jones, a luxury suite for the game, a once-in-a-lifetime post-game tailgate party (with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders) on your soon-to-be new backyard, autographed memorabilia from Cowboys legends, and a VIP package to attend the opening of the new stadium in 2009. The Jerry Jones family and Cowboys organization will generously donate the entire purchase price to The Salvation Army(R). A limited edition of 380 framed 26″ x 36″ collages with a touchable section of end zone is also available.
($500,000.00 and $500.00; page 70)

THIRTY-FIVE YEAR COLLECTION OF 45 RPM RECORDS
In this age of soulless digital downloads and MP3 mumbo-jumbo, we gleefully turn to that treasured icon of our American pop culture childhood: the 45 RPM vinyl single. We present our exclusive, definitive collection which contains each and every 45 RPM vinyl record that was listed on the Billboard Top 100(R) Rock and Pop charts from Jan. 1, 1955, through Dec. 31, 1990. Absolutely every disc for 35 years, every No. 100 up to every No. 1. There are some 18,400 records total. There are literally hundreds of extremely collectible 45s — Elvis, Joplin, Hendrix, you name it.
($275,000.00; page 71)

MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE-ERA RINGS
We’ve teamed up with Les Enluminures of Paris to put history in your hands, quite literally, with our exclusive collection of extremely rare original medieval and Renaissance rings. Hand-braided eleven centuries ago, our gold ring is a museum-quality example. Our 15th century English signet ring bears an engraving of the faithful and vigilant pooch. Our 16th century Western European ring graced a maiden’s hand with a sparkling, mysterious 13mm step-cut tourmaline set in enameled gold. Each arrives with its pedigree spelled out in writing.
($25,000.00, $35,000.00 and $45,000.00; page 72)

M-VELOPE(R) TRANSFORMABLE STRUCTURE
The M-Velope is a 15-foot high by 14-foot wide by 17-foot deep creation of functional art built with a steel frame. All its hinged wood panel frames open, move, and close at your whim. Michael Jantzen, an internationally famous architectural pioneer/artist, created it and is crafting just 10 structures for us exclusively. He’s a leader in rethinking how we live, and he’s been green since ’71. He builds each M-Velope with new Accoya(R) wood products that are durable and completely sustainable.
($100,000.00; page 73)

HIS & HERS LIFE-SIZE LEGO(R) SCULPTURES
Acclaimed artist Nathan Sawaya fills his New York studio with more than 1.5 million LEGO(R) bricks, and he can sculpt anything out of them. Given the skill and depth of his devotion to his art, it makes perfect sense to immortalize your own magnificent self with our 2008 His & Hers gifts. Send in detailed photos and measurements, then Nathan gets to snapping and BOOM! One-of-a-kind, life-size sculptures of yourselves in LEGO(R) bricks. We priced our exclusive gift individually, so Nathan can “brickalize” you and/or anyone else you obsess about.
($60,000.00 each; page 74)

JACK NICKLAUS CUSTOM BACKYARD GOLF COURSE
Yes, THE Jack Nicklaus. Jack will study topography, aerial photos, and landscape maps for the site, then send his team to survey the property. He’ll create a formal design plan and color renderings for up to three holes and a practice area. Your construction crew builds from it, with supervision from Jack’s world-class design team. When the course is finished, the Golden Bear himself will stop by to play the first round with you, personally. He’ll sign his club and ball for your collection and throw in a custom set of Nicklaus clubs, including a personalized bag.
*Construction and site preparation costs not included
(Beginning at $1,000,000.00; page 76)

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS(R) ON-COURT EXPERIENCE
Here’s your once-in-a-lifetime chance to play on your dream team, joining stars like Scooter Christensen and Special K Daley on court with the Harlem Globetrotters. Your exclusive gift package includes a personalized official uniform, guaranteed playing time in a U.S. 2008-09 season game, introduction as a special guest, and insider access to the team.
($110,000.00; page 77)

PLATINUM WEDDING AT THE RESORT AT PELICAN HILL(R)
There is a rare opportunity to make nuptials the stuff of family legends, with our exclusive turnkey luxury wedding experience at The Resort at Pelican Hill. The ultimate resort setting on the breathtaking coast of Newport Beach, California. A personal engagement coach to take care of every detail, a couture wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses custom designed by Carolina Herrera, up to 40 private ocean-view guest villas and every detail exquisitely executed from the magical cake to the perfect flowers to the private celebrity entertainment at the reception. Our experience also includes resort events for the bridal party, a rehearsal dinner event, an after-reception party, and gourmet breakfast the next day for family and guests.
(Beginning at $1,300,000.00; page 78)

AUTHENTIC GUINNESS(R) HOME PUB
In celebration of Guinness’ 250th Anniversary, the legendary brand is offering the ultimate gift for beer lovers — a fully functional traditional Irish pub custom-built for their home. The Authentic Guinness Home Pub will be handcrafted with Guinness artifacts and Irish architectural elements reflecting the brand’s rich legacy. The bar also comes with a keg dispensing unit and a one year supply of fresh Guinness draught — ideal for serving perfectly poured pints. Included in the gift package is a VIP trip for two to Dublin, with first-class airfare, luxury accommodations and insider access to the magic being made at the historic St. James’s Gate brewery. Whether out at the pub, or enjoying in the luxury of one’s home, Guinness is always best enjoyed responsibly.
($250,000.00; page 79)

NM LIMITED-EDITION 2009 BMW(R) INDIVIDUAL 7 SERIES SEDAN
The all-new BMW 7 Series has an ’09 launch date, but to commemorate 31 years of the BMW 7 Series in the USA, we’ve got just 31 limited-edition 2009 BMW Individual 7 Series Sedans available for purchase. The inside is furnished with our exquisite BMW Individual Champagne Merino full leather and Alcantara(R) headliner. The outside finish: our exclusive, 31-autos-only iridescent Diopside Black and illuminated Neiman Marcus entry sills. Also part of the package is a once-in-a-lifetime European adventure. Our exclusive trip includes two business-class tickets on Lufthansa(R) from New York, gourmet meals, luxury hotel for four nights including Munich and the French Riviera, and rare insider access to BMW. The adventure is scheduled for April 2009. Available beginning at noon EDT on October 16, 2008. Call 1-866-303-2696 to order.
($160,000.00; page 81)

THREE CHIMNEYS THOROUGHBRED RACING PACKAGE
You want a working, turnkey, in-the-running thoroughbred racing enterprise right out of the starting gate? You go to Three Chimneys Farm. For this exclusive package, you get the works because Three Chimneys means business. They will build you a stable of 12-15 thoroughbreds and with your input will train them, house them, select races, enter them in races, provide you a personal racing concierge, and manage the entire enterprise for you for the next four years. As the owner, you get to name your stable and any unnamed horses, design your own silks, attend races, pose for pictures, give quotes to the media … and keep all the purses and trophies.