The arrival of The 2016 Christmas Book is considered by many to mark the official start of the holiday shopping season, it’s time to start planning for the holidays! This year’s edition carries on the Neiman Marcus tradition of presenting a refined selection of items across a broad range of categories for everyone on your holiday shopping list. With a new collection of fantasy gifts certain to satisfy even the most indulgent appetites, the Christmas Book features exceptional and distinctive gifts and experiences, including A Week at Three English Estates Experience, Slumber Party at the Neiman Marcus Flagship and Cobalt Valkyrie-X Private Plane in rose gold. This year’s featured car is an INFINITI Q60 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition. The “His & Hers” fantasy gift comes to life as the Neiman Marcus Island Cars Featuring Lilly Pulitzer.
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. Through the years, the book has maintained its personal touch while evolving into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts.
The 2016 Christmas Book
Where the 2016 Christmas Book was unveiled by luxury omni-channel retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas. The 90th edition of this legendary book continues Neiman Marcus’ unmatched tradition of offering a selection of spectacular and unique holiday gifts sure to make even the wildest of dreams come true.
Each year, the Christmas Book features specially commissioned artwork and the covers are as anticipated as the contents. “With the goal of bringing a fashion component to the cover of the Christmas Book, we combined custom artwork by Maija Louekari with the beautiful face of Lindsey Wixson to create a final image photographed by Walter Chin. And, to add that bit of fantasy that Neiman Marcus is famous for, the lenticular printing animates Lindsey winking,” said Georgia Christensen, Vice President, Brand Creative Director of Neiman Marcus. This year represents only the second time a unique element has been used to animate the cover. In 1999, a Christmas tree glistened with butterflies thanks to a lenticular onset.
As in previous years, Neiman Marcus will donate a portion of the proceeds from the majority of fantasy gifts to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation which brings enriching art experiences to youth in communities nationwide. Donations will be made to the GRAMMY Foundation with the purchase of the Exclusive GRAMMY Awards Experience and to Akola Project with the purchase of the Optimist Akola Bracelet.
The Love to Give Collection, also featured in the 2016 Christmas Book, includes over 40 perfectly priced items for gift giving. Each Neiman Marcus store gives ten percent of the proceeds to benefit youth arts education in Neiman Marcus communities across the country. An additional $50,000 from online sales goes to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Vendors participating in the Neiman Marcus Love to Give Collection include, but are not limited to, Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent beauty, Fresh, Lumio, Sugarfina, and Kate Spade. Prices range from $10 – $200.
Hip stocking stuffers, cool hostess gifts and unexpected treats can be found in the Fun to Give Collection, also featured in the 2016Christmas Book. These imaginative, easy to buy items (starting at just $5) are truly fun to give.
The fantasy gifts included in the 2016 Christmas Book include:
WALK-ON ROLE IN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL WAITRESS
Perfect for the star in your life searching for their spotlight, one lucky recipient will receive a walk-on role in Broadway’s tastiest musical, Waitress, starring Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller and directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus. With music and lyrics by five-time GRAMMY Award nominee Sara Bareilles, the gift comes with four premium show tickets, a meet-and-greet with the Waitress cast, and a Waitress-themed pie-making lesson with the show’s pie consultant.
With the purchase of the Broadway musical Waitress walk-on role, Neiman Marcus will donate $22,500 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Gift limited to one customer. ($30,000; page 120)
CURATED COLLECTION OF 36 CALDECOTT MEDAL-WINNING CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Send someone on a charming editorial exploration with a curated collection of 36 Caldecott Medal-winning children’s books. Perfect for children of any age, the books within this once-in-a-lifetime library span over almost 80 years and have each been bestowed the Caldecott Medal, given annually since 1938 to “the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children” as voted by the Association for Library Service to Children. Either first editions or early printings, all in original dust jackets, the collection has been gathered by two of New England’s finest book sellers, Johnnycake Books and E.M. Maurice Books.
With the purchase of the curated collection of 36 Caldecott Medal-winning children’s books, Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Gift limited to one customer. Caldecott is a registered trademark of American Library Association, which does not sponsor or endorse this gift, Neiman Marcus, Johnnycake Books, or E.M. Maurice Books. ($100,000; page 122)
A WEEK AT THREE ENGLISH ESTATES EXPERIENCE
Experience England’s countryside like dukes and duchesses as you and seven friends stay in a trio of country estates for one week. Luxury trip purveyors Mowbray & Windsor will tailor an exclusive itinerary kicking off in London and then transporting you via helicopter to your first stop, 900 year old Alnwick Castle. Home to the 12th Duke of Northumerland, your day will end in a grand dining room with a feast prepared by Michelin-starred chef. Onward, to Wilton House for polo lessons and an impressive collection of new and vintage motorcars at the home of the 18th Earl of Pembroke. The last stay of your week will be at the home of Winston Churchill, Blenheim palace. Built in the 1700s, you will be greeted by its current resident, the 12th Duke of Marlborough and enjoy tours, tapestries, art and some of England’s finest food and drink.
With the purchase of each English Estates package, Neiman Marcus will donate $20,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. ($700,000, page 124)
PRIVATE QUARTERBACK CAMP WITH JOE MONTANA
Give the gift of smoother moves and sharper thinking through a private quarterback camp with none other than “Joe Cool“. The recipient and three friends will train for a day in the San Francisco Bay Area with Joe Montana. Arranged by IfOnly, the session will include quarterback fundamentals, throwing techniques and drills, plus drawing up plays and a review of the day’s footage with Montana himself. Gift includes a photo with Joe Montana and a personalized football.
With the purchase of the one-day quarterback camp with Joe Montana, Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Gift limited to one customer. ($65,000, page 126)
INFINITI Q60 NEIMAN MARCUS LIMITED EDITION
Experience the open roads in a stunning INFINITI Q60 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition. Based on the ultimate Red Sport 400 version of the all-new 2017 INFINITI Q60, this 400-horsepower showstopper with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine comes in a gleaming Solar Mica color. This next-generation vehicle offers an industry first direct adaptive steering system, dynamic digital suspension, Bose® Performance Series sound system, connectivity features, genuine carbon fiber fender vents, fog-light finishers, mirror caps, rear spoiler, and Gallery White leather-appointed sports seats and interior. Gift includes an exclusive ivory leather weekender bag, a plaque with the car’s VIN number, Neiman Marcus-branded indoor car cover and letter of authenticity.
With the purchase of each INFINITI Q60 Neiman Marcus Limited Edition, INFINITI will donate $1,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Reserve this car by calling 844-367-6971, beginning promptly at noon EDT on November 2, 2016. Limited production of 50 vehicles available. ($63,000; page 128)
THE OPTIMIST AND PESSIMIST GIFTS
A memorable fantasy gift from the 1970 Christmas Book has been reimagined for today’s Optimist and Pessimist. The original offered a fully stocked ark (complete with animals, a French chef, and a Park Avenue physician) for the former and a humble oak sapling for the latter. This year’s reinterpretation includes a bracelet that gives back by Akola for the Optimist and a king-sized mattress with a camouflaged lockbox to hide the Pessimist’s valuables.
For the Optimist: Akola Bracelet
Invest in the future and support the Akola Project with the purchase of a bracelet. Akola Project is a nonprofit organization that empowers marginalized women to become agents of transformation in their families and communities around the globe. For every piece of jewelry sold, Akola is able to empower more women globally. This bracelet features hand-rolled paper beads in black or white, a recycled-glass bead, and two accent disks plated in 18-karat gold.
With the purchase of an Akola bracelet, Neiman Marcus will donate $25 to the Akola Project. ($25, page 130)
For the Pessimist: Mattress with Built-in Lockbox
To the pessimist, the end is always near. Stock your valuables away in a fire proof and impenetrable lockbox built inside a king-size mattress with matching foundation. Engineered and crafted by father-son artisans Dale and Brian Gingerich of Gingerich Built/Monterey Mattress in Carmel California, the gift features premium padding and springs, certified-sustainable Canadian lumber, organic cotton, wool, and latex foam rubber.
With the purchase of each Gingerich Built/Monterey Mattress with lockbox, Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. ($25,000, page 131)
EXCLUSIVE GRAMMY AWARDS EXPERIENCE
Give the number-one music lover in your life a trip to the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, orchestrated just for Neiman Marcus. In mid-February, you and one guest will venture to Los Angeles for an experience unavailable to the public. The gift includes a stay the Peninsula Beverly Hills, two $1,000 Neiman Marcus gift cards, and an appointment with Catherine Bloom, personal shopper to the stars at NM Beverly Hills, who will pull together your looks for the evening. Hair and makeup is also provided. On Friday, February 10, you and your guest will visit the event’s rehearsals and experience a backstage tour. Saturday you will rub elbows with stars at Clive Davis’ and The Recording Academy’s Pre-Grammy Gala. On Grammy Sunday, the giftee and guest will watch rehearsals, experience a backstage tour and walk the red carpet and experience Music’s Biggest Nights® firsthand. The recipient will take home an official 59th Annual Grammy Awards poster autographed by show talent, and a one-of-a-kind gold Gibson Les Paul ’59 Reissue guitar.
The purchase of the GRAMMY Awards experience includes a $250,000 donation to support the musical education programs created by the GRAMMY Foundation. Gift limited to one customer. ($500,000, page 132)
COBALT VALKYRIE-X PRIVATE PLANE
Go up, up, and away as you fly the Cobalt Valkyrie-X private plane in rose gold. Brainchild of aerospace engineer and Cobalt founderDavid Loury, the Cobalt Valkyrie-X will be one of the fastest piston aircraft in the world when it debuts in 2017. The plane has a 350-horsepower engine and flies a pilot and three passengers at speeds up to 230 miles per hour, with a range of up to 1,150 ground miles. The plane features a main structure of high-performance carbon composite, flight controls with pushrod-bellcrank precision mechanisms and retractable landing gear machined from solid alloys of aluminum and stainless steel. Boasting hand-stitched leather seats and suede-like Alcantara, the plane will have one of the largest one-piece canopies in the world. Inside, the controls are rose gold, seats are an exclusive cream leather with beige-and-taupe headlining and anthracite carpets. The gift comes with 24/7 technical support in the United States for two years.
With the purchase of each Cobalt Valkyrie-X, Neiman Marcus will donate $200,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. ($1,500,000, page 134)
SLUMBER PARTY AT THE NEIMAN MARCUS FLAGSHIP
Oh, to wake up inside Neiman Marcus! For the recipients and 11 of her best friends, it is a girls’ night inside the most famous department store in all the land. Guests will receive a set of Neiman Marcus-print pajamas (personalized with monograms), play in the Precious Jewels Salon, and watch a fashion flick. Guests will dine like princesses on Neiman Marcus’ most famous fare and be given facials, makeovers, manicures, pedicures, shampoos and blowouts by Le Métier de Beauté. Neiman Marcus Fashion Director, Ken Downing, will host a fashion presentation featuring the latest trends and insider scoop. Guests will snuggle up into soft Peacock Alley linens with monogrammed shams and wake up to a bountiful breakfast.
With the purchase of the Neiman Marcus flagship sleepover, Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Gift limited to one customer. ($120,000, page 136)
HIS & HERS NEIMAN MARCUS ISLAND CARS FEATURING LILLY PULITZER
For island lovers everywhere we offer the world’s most stylish runabout. Similar to the surrey-topped vehicles that zipped aroundMonaco and Cannes in the 1950s and 60s, these highly bespoke versions are built by Island Car Limited in Florida. The cars feature composite bodies, stainless steel fittings, powerful and clean electric motors, long range batteries, and a sound system with Bose speakers and Bluetooth capabilities. Lilly Pulitzer prints adorn each cars’ seats and removable fabric tops—his in crisp, custom green and hers in pretty pink. The gift also comes with totes, towels, his swim trunks, and her caftan.
With the purchase of each His & Hers Neiman Marcus Island Car, Neiman Marcus will donate $5,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation. Each car is available in a limited production of 10. ($65,000 each, page 138)
