Take care of the luxuries, and the necessities will take care of themselves.” — Dorothy Parker
First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book has become as much a part of the holiday season as The Nutcracker and eggnog. So when the 86th edition was released Tuesday, we couldn't wait to get a glimpse of the outrageous fantasy gifts the luxury retailer is offering this season.
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Bond Toy: First featured in the 1965 movie, Thunderball, the Jetlev R200 jetpack will send you soaring.
Cost: $99,500
Guilt relief: For each sale, Neiman Marcus will donate $2,500 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Fla.
Green Acres: Modeled after the Versailles-inspired Le Petite Trianon house, this may be the poshest hen house ever imagined. The custom-made multilevel dwelling features a "living room" for nighttime roosting, a library filled with chicken and gardening books and an elegant chandelier.
Cost: $100,000
Guilt relief: For each sale, Neiman Marcus will donate $3,000 to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Watch this: The His & Hers gifts this year are two "Poetic Wish" watches from Van Cleef & Arpels. Buyer will also receive two business-class tickets to Paris and Geneva to tour the Van Cleef & Arpels watchmaking workshop.
Cost: Starting at $1.09 million
Guilt relief: For each sale, Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 to The Norman Mailer Center.
Vrooooom: Neiman Marcus Edition 2013 McLaren 12C Spider in volcano red, including limited-edition features and a McLaren luggage set. Also included: A business-class trip to England in February, 2013, for a VIP dinner with McLaren chairman Ron Dennis and a tour of the McLaren Technology Center.
Cost: $354,000 (only 12 made), reserve by calling 1-888-756-0775 at 11 a.m. CDT on Oct. 24.
Guilt relief: For each sale, Neiman Marcus will donate $3,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Whooo's watching: Robert Wilson's Snowy Owl. a limited-edition 42-by-24-inch hand-numbered and signed video portrait.
Cost: $70,000
Guilt relief: Purchase benefits the Watermill Center.
Chef's Table: Four of the world's most notable chefs — Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse and Richard Rosendale — will prepare a dinner for 10 at your home. Also on hand: Bertha Gonzalez, the world's first Maestra Tequilera, will host a Casa Dragones tequila tasting. Each guest receives a personally-engraved crystal bottle.
Cost: $250,000; limited to one customer.
Guilt relief: All proceeds benefit the Bocuse d'Or Foundation.
Bar on the go: Designed by interior designer Brad Ford, the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Woody-Tailgate Trailer has sleek leather furnishings, rich wood finishings, elegant glassware and a state-of-the-art entertainment system, including a flat-screen TV and Blue-ray Disc player.
Cost: $150,000
Guilt relief: Ten percent of the proceeds of each sale go to the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
Game on: Custom-made Pinel & Pinel Arcade PS Trunk with Formula 1 racing seats and Thrustmaster T500 RS Force Wheel, 24 PlayStation 3 games, Bluetooth wireless music system, motion-detection camera, two SingStar microphones and an 1,800-watt sound system.
Cost: $90,000
Guilt Relief: For each sale, Neiman Marcus will donate $3,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Broadway Baby: Buyer will receive a walk-on role in the Broadway production of Annie and afterwards share a five-star meal with one of the show's producers.
Cost: $30,000
Guilt relief: Proceeds of each gift will be split between the PEDIGREE Foundation and the Pajama Program.
On Target: The entire collection of 50 limited edition pieces from 24 top designers, including Tory Burch, Derek Lam, Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta, in a collaboration between Neiman Marcus and Target.
Cost: $3,500
Guilt relief: It's the least expensive of all Neiman Marcus fantasy gifts. Only five are available, ordering ends Oct. 15. Call 1-877-9NM-GIFT. The package will arrive after Dec. 1.
