Neiman Marcus Holiday Catalog

One of the sure signs the holidays are upon us is the release of the Neiman Marcus Holiday catalog. Be sure to look through the book and see the David Yurman necklaces and watch, the Burberry collections for him and her, the Baccarat bird, or perhaps the Mont Blanc diamond pen for $160,930. Perhaps you would prefer the Steuben vases made to look like tree trunks, or from the crystal collection: a wireless mouse ($170), a crystal pet leash ($185), or maybe you can't live without the crystal opera glasses ($150). There is even a section of items under $100 for us peons to choose from.

People around the world await the catalog to see what they cannot afford this year and wonder who it is that is buying these items. The fun part is perusing the big ticket items. Let's take a look:

Starting off the Fantasy Gifts section is the always popular, Virgin Galactic Charter to Outer Space. This too, can be yours, for you and five of your friends for $1,764,000. This is not the highest price item in the book however. That goes to the Club Membership (in perpetuity) at a Tuscan villa, the price tag? $3,800,000.

Perhaps you had your heart set on the Limited Edition 2007 BMW Individual M6 Convertible? Too bad, they all sold in one minute and thirty-two seconds. That is about as long as it took to type this paragraph. So be sure to congratulate your neighbor if he comes home in one. At least you will know what he paid for it - $139,000.

For the bargain shopper among us, the least expensive item in the fantasy gifts section? Not even for you. Limited Edition Pet Homes. Two styles, one priced at $5000 and the other at $7000, will each be signed by the designer and only ten of each will be made. Get yours today.

You may recall that I am an archivist. I take my job seriously. Unfortunately, NM has in its catalog this year the following: the Jacques Fath Archives. Here is the description for the item:

Jacques Fath led a magnificent life. The glamorous, self-taught Frenchman opened his couture salon in Paris in 1937 and became one of the first French designers to export haute couture collection to the United States. By 1947, his sweeping skirts were reshaping a global industry still in its infancy.

In 1949, he earned a Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion. He dressed some of the most elegant celebrities of his time. Fath apprenticeships launched the careers of Hubert de Givenchy and Guy Laroche. Sadly, the magic ended abruptly with his death in 1954. Two years later, his widow closed the couture line. Although his career was cut short, Fath had a profound impact on popular culture. He helped launch the New Look of the late 1940s. And unlike most designers, Fath kept meticulous records of his design sketches. In partnership with Rita Watnick of Lily et Cie, we proudly offer a rare chronicle of historic significance: the only archival record of the House of Fath. This museum-quality collection includes 26 volumes of original sketchbooks from 1948 through 1956, with more than 3,400 couture designs. The collection also includes three exquisite Fath haute couture dresses, each with its accompanying sketch. With this archive, the possibilities are monumental. Endow a wing of your favorite museum with a comprehensive overview of fashion history or launch your own research center to inspire the Faths of tomorrow. For more information about securing and preserving this distinct legacy, please call 1.877.9NM.GIFT.

The price tag to own your own archives? $3,500,000. Quel horreur! Anyone for signed copies of the Declaration of Independence? Perhaps a Picasso unblemished by Steve Wynn? Hey, isn't Interpol still looking for "The Scream"? I guess what I am saying is that like priceless works of art, there can be no price tag placed on items of archival value, especially those that do not exist elsewhere.