Dream Extravagantly this Christmas Season
It’s a long running tradition for upscale department stores to create elaborate, expensive, ultimate dream gifts. Very few are probably sold, but they do it every year to give people a fun fantasy-like shopping (or wishing) experience.
Last year, I chose Saks’ Create Your Own Snow Globe as my fantasy purchase from amongst their items that were dreamed up by children of St. Jude’s Hospitals (which benefited from any sales). This year, regardless of the state of the economy, stores are continuing the beloved tradition.
Neiman Marcus published their 100th anniversary Christmas Book last year, and has the 2008 edition ready now. The book, which has been published even during wars and depressions, creates extreme, over-the-top fantasy gifts. At one point, the book was the most reported stolen piece of mail.
Previous gift ideas have included matching His and Her hot air balloons for $6,850 in 1964; a $250,000 bag of uncut diamonds in 1972; a solid milk chocolate Monopoly set in 1978 for $600; a $10,000 mermaid package, complete with tail, faux pearl top, and swimming lessons in 2003; and a limited edition home for your pet in 2006 for $5,000 to $7,000. This year, you can get a portion of turf cut from the Dallas Cowboys’ Texas Stadium for $500,000.
The Neiman Marcus 2008 Christmas Book is on sale online or in stores for $15. However, that $15 will be credited toward any purchase you make - and there are some affordable ones: a pine wood children’s play wagon in 1965 for $145; $5 for candy pebbles in a jar in 1972; and a bronze spearhead from the Persian Wars for only $35 in 1974.
The cover shown was the 2004 book design.
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