Let's face it--we need some variety in our holiday gift selections. Every year we give the same things--ties, records, shirts, books, calculators, bathrobes. Occasionally, of course, some inspired shopper picks out something really unique like a Vegematic, a Cuisinart, or even a backgammon set. On balance, though, the gifts we give--and get--are just plain boring.

But they don't have to be. Why not add some excitement to Christmas morning by putting a pair of his and her blimps under the tree? Neiman-Marcus, the exclusive and expensive Houston-based department store, is selling the duet of dirigibles at $50,000--each. Powered by 72-horsepower engines, the behemoths are 120 feet long and can fly at a top speed of 25 miles an hour.

Neiman-Marcus provides the blimps, complete with passenger compartments large enough for two people, in any color combination and includes a set of flight instructions with each. By the way, the dirigibles are collapsable and portable--just right for picnics, N-M assures.

N-M publishes a "Christmas Book" (not a mere "catalogue," mind you) of its unusal gifts each year. A company spokesman at the Dallas store drawled that, like the blimps, "most of our items are wonderful, marvelous things that everyone in the world would love to own--well, maybe most people."

Another of N-M's must-have, but more down-to-earth, gifts is a 36,500 antenna that receives direct satellite transmissions. Available exclusively through N-M until February (when, we assume, you'll be able to pick one up at any five-and-dime), the antenna would fill the entire backyard of a typical, suburban home.

If you're looking for a way to beat the rising gasoline prices, N-M has just the thing--a 19th century English Devin horse-drawn carriage. The mahogany frame and body are hand-forged, and the wheels are rubberized for a smoother ride on bumpy interstates. The carriage costs $9,950, horses not included. But, as the N-M spokesman explained, most people in Texas have their own. For more of the 19th century English flavor, N-M suggests hiring master chimney sweeps Dee and David, who, for $3000 excluding travel costs, will entertain your loved ones with songs and stories while cleaning your home's chimneys.

For the more fashion conscious, N-M offers a men's three-quarter length "Transylvania look" evening cape made of karacul lamb and black-dyed rabbit. With the requisite red satin lining, the Dracula outfit sells for $5000.

N-M's men's sheep skin running suit is a must for cold-weather joggers. The jacket costs $395 and the pants $275, and the company spokesman said that the suit is appropriate for status seekers who jog in warm climates. For the golf-minded, the store offers western-style cowboy golf boots with cleats for $320.

N-M's blimps and antennas are all very nice, but they are mere baubles compared with Houston-based rival Sakowitz's "ultimate gift" selections for this holiday season. Sakowitz is the store that in 1975 offered a bathtub full of diamonds for a cool $153 million. In 1974, they enticed Christmas shoppers with a Boeing 747 for $27 million, a 727 for $9.25 million and a 707 for $11 million.

Based on the theme of health, this year's "ultimate gifts," perhaps because of current economic woes, are not quite so extravagant. Sakowitz's biggie is a personal home health care center that includes his-and-her locker rooms, whirlpool, steamroom, indoor track and gym, an exercise room, a First Aid room, and a health food bar. You provide the land, and Sakowitz will build the complex for $1.6 million.

Or, if your gift recipient is exclusively a swimmer, Sakowitz will construct a 734-sq.-ft. Texas-shaped swimming pool filled with 30,687 gallons of Perrier water for $127,174.32. You provide the twist of lime.

Sakowitz is also offering a gift called "An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away." For $20,000 the store will hand deliver to any city in the continental United States one fresh apple every day of 1980. Next year, they are quick to point out, is a leap year. The 366 apples, at Sakowitz's price, amount to a little more than $50 dollars each. Perfect for teachers.

If you know someone who needs a long rest, check out Sakowitz's three-week vacation at Brenner's Park Hotel in Baden-Baden, West Germany, where health spa and beauty farm facilities are available and a Mercedes limosine will be on hand. To take the strain out of the trip to Germany, Sakowitz will reserve the entire first class section of a Lufthansa Airlines 747. The recipient of this gift will be the only person up front in the plane and the first on and off. For one person, the cost of the trip is $55,922. Excluding the exclusive air transportation expense, the price drops to a mere $3300.

Sakowitz also has an assortment of hand-made automobiles. An exact copy of a 1951 MG, called the "TD Replicar," with a Volkswagon chassis and a fiberglass body sells for $9250. The LaCrosse, which looks like something out of the Great Gatsby era, costs $65,000. And a Volante V-8 convertible from England goes for $79,000.

But if you're seriously looking for a new car for that special someone, why buy from a department store? Foreign motors in Boston sells Rolls-Royces, the least expensive of which, the Silver Shadow, costs $77,600. The Silver Wraith, the next step up, is $91,000, and the top of the line Corniche convertible sells for $140,000. It looks best in canary, with the camel interior. If the cars themselves are a bit out of your price range, you can give a Rolls-Royce key chain for $6.