Holiday handbags caught my eye

holiday handbags caught my eyeUS retailer Neiman Marcus is famous for its annual list of extravagant Christmas gift suggestions and this year is no exception.First published in 1926 as a 16 page Christmas card to the retailers best customers, the companys Christmas Book this year runs to 160 pages and features hundreds of holiday gift ideas from Prada handbags to novelty salt and pepper shakers.However its the catalogues selection of fantasy gifts a handful of extravagant and expensive present ideas for which the Christmas Book has become especially famous.From preserved and mounted African Flower Beetles to customised cupcake cars that look like theyve driven straight out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland, this years fantasy gift ideas are an inspiration as long as moneys no object.For US$250,000 NZ$341,000, you could purchase a sports aircraft plus flight training for two, while a 1.5m long sustainably designed chandelier made from recycled plastic drink bottles will set you back US$12,000.Our annual tradition of fantasy gifts allows our devoted customers to give a gift or gift experience that will create wonderful memories to last both the giver and recipients a lifetime, said Gerald Barnes, President and CEO of Neiman Marcus Direct.This years array of gifts has raised the bar to new heights, featuring items at the highest levels of quality and technology.Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts for 2009:Creepy crawly yuletide: If you have a budding entomologist in the family, why not treat them to one of Maine artist Mike Libbys carefully preserved, non endangered insect specimens from around the world. After preparing and posing the insect, Libby adorns it with a unique mix of mechanical bits and pieces. This years limited edition artworks feature the African Flower Beetle Cetonidae: Goliathus Goliathus, mounted on a walnut display case under a glass dome. In search of big label design bargains, I cabbed for 15 minutes to Horizon Plaza home to 28 floors of outlets. Theres a branch of GOD Goods of Desire, which is basically a homegrown version of Muji, but with a cheeky sense of humour. There are branches across town, including one in the mega mall at the end of The Peak Tramway a must visit for the best view of the city, but at Horizon Plaza all the stock is heavily reduced. Bring something unique to the world, he said. May not buy the bigger apartment they were dreaming of or increase the size of their boat but they say I can afford a pair of shoes or a nice bag. Is in Louis Vuitton top 10 markets, and Mr Carcelle said the influx of luxury brands is symbolic of how the luxury market is considering Australia..