Bjorn Skaarup

Neiman Marcus is famous for its outrageous annual Christmas Book catalog that billionaires covet and bucket list dreamers eagerly explore. Every year, the luxury store offers up many ridiculously priced items as well as a few affordable luxury products we can all enjoy.  First published in 1926 as a 16 page Christmas Catalog to its best customers, this year’s 92nd edition offers up a selection of the world’s most expensive and sought-after items.

I have been a long time admirer of the book and remember clipping out pages when I was young to create a dream board of what I wanted to own in the future. The 2018 Christmas Book contains an extensive range of categories for all budgets including spectacular fantasy gifts including a luxury voyage to Asia, a Secret Agent Mission in Las Vegas and to the largest Solar yacht in the world. Check out my favorites from this year's selection here:

74-Foot Serenity Solar Yacht ($7.1 Million)

This exclusive one-of-a-kind 74-foot yacht is the largest solar-powered yacht in the world. The interior is inspired by Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing and includes three levels, full kitchen and four cabins accommodating up to 12 people, including a crew of four. The yacht, created by Serenity Yachts, developers of electric and hybrid watercraft, features more than 1,100 square feet of solar panels and offers speeds up to 20 knots, with electric cruising speeds ranging from 6-8 knots and diesel speed up to 10-12 knots. Neiman Marcus will also include a shopping spree with this package.

Wonders & Wellness Voyage -India, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives ($630,000)

Offered by expert travel curators Black Tomato, this 30-day luxury adventure uncovers the famous landscapes of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. The package will take travelers to the most iconic locations for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The Wonders & Wellness journey is created for 4 travelers, all-inclusive including first class air travel and private helicopter transfers.

In India, the package includes; Presidential Suite at the Oberoi Amarvilas overlooking the Taj Mahal and get VIP access sunrise and sunset tours of the Taj Mahal in Agra; travel with expert guides and insiders in Delhi including revered Buddhist scholar Shantum Seth and historian William Dalrymple.  In Ranthambore National Park you will stay at the Mughal-style Aman-i-Khas tent safari camp and enjoy a private tiger safari before taking off via private air charter to Jodhpur where you will ride camels through the desert to a luxurious desert blink camp. Next, travel to the Himalayas for a custom wellness program at the famed spa resort Ananda. In Bhutan the package includes a stay at the brand new Six Senses Punakha and Six Senses Paro; VIP access and private tours to sacred meditation huts in the hills and a visit with spiritual leader H.E. Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche; a guided walk to Kila Nunnery for a special blessing from local spiritual leaders and a helicopter flight to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest).

Custom In-Home Candy Bar And Trip To The Italian Riviera ($325,000)

The buyer of this package and three guests will travel first-class to the Italian Riviera for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After checking into the Belmond Hotel Splendido in Portofino, they’ll enjoy the spectacular Cinque Terre before driving to a Sugarfina factory in Genoa, where they’ll spend the day with founders Rosie O’Neill and Josh Resnick. You will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the candy is made, followed by a working session to craft custom candy flavors. When you return home, your custom candy and your choice of flavors will arrive for three years, totaling one million pieces. You will need somewhere to display all of that candy so the package also includes a custom candy bar installed in your home and stocked with your favorite Sugarfina candies.

Outfit Custom Designed By 'Fantastic Beasts' Colleen Atwood ($300,000)

Four-time Oscar winner Colleen Atwood will create a custom piece for the lucky recipient. You and a guest will spend the day with Atwood, joining forces to create a one-of-a-kind outfit inspired by the designer’s latest project, the feature film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which opens November 16 in theaters. The day will include lunch and a collaborative design session with Atwood, a fitting to take detailed measurements and a photo opportunity to commemorate the experience. Adding to the fun, the buyer will receive a gift bag including an autographed movie poster, a selection of Fantastic Beasts wands from The Noble Collection, and a collection of three HarperCollins Fantastic Beasts movie tie-in books that take you behind the scenes of the series.

Animal Sculpture By Bjorn Okholm Skaarup And Trip To Italy ($200,000)

Create your own custom creature to be cast in bronze. Danish sculptor, Bjorn Okholm Skaarup will bring your life-size creation to life. Okholm Skaarup is best known for fanciful animal sculptures including his more than 15-foot-tall bronze Hippo Ballerina on display in New York City’s Lincoln Center. And now, a custom creation can be the centerpiece of your home or property. You’ll fly to Florence, Italy, to spend time with the sculptor at his studio, see some of his most famous pieces, and finalize the details of his unique sculpture for you. Perhaps you have a favorite pet that will be merged into a 14-foot tap dancer or something more realistic like a life-size tribute to your cat, your custom creation is left to your imagination to create an iconic piece for your home.

By Jim Dobson for Forbes

Find the full article here: (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2018/10/18/neiman-marcus-christmas-catalog-outrageous-fantasy-gifts-for-2018/#4238d0a065bb)