With all the doom and gloom in the market, Neiman Marcus has swept in on its gold-and-diamond-encrusted sleigh just in time with some extravagant holiday-gift ideas to help you take your mind off of that blinking red light that is your retirement account.
Neiman Marcus
Life Size Lego Sculptures
For that power couple who has everything, might we suggest life-size replicas made out of Lego bricks? The sculptures are custom-made by New York artist and Legomaniac Nathan Sawaya (www.brickartist.com), who has built everything out of Legos from a full-size Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton to a 7-foot scale replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. Prices start at $60,000 per sculpture.
"These gifts offer people a great fantasy," says Ginger Reeder, a spokeswoman for Neiman Marcus. "We’ve all got to keep our chin up. We all need a smile."
A quarter of a million dollars will buy that ultimate beer lover in your life an authentic Guinness pub – for the home. This holy grail of brew includes handcrafted Guinness artifacts, a keg-dispensing unit, a one-year supply of Guinness, a VIP trip for two to Dublin with luxury airfare, accommodations and back-pub access to the historic St. James Brewery. Please gift responsibly.
And, for one million dollars, Jack Nicklaus will study the topography and aerial photos of your backyard and make you a customized golf course. When construction is complete, the Golden Bear himself will come by to play the first round with you.
Of course, the question everyone wants to know is: Does anyone really buy this stuff?
"Yes!" Reeder says. The fantasy cars always sell out. This year, it’s a $160,000 NM limited-edition BMW.
And the rest of the stuff?
"Every year, we always sell at least one!" Reeder says.
To see more of these items check out our slideshow or the Neiman Marcus’s 2008 Christmas Book online, which includes photos and videos of more than a dozen fantasy gifts for your favorite billionaire next door.
Questions? Comments? retaildetail@cnbc.com
