How easy is it to spend $75,000 at Neiman Marcus? (Star Tribune)

By CHRISTY DeSMITH, Special to the Star Tribune
Last update: October 24, 2008 - 8:54 AM

... For starters, I pulled my rickety 1996 Volkswagen Jetta into the très-riche RBC Plaza and Gaviidae Common parking facility. Eleven dollars for a couple of hours and valet service. Alas, it was the only real cash I would part with. Real America, as Palin likes to call her constituents -- this is as close as we'll ever get to that kind of a shopping spree ...

But spending all that money was harder than I thought, what with all the affordable business suits and dresses by Diane Von Furstenberg ($365), Theory ($295) and ABS ($295). In order to stay on track, I had no choice but to splurge on impolitic clothes. In a fit, I went for a busy Missoni sweater dress ($1,550). I was also seduced by a girly fitted checked coat by Milly ($735) ...

With dollars left to burn, I headed downstairs to the surest money-suck in town: the women's shoe department. I bought an entire display table of Christian Louboutin bootlets ($4,575) then tossed in a suede pair by Manolo Blahnik ($775). Of course, all the lady-lawmakers sport militaristic black boots these days, just like Condi Rice. They're so cheap! I had to search for a pair that cost more than $500, but eventually settled on some black patent flats by Gucci ($1,495) ...

Last stop: Designer handbags. Somehow I found Fendi's patent leather Spy Bag most appropriate ($1,480). But I also liked the clout wielded by the enormous Borsa Tote Doctor Bag ($1,810). Marc Jacobs' purses are entirely too fussy -- but in the interest of efficiency, I bought a few of those, too ($995-$1,350) ...

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