Her St. John knit suit ("the most expensive items of clothing I have ever purchased") taught her that clothes speak the secret language of status. "When I wear my suit," she says, "maitre d's snap to attention, sales clerks rush to assist me and people I barely know offer me favors."

Discover the power and luxury of St. John knits, at a fraction of the retail price.

Marcasite Rings Marcasites, which are iron pyrite crystals, came into common use in jewelry in the 18th century. Iron pyrite is a soft material that chips, cracks and crushes easily, so handle your marcasite jewelry with care.

Champleve

A technique where enamel is filled into depressions or cells of a metal object. The object is then heated until the enamel melts, then polished once cool. Similar but not identical to cloisonne. Find more nifty definitions in our Glossary.

With a Tip of the Fedora to Frank Sinatra
...this classic Do It eBay commercial parodies "My Way."

But we all have to budget in these difficult times -- studies say that 1 in 8 Americans have trouble finding enough money for food, shelter and clothing -- so she could just allocate a little less on maid service ($7,500) and buy a few more baubles.

After all, the house is just going to be a mess again next week, but jewelry lasts a long time.

The 2008 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book It's here and it's (what else?) fabulous! Soothe your troubled soul with premium eye candy.

"I think we all need a break," said Ginger Reeder, spokeswoman. "These gifts are not meant to be anything more than something to make you smile, make you go `Oh my gosh, who would have thought about that?'"

Baubleheads will appreciate the not-so-unaffordable selections from , all handcrafted in Italy with 18kt white gold and diamonds. Prices start at just under $2,000.

We love the exquisitely made with classic Roman numeral faces and Swiss movements. The $30,100 ladies' diamond Cartier may take your breath away with its beauty and craftsmanship.

See the 2008 Christmas Book online.