neimanmarcuschristmasbook

Neiman Marcus: Premier Luxury and Superior Customer Service

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Jewelry, Shoes

Neiman Marcus is a nominee for the Readers' Choice Award for Best Department Store. The Dallas, Texas-based luxury retailer was founded in 1907 by Herbert Marcus, Sr., his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman and her husband A.L. Neiman. Since then, the company has become known for its merchandise leadership and superior customer service. Its upscale assortment of apparel, accessories, jewelry, beauty and decorative home products cater to the affluent customer.

The company is credited with many firsts. In 1926, the company premiered the first weekly retail fashion show in the U.S. It began offering menswear in 1928, featuring items like French-made ties and English shirtings--items rarely found west of New York City. In 1934 the company started running national advertisements in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines--the first retail establishment outside New York City to do so. In 1984, the company established InCircle, the industry's first customer-loyalty program.

In 1939, the company launched its annual Christmas Book tradition with a wonderland of fur coats, fashion accessories, perfumes, toys and more. The book has since become famous for extravagent, over-the-top luxury items, such as a $25,000 customized and motorized cupcake car and a Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus edition sedan for $105,000, both offered in the 2009 book. The Christmas Book's "His and Hers" gift, which is an annual tradition, currently features a pair of ICON A5 Sports Aircrafts and pilot training for two for the princely sum of $250,000.

Now more than a century old, the company has 41 stores and a total of more than six million gross square feet around the country, from California to Massachusetts. In 1999, Neiman Marcus launched its website, neimanmarcus.com, making it possible for customers around the world to easily access its large selection of designer and luxury brands via the Internet. The Neiman Marcus Group is the parent company of two other esteemed companies: Bergdorf Goodman, the luxury department store based in New York and The Horchow Collection, a luxury mail-order catalog.

Cast your vote for the Readers' Choice Awards at http://www.luxist.com/awards-vote/accessories-awards.

Gallery: More from Neiman Marcus

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Neiman Marcus Sells 50 Jaguars in Four Hours

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you were anxious to get your hands on the new 2010 Jaguar XJ, you're going to have to wait until next year. But a lucky 50 customers with cash in hand managed to get a hold of the new luxury sedan earlier than the rest of us, thanks to Neiman Marcus.

For the third time in the history of the two companies, a Jaguar was selected as the luxury automobile of choice for this year's Christmas Book, following the XKE coupe that appeared in 1968 and the XK8 convertible in 1997. And like the BMW 7 Series which the premium department store offered last year, the XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus edition hit the market several months before the car's official availability.

With a special Celestial Black paint job, unique fitted luggage set, individually-numbered plaque and a $105,000 sticker price, the NM edition XJ sold out in four hours and four minutes of its availability, sight unseen.

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Neiman Marcus Unveils 2009 Christmas Book

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Wings

Neiman Marcus just unveiled the 2009 edition of the renowned Christmas Book, offering customers the ultimate in cutting-edge, dream-fulfilling gifts. First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store's best customers and evolved into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts. Among the highlights of this year's catalog:

His & Hers Gift Package, $250,000: An ICON A5 sport aircraft with custom trailer and sport pilot license training for two. The ICON A5 is from a world-class team of engineers and designers who helped create the groundbreaking Virgin Global Flyer, and features an amphibious hull and landing gear to take off and land just as easily on water as on land.

Algonquin Round Table Experience, $200,000: Exclusive dinner party at NYC's legendary Algonquin Hotel (above) with guests including Christopher Buckley, Roz Chast, Nora Ephron, Malcolm Gladwell, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Adam Gopnik, John Lithgow, Anna Deavere Smith and George Stephanopoulos. Proceeds to benefit First Book, the 2009 Christmas Book Charity.

2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, $105,000: Limited to only 50 examples, the bespoke version of Jag's new flagship features a supercharged 5-liter V8 that delivering 470 hp, a custom interior of butter-soft navy and ivory leather and Zebrano matte wood accents, and includes a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage in navy blue leather.

HALL Artisan Wine and Art Experience, $20,000: Learn organic, artisan winemaking firsthand, tour the estates in Napa and the art collection, and have the opportunity to create your own personal vintage in a private blending session with HALL's Winemaker with a custom vintage bottled for you. Includes accommodations at Auberge and a private dinner party with Ambassador Kathryn Hall.

Maker's Mark Master Distiller Experience, $7,500: All-access, VIP experience with Maker's Mark Master Distiller, Kevin Smith. Spend a day making whiskey, step by step and take home two bottles of the rarest Maker's Mark – golden bottles etched with your likeness and dipped in gold wax with 24-kt gold flecks. Includes luxury accommodations in Louisville and a gourmet dinner hosted by Bill Samuels, the 7th generation of Maker's Mark.

Get In The Christmas Spirit With AOL Radio's 10 Best Christmas Songs.

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Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Maybe I have 007 on the brain because of the new Quantum of Solace movie but this Limited Edition Fighter Motorcycle certainly strikes me as something Bond-worthy (I'm sure the photo above has something to do with that impression too). The raw, bare-bones design in nothing but silver steel and black rubber makes for a minimalistic but still "bad ass" look, which the bike backs up with an exciting array of high-tech features and the ability to fly down the highway at speeds up to 190mph.

Available exclusively from Neiman Marcus as part of this year's Chrismas Book, $110,000.

Via Book of Joe

Thanks Nicole!

Gallery: Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle