Have you ever flipped through the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book? (It’s now referred to as the Holiday Book).
Some of the gifts in there are absolutely ridiculous. And I love every minute of it.
It all started in 1926, when Neiman Marcus mailed a little 16-page booklet to its best customers, almost like a Christmas card.
Well, that little booklet is turning 100 this year, and the anniversary edition is called Grand Gestures.
And grand they are!
The fantasy gifts started back in 1959 with a Black Angus steer. You could have it delivered alive or, thankfully, as steaks.
Ha! Can you imagine?!
This year, there's an $860,000 trip through Venice, Florence, and Milan with the legendary Italian jeweler Buccellati.
But here's the one I can't stop thinking about.
For $15,000, Neiman Marcus will put one of your family's treasured recipes on the menus at its restaurants for an entire year.
Wow!
This whole idea got me thinking about grand gestures.
Because really, isn't a grand gesture just a way of telling someone they're worth making a fuss over? And who says that someone can't be you?
You don't need $15,000 recipe buy in or a trip to Italy.
Wear your beautiful earrings. Drink your coffee from the good china. Put on the fabulous robe just to make breakfast.
You are worth making a little fuss over.
Even on the most rushed morning.
PUT ON Make one grand gesture for yourself today.
Something small, beautiful, and completely unnecessary.
Just because.
And tell me, what's your $0 grand gesture this morning?
My mother (who passed in 2023) was a huge fan of Neiman Marcus and especially their Christmas catalog, in spite of the fact that we don’t celebrate Christmas. She loved seeing what incredible - and absurdly expensive - gifts they were offering and finding something more reasonable to order for herself each year. She used to say that she liked to surround herself with “little pieces of gorgeous,” whether that be a chandelier made from Murano glass or a huge feather brooch that she would attach to anything she wore. I think she would have loved you and your philosophy on life and fashion. Thank you for sharing this and inspiring memories of my mom.