My Fantasy Christmas Wishlist

Annually, Neiman Marcus puts out its Christmas Book with gift ideas and it infamously includes a collection of ‘Fantasy Gifts’ for the person who has everything. When I was younger, I thumbed through the pages of this catalogue with great interest and marveled at the creativity of its offerings, like an ‘ice house’ complete with an ice bar and ice fountain for your next soirée (instead of a tent), a Burmese ruby and diamond collar necklace, private jet experiences to far-off climes, and personalized high-performance cars. As extravagant as all the gifts usually are, none have ever been more exciting to me than the ‘Marie Antoinette Chicken Coop,’ which is an actual hen house modeled after the Petit Trianon at Versailles. I know I already have everything I need, which is why it’s so much fun to make a Fantasy Christmas Wishlist à la Eartha Kitt. Full disclosure: many of these items are food-based.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

1. Wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano — John Legend got major husband points when he gifted his foodie wife, Chrissy Teigen a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano. This is the good stuff; powdered, “shake from a can” Parmesan cheese need not apply.

2. Marie Antoinette Chicken Coop — At a cool $100K, your backyard flock can roost in a coop inspired by Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon at Versailles complete with a stocked library, chandelier, and of course, heritage hens. I am well aware that this offering is, in fact, ridiculous. I am bookmarking it for the day I create my own chic, French-inspired fantasy roost in the backyard, because isn’t any room without a chandelier a waste?

3. Case of Krug Champagne — If you’re going to go big, go for the best! This case has a selection of three special cuvées from the years 2004, 2005, and 2006, and each bottle is a blend of up to 12 different vintages dating back to 1990. This level of fabulousness is enough to make one’s head spin!

4. Tiffany Diamonds by the Yard Sprinkle Necklace — “With some decorations bought at Tiffany…” Just the idea that one might stroll into a jewelry establishment to order diamonds by the yard, as though they were lengths of ribbon is enough for me. I have a few pieces from this collection, but this “Sprinkle” necklace, in particular, with varying-sized diamonds placed whimsically along a platinum chain is gorgeous.

5. High Camp Gardenia Subscription — There is quite simply nothing more heavenly than opening a box of gardenias. And what is more luxurious than a monthly delivery of a bundle of creamy white blooms with glossy green leaves for tucking into each corner of your home while you float in your flower-filled soaking tub?

6. Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Subscription — If you think you can’t get great cheese outside of France, you’re almost correct. Cowgirl Creamery curates the finest artisanal, organically produced cheeses from Northern California made in the traditional methods.

7. A Reservation at The Ritz Paris — I don’t think a fancier string of words exists.

8. Jo Malone Orange Blossom Luxury Candle — When Catherine Middleton wed Prince William in Westminster Abbey, she had several of the largest (88-ounce!) Orange Blossom candles lit to perfume the air. I love and wear the fragrance of this scent as well which is described as a ‘“shimmering garden oasis.”

9. Black Winter Truffles — The black diamonds of the earth, there is not much middle ground with truffles in terms of preference. I happen to adore truffles and could think of nothing better than a bowl of homemade pasta piled high with truffle shavings.

10. Mercedes-Benz SL-190 Roadster — Like Ms. Kitt, I, too, would like a ‘54 convertible, light blue, and an SL-190 Roadster would do! Though this roadster was first made in ‘55 and I’m not picky, so any color is fine.

What’s on your Fantasy Wishlist this Christmas?