Neiman Marcus has released its 2012 Christmas Book, with the fantasy gifts as over the top as ever, including a $100,000 chicken coop, a limited edition McLaren 12c Spider for $354,000, a $30,000 walk-on during a performance of Broadway's Annie, and his and hers watches from Van Cleef & Arpels for just north of $1 million. The watches, by the way, include a unique brand experience:

The package includes a first-class trip to Paris for a weekend, where you'll visit the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique and jewelry atelier. And a first-class trip to Geneva for a day of private tours of the Van Cleef & Arpels watchmaking workshops and a meeting with the designers and watchmakers. While in Paris and Geneva, Van Cleef & Arpels will arrange luxury accommodations, remarkable dining experiences, and entertainment to suit your preferences.

This also marks the first year that Neiman Marcus has released a mobile app to access exclusive content tied to its Christmas Book, and the first year it's going mass market via a tie-in with Target this season: a Holiday24 collection of 50 exclusive gifts by CFDA designers including Rodarte, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta and Prabal Gurung, which will be sold starting Dec. 1st at both stores' retail and online locations.

Below, take a closer look at the 86th edition of the Christmas Book:Continue reading...

In a sign that the world's leading economy is also the most resilient, China seems to have shrugged off a global slowdown—and nowhere is it more apparent than in China's expanding luxury hotel segment.

In six months, the Ritz-Carlton will open on the top fifteen floors of Hong Kong's 118-story International Commerce Center, becoming the world's highest hotel. The luxury chain will have eight hotels in China by year's end, up from just one four years ago.

Mark DeCocinis, regional general manager for Ritz-Carlton, tells the New York Times, "The Asian hotel market has come back stronger and more quickly than other parts of the world—and China is leading the way."

We've reported on the resurgence of luxury hotels in the Middle East, but China is outpacing every other part of the world.Continue reading...

Prada is one of many luxury brands in debt, and speculation suggests the company may sell a minority stake.

The New York Post reports that jewelry conglomerate Richemont, owner of brands such as Montblanc, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels, is contemplating plans to purchase one-third of the couture house. Thus far, however, the rumors have not been confirmed.

Last year, Prada approached Richemont about a possible partnership, but the brand was turned down because of its $3.8 billion price tag and $1.7 billion debt.Continue reading...

Am I the only one who thinks that Heidi Klum is honing in on Tyra Banks' territory? Neither supermodel-turned-television-mogul refuses to cease taking over the world. Rather than focus on both and have my head explode, we'll concentrate on the former.

Despite a 2007 lawsuit against her for a collection that looked eerily similar to a Van Cleef & Arpels design, Klum refused to let it get her down. She's joined up with Modern Vintage and Majestic Mills co-founders Rick and Brian Cytrynbaum to create a “pervasive lifestyle collection” set to launch next fall, and will begin with 48 styles of shoes (from stilettos to boots) before moving on to workout clothes, dresses, and bathing suits. That is a whole lot of footwear.Continue reading...