From the moment the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book "His and Her" fantasy gifts debuted in 1959, it was a sensation. And for good reason. The luxury department store had the audacity to offer the type of jaw-dropping and bank account-busting gifts (submarine or airplane, anyone?) that render customers speechless.
This year, the gifts are no less impressive.
If you've got $80,000 burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to purchase a huge ikat-embellished trunk that's filled with accessories and vintage finds handcrafted by women around the world and curated by fashion icon Iris Apfel. For $150,000 you can snag an Arch motorcycle designed by actor Keanu Reeves and his business partner Gard Hollinger. And if money is really no object, then spending $400,000 for a 12-day dream trip to India might be more your speed.
It's no surprise that every year we're left asking ourselves: Are people really buying this stuff?
The answer is a resounding "yes," Ginger Reeder, vice president of corporate communications at Neiman Marcus, told The Huffington Post.
What started as a way to drum up publicity for the store quickly became a viable business. Reeder says that about half of the gifts are sold each year.