I had the pleasure of discussing Fall’s biggest jewelry trends with Town & Country’s style director Stellene Volandes inside the magazine’s fashion closet!
Heritage Hen Mini Farm
The arrival of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book each Fall is widely considered to mark the official start of the holiday shopping season; and the 86th annual edition was unveiled today in Dallas. Without further ado, here are this year’s most spectacular and unique holiday gifts. Including one with a Target twist!
Heritage Hen Mini Farm, $100,000
Inspired by Versailles’ Le Petit Trianon, this is the poshest hen house ever. The buyer will receive an initial farm consultation and grounds survey and two additional onsite visits from Heritage Hen Farm expert, Svetlana Simon, who will select three to ten heritage-breed hens carefully selected to suit your region. Installation includes two custom raised vegetable or herb garden beds. For every Heritage Hen Mini Farm purchase, NM will donate $3,000 to The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that protects genetic diversity through the conservation and promotion of endangered breeds.
Annie: The Musical
Annie: The Musical Walk-On Role, $30,000
The recipient of this gift will take the Broadway stage in a walk-on role in the revival of Annie: The Musical. After your curtain call, you’ll sit down with one of the show’s producers for a five-star meal. Includes six show tickets. Only one package available; participant must be 18 or older. The proceeds of this gift will be split equally between Pedigree Foundation, whose mission is to help dogs in need find loving homes by providing grants to shelters and dog rescues, and Pajama Program, which provides new pajamas and books to children in need.
McLaren 12C Spider
2013 Neiman Marcus Edition McLaren 12C Spider, $354,000
Your Neiman Marcus Edition 2013 McLaren 12C Spider—one of just 12 made—is heralded as the most technologically advanced supercar ever. Carbon-fiber MonoCell one-piece molded chassis, Formula 1 brake steer, 616 horse-powered V8 twin turbo engine, zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, maximum speed of 204 mph (196 mph in convertible mode). Includes a McLaren luggage set and a business-class trip to England for a VIP dinner with McLaren Chairman Ron Dennis and a tour of the McLaren Technology Center. For each sale, NM will donate $3,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Reserve by calling 1-888-756-0775, precisely at noon EDT on October 24, 2012.
Pinel & Pinel Arcade PS Trunk
Pinel & Pinel Arcade PS Trunk, $90,000
The ultimate gaming toy, the custom-made Pinel & Pinel Arcade PS Trunk is all you need for an evening of high-adrenaline entertainment. Handmade in Paris and encased in calfskin, this trunk furnishes you with Formula 1 racing seats with Thrustmaster T500 RS Force Wheel, a selection of 24 PlayStation3 games, Bluetooth wireless music system, SingStar microphones, PlayStation Move controllers, PlayStation Eye Camera, fighting sticks, DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controllers and more. Not a gamer? It’s ideal for karaoke too. For every purchase, NM will donate $3,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s leader in providing mentoring to children.
Bulleit Woody Tailgate Trailer
Bulleit Woody Tailgate Trailer, $150,000
Tailgating will never be the same after you roll up with the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Woody-Tailgate Trailer. Created by interior designer Brad Ford with sleek leather furnishings and details from Moore & Giles, rich wood finishings (handcrafted from reclaimed Bulleit Bourbon casks), elegant glassware and barware, and a Sony entertainment system including a flat-screen TV, Blu-ray disc player, and state-of-the-art sound system, plus a one-year supply of Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye. Ten percent of the proceeds from the purchase will benefit amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.
JetLev R200
Part sci-fi, part British secret service agent, your water-propelled jetpack is about to send you soaring at speeds up to 32 mph. It runs for up to 4 hours and 80 miles on a single tank of high-octane gasoline. The package includes all the gear, plus a CFI 1 Pilot Certification Training & Safety course. For every JetLev R200 sold, NM will donate $2,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, an organization that helps young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Robert Wilson's Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl by Artist Robert Wilson, $70,000
In his Video Portraits series, artist Robert Wilson features animals and people who appear static, as if in a painting, but the viewer is caught off guard when the subject unexpectedly breathes, blinks, or shifts. This modern riff on the eighteenth-century tableaux vivant beautifully pushes the boundaries between reality and imagination. The buyer of this limited edition, hand numbered and signed artist’s proof will choose the color combinations for the polka dots. The purchase of a “Snowy Owl” benefits the Watermill Center, an interdisciplinary laboratory for performance art and a unique environment for young and emerging artists.
Left to right: Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse, Daniel Boulud and Richard Rosendale
Chef’s Dinner For Ten, $250,000
Nine of your closest friends will gather at your home, where four world-class chefs—Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse, and Richard Rosendale—will prepare a feast. (Don’t worry, a professional event planner will arrange and oversee everything.) Bertha Gonzalez, the world’s first female maestra tequilera, will kick off the evening with a Casa Dragones tequila tasting and provide the party favors: personalized, engraved crystal bottles of Casa Dragones. Fine wines will accompany all courses after the cocktail hour. This epic culinary event is limited to just one NM customer. All proceeds will benefit the Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation, an organization dedicated to inspiring culinary excellence in young professionals.
Van Cleef & Arpels "Poetic Wish" Watch Set
Van Cleef & Arpels ”Poetic Wish” Watches and Trip, starting at $1,090,000.*
The “His & Hers” fantasy gift tradition continues this year with the Van Cleef & Arpels “Poetic Wish” watches and trip. The watches animate a Parisian romance between a tiny man and woman. Their cases are 18-karat white gold and set with diamonds. The new owners of the watches will also receive a trip to Paris and Geneva to tour the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique, atelier, and watchmaking workshops. Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 for each His & Hers 2012 gift sold to The Norman Mailer Center, which supports writers.
Target Mystery Package
As you surely know by now, Neiman Marcus and Target are collaborating on a holiday collection featuring items by 24 designers from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. You can avoid the crowds and the jockeying on December 1 by ordering the Mystery Package now. It includes the entire collection, which has items for men, women, children, pets and the home. The package will arrive after December 1, with free shipping. Call 1-877-9NM-GIFT to order. Only 5 packages are available and the offer expires midnight CST on October 15, 2012. NM and Target made a $1 million donation to the CFDA, supporting the development of American fashion designers.
1. Belstaff Hayle Shearling-Collar Officer’s Coat
“Living in New York, I definitely need a warm and stylish coat. I love the mix of masculine English tailoring and the touch of femininity that the shearling collar adds to this Belstaff coat.”
2. Tom Ford Cherry Lush Lip Color
“Seen on almost every Fall runway, the cherry lip brightens up any look.”
3. Eddie Borgo Gold Cone Bracelet
“Eddie Borgo is one of my favorite jewelry designers. I love mixing and matching the gold and silver cone bracelets for Fall.”
4. Alice + Olivia Bettie Rhinestone Knit Top
“I love this navy top with a tough black leather skirt.”
5. Giuseppe Zanotti Tasseled Velvet Loafer
“The perfect smoking slipper for Fall. The rhinestone tassels on these Zanotti’s give the slipper a little extra something special.”
6. Diane von Furstenberg Kivel Houndstooth Shift Dress
“This DVF dress is a ‘Borrowed From The Boys’ statement that I adore.”
7. Balenciaga Baby Daim Classic City Bag
“I adore the hand-stitched detail and brass hardware, not to mention the lovely blue color.”
8. Helmut Lang Patina Leather Leggings
“I already own black leather leggings so I decided to opt for a colored leather leg this Fall.”
9. McQ Alexander McQueen Griffin Printed Knit Dress
” A modern take on the printed dress.”
10. Pierre Hardy Leather Suede-Panel Boot
“I’m really feeling the navy and black trend this season.”
Shop Fall Trends online at NeimanMarcus.com or Neiman Marcus stores.
Kelly Wearstler was famous for interior design before launching her fashion collection, so we expect her showroom to be chic in every way. And it is, perfectly complementing the metal jewelry and unique prints Kelly designed for Spring 2013. Its Hudson River views were particularly dramatic during the storm that drenched the beginning of New York Fashion Week.
Every Fall, Neiman Marcus welcomes one premier designer to its Dallas flagship and restages the designer’s Fall runway show, and this year we tapped Lanvin. The event takes months of preparation, and all goes to support The Crystal Charity Ball Committee, which has raised more than $100 million for Dallas children’s charities since 1952. This morning Dallas society came downtown for a taste of Paris. “Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas” were presented (all wearing Lanvin, naturally,) before everyone took in Lanvin’s spectacular 10th anniversary Fall collection and a preview of Resort. Oh la la.
Working with uncut emeralds at L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels
Laughter and wax fly out from the worktop where Carole, an expert jeweler, is coaching a student attempting to carve a wax mold. Across the room, master setter Frederic guides another pupil as she manipulates a graver into metal. Meanwhile, jewelry teacher Victoire keeps a watchful eye as I tackle a gouache painting.
It’s just another school day at L’École Van Cleef & Arpels.
L'Ecole in session
Opened in February in the Hôtel d’Évreux, a palatial, eighteenth-century townhouse on the Place Vendôme, L’École Van Cleef & Arpels is the first school of its kind—open to everyone, professionals and amateurs alike, with a passion for jewelry. Seven modules (plans call for 25 within five years) of four hours each span the intellectual to the practical, from jewels in mythology to distinguishing flawed from flawless diamonds.
It’s a rare window into a historically secretive industry and its preciously guarded techniques. Some things, including the surnames of our teachers, remain a secret.
Van Cleef & Arpels brooch, available through Neiman Marcus stores.
David Yurman rides his horse Chicken Enchilada at an event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
David Yurman‘s passions span from craftsmanship to horsemanship. We joined up with the jewelry designer to talk about his horses Chicken Enchilada, Mr. Scooter and Commander, and his latest collection, exclusive to NM.
NM: Most people associate your name with jewelry, but you are also an avid horseman.
DY: Yes, around here, we refer to it as my alter-ego… I started riding when I was 9 years old. My father taught me; it was about spending time together. We’d ride every Sunday – out the door by 7:30 am, on the horses by 8:30 am. It was a special time and place.
NM: What is it about riding that you fell in love with?
DY: It’s about partnership. When I go through the gate on a horse, I enter their world, away from the constraints we live with – it always clears my head.
Yurman's new Labyrinth collection sports his signature cable.
The bedazzled button no longer comes with pomp and circumstance. This season, the brooch is bountiful – clustered on a clutch, in the hair or denim. Want to spotlight one precious pin? Wear a detailed dress and strategically pin the brooch to highlight the detail. When styling the brooch take fashion director Ken Downing’s advice, “ Go for Baroque — there’s no such thing as over-decorating.”
See how our ladies in the jewelry office wear the look:
Assistant jewelry buyer Monica Frailing wears a Stephen Dweck brooch at her hip.
Cusp merchandise coordinator Alison Gross wears an Alexander McQueen skull brooch in her hair.
Executive assistant Julia Williams clustered brooches on a beaded necklace.
Assistant jewelry buyer Courtney Buchanan wears a Marni flower brooch in lieu of a big pendant.
Merchandise jewelry coordinator Bridget Ryan clusters Kenneth Jay Lane brooches on her clutch.
Assistant jewelry buyer Melanie Dodd wears a Fragments brooch as a hair accessory.
Merchandise Coordinator Sadia Gowani clusters pins on the lapel of her jacket.
Shop the Trend Event now through August 15 and receive a brooch with your purchase of $350 or more. Shop brooches at NeimanMarcus.com and Neiman Marcus stores.
