Neiman Marcus unveiled its latest batch of fantasy gifts, including a $6.1 million, 30.86-carat heart diamond ring, at a party on the lot of Paramount Studios in Hollywood.
Neiman Marcus, which claims to have the most exclusive customer list, invited some celebrities to the reveal. Actors Phil Dunster and Juno Temple, who play Jamie Tartt and Keely in Apple TV’s hit show Ted Lasso, were there. So was fashion model and actress Slick Woods and actress, writer and producer Natasha Lyonne, who starred as Nicky Nichols in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black.
The party reflected the theme of the 200-page catalog — “Celebrate Big, Love Even Bigger” — and emphasized sustainability with gifts that can be handed down and experienced.
“We’ve seen our customer come back and try to live a normal life,” said Neiman Marcus chief marketing officer Darren “Daz” McColl. “The point was to unveil the gifts in a celebration.”
The DJ was Alexandra Nicole Richards, American model, artist and the daughter of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and model and actress Patti Hansen.
This is the 95th Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, which has a history of pizzazz and exclusivity. The first catalog was published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet that was sent to to the store’s best customers. In the 1950s and 1960s, Stanley Marcus and his brothers created the fantasy gifts, which scored valuable minutes on network television news shows. Actor Keanu Reeves once drove into an unveiling event on a motorcycle that he co-designed as a fantasy gift.
Among this year’s fantasy gifts in the 200-page catalog, the diamond ring is the most expensive item. The buyer gets to name the stone with the Gemological Institute, which will link the stone to a family forever.
Fashionphile, a reseller of fashion handbags and accessories that is partially owned by Neiman Marcus, is participating in a fantasy gift for the first time. The gift is a three-part closet treasure hunt that comes with an all-access pass to Fashionphile’s inventory.
Fashionphile experts will come mine your closet with you before you go on a $100,000 shopping spree with Neiman Marcus fashion and lifestyle director Lisa Aiken, who will shop with you to replace the old stuff with new. Next, Fashionphile CEO Sarah Davis will help choose five vintage pieces that you can borrow and swap out anytime. The fantasy gift price is $345,000.
McColl said the closet treasure hunt will appeal to shoppers who appreciate “the 360 recycle economy inside their closet.”
“Customers have items of value they’ve forgotten that can come back into the marketplace for someone else who appreciates fashion and style and the craftsmanship of products,” McColl said.
The sustainability message extends to the fully electric Hummer EV that comes with an experience: VIP access for two to the owner’s skybox at the 2022 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. It’s priced at $285,000.
Two fantasy gifts include travel to Europe to create something lasting. One is a trip to Portugal where the recipient will get to design dinnerware that will become a custom-made 12-piece place setting at the Vista Alegre workshop. There’s only one of this fantasy gift, which includes luxury travel accommodations for two with several excursions including a day on a yacht and special dinners with local chefs. The package costs $80,000 with $10,000 of the price going to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation.
The other European gift is a family trip to London where the children will work closely with author Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrators to co-write a special edition of Little People Big Dreams. That experience costs $35,000.
A roaring ‘20s party designed by party planner Bronson Van Wyck for 20 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem is priced at $395,000.
For the first time this year, Neiman Marcus has curated gift boxes focused on self-care, travel and gifts for children that range in price from $82 to $4,458. Shoppers also can design their own. In-store gift suites will be set up to allow customers to make their own gift boxes with items from anywhere in the store.
And Santa will be back, too. Some Neiman Marcus stores will offer in-person visits with Santa, and virtual meetings also will be available this year.
Twitter: @MariaHalkias
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