Thank You, Neiman Marcus, From the Velvet Girls

Families create their own Christmas traditions. For my daughters and me, one of the most anticipated holiday events, year after year, was lunch at The Zodiac Room at Neiman-Marcus’ flagship store in downtown Dallas.

Since management announced the store’s closing later this month, thinking about our Christmas tradition makes me happy that we experienced so much the store offered, and sad that we didn’t know this past Christmas would be the last time Santa would be there.

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Our annual lunch trek always was more than just a meal. It was an experience steeped in the magic of the holidays. The twinkling lights, the opulent decorations, and the expectation of time with friends created an atmosphere that was nothing short of enchanting.

We — the five moms and eight daughters — called it “The Velvet Girls Luncheon” because the girls all were required to wear their velvet Christmas dresses. It was a privilege to be given a fancy day at this incredibly special place and anticipated it as one of the highlights of the Christmas season.

Velvet Required

The experience started long before the day of the big event. Each girl’s proper uniform included the required velvet dress—usually red, green, or sometimes deep navy blue—plus white tights, shiny patent leather Mary Janes and the biggest bow one’s hair could support.

Walking up the steps to touch the signature handles of the double front doors was where the adventure really began. The cosmetics department and the glamorous salesclerks served as the welcoming committee. On to the golden elevator doors to our destination—the sixth floor, home of The Zodiac Room.

The Christmas decorations were always beautiful. It was Neiman Marcus, after all. There were pictures to be taken in front of gilt wreaths, and we did cause a little commotion. We were a large group, the voices were excited and, I have to admit, the girls were pretty cute.

At the Table

Then to our white tableclothed table we paraded. As the girls got older, the moms sat at one end, and the girls at the other. Their conversations over the years gradually shifted from talks of Santa Claus to gossip about boyfriends. Always, though, there were smiles when the servers appeared with the hot popovers accompanied by strawberry butter and demi-tasse cups filled with the warm consommé.

First introduced in 1955, those popovers and consommé were Helen Corbitt’s idea. Corbitt, then the director of Neiman Marcus’ food services, had the notion to serve something delicious for her guests while they waited. A tradition was born, and today’s customers still delight in it.

Who knows what we ordered, when the off-the-menu was still the norm during those Christmas lunches. Eventually the holidays meant a lavish buffet in the center of the restaurant. It wasn’t our choice, but at least we still had the decorations, the white tablecloths, popovers, the demi-tasse cups and our friends.

Lunch was leisurely and fun, and our daughters were schooled in the joys of female friendships. I could reminisce about my great Aunt Marie, who had been a milliner for Neiman-Marcus back in the Jackie Kennedy pillbox hat era. Once we even spied a dapperly dressed Mr. Marcus, Stanley Marcus, by then the chairman emeritus of the store, eating lunch at a nearby table. One time one of the moms arranged for us to try on unbelievably brilliant diamonds in the downstairs jewelry department where her high school chum was now a gemologist, and our girls couldn’t believe the queenly gems.

Time to Go

Eventually, like Cinderella reaching midnight at the ball, we had to leave. But one tradition remained to be completed—a stop at the polished perfume counters, all mirrored displays of beautifully arranged bottles. The air was scented, as were we after we spritzed ourselves, instructing our daughters on how a lady uses fragrance. Then, before leaving, we air-kissed each precious cheek, and our daughters giggled and followed their mothers’ lead.

Now the closing of the downtown Neiman Marcus, a Texas institution, ends the era of Dallas’ grand downtown specialty store. Sure, there are other stores, but North Park in north Dallas and Clear Fork in west Fort Worth are never going to be as elegant, as thrilling and as special as the iconic flagship store. For more than 100 years, mothers, daughters, grandmothers, graduates, and brides have known the store as a place for celebrations, special purchases, and long-lasting friendships.

It was magic.

Long after the last cup of consommé, the final popover smeared with strawberry butter and the beautiful whiff of Chanel No. 5, we’ll remember the elegance, the fun, the friends, and the beauty.

So, goodbye, beautiful building. Goodbye, Zodiac Room. Goodbye, glamorous ladies. Thank you for the glossy, glamorous, sweet memories.