May the 4th Be With You

When Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuted on December 18, 2015 it wasn’t just the force that awakened, the whole franchise was given a new lease of life. Fans, old and new, were inundated with a plethora of memorabilia spanning from figurines and soft toys to clothes, shoes and duvet covers. You name it, you can probably get it in a Star Wars related option.

Now for women like myself who have a hardcore Star Wars fan as a husband (the Force never left my home), this is just the best, and in honour of Star Wars day, here are some of my favourite products out there.

American Tourister suitcases

I cannot tell you how much I love these. For years I have been looking for suitable hand luggage for the hubby and although there were Star Wars styles out there, most were cheaply made, which was evident in the look and the quality.

The American Tourister and Disney Star Wars collection was a match made in galactic heaven and the cases feature unique designs, are lightweight and made with durable materials that reduce scratch visibility.

My pick is the Star Wars Glitch Palm Valley 4-Wheel Cabin Baggage Spinner, which features a graffiti-style Stormtrooper. Other cool styles available are Kylo Ren (which has a red lightsaber-style pull bar), Star Wars Saga (with Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma and a Stormtrooper) and the Star Wars Comics design.

R2-D2 Cookie Jar

Who doesn’t love cookies and who doesn’t love R2-D2? This droid cookie jar isn’t just a ceramic lump with a bit of paint on it, it’s embossed with specific R2-D2 features and has an air tight lid to preserve the freshness of your treats.

Character Mug

My husband is a tradesman, and everyone knows that tradesmen love a good mug. So, as part of my hubby’s 30 presents for his 30^th birthday last year I got him the Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Yoda and R2-D2 mugs, and they were a real hit. Other styles from the Disney collection include Boba Fett and new kid on the block BB-8.

LEGO Keyring

Anyone growing up in the early 90s would’ve most likely played with LEGOs and the classic building blocks got on the galactic bandwagon early on. They have some pretty awesome products but one of my favourites is their keyrings, which you can get in pretty much any character you want, with some featuring an LED light option.

Alarm Clock

Fancy embracing the dark side with Darth Vader when the lights go out? Or Yoda by your bedside, ready to wake your force into action? Get a Star Wars alarm clock! You can choose from the LEGO variety or the more caricature style of BulbBotz.

Art Wars

Whilst all my other picks have been a bit playful and fun, Art Wars is less for your average aficionado and more for those with a taste for art and some generous disposable income.

This collection of Stormtrooper helmets is curated by Ben Moore and created by artists including Damien Hirst, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Mr Brainwash, D*Face and Joana Vasconcelos. It originally unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery in October 2013 and has since been presented in other London locations as well as Sweden, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Many of these works of art have been bought already but there are still some to be purchased as well as prints of those that have sold, so head over to Art Wars to find out more. A compilation of my favourites below:

Madame Tussauds London

Not exactly a product but the Star Wars exhibition at Madame Tussauds is not to be missed. Not only are the waxworks incredibly lifelike and well created, but each one is in their atmosphere, so if you happen to have a lightsaber in tow you can join Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in the fight against Darth Maul, co-pilot the Millennium Falcon with Chewy, or maybe just hang with Han Solo at the Cantina (yes, the happy looking man pictured is my hubby).

Thanks for reading and May the Force Be With You

Colour Collaborations from MAC Cosmetics

When it comes to makeup collaborations, there is no competing with MAC Cosmetics. In the last four weeks alone they have announced five spectacular partnerships, my favourites being the Selena tribute line and the Good Luck Trolls collection (Fun Fact: I once dressed up as a pink Troll in University!). Read on to find out more about the upcoming launches…

Chris Chang

I must confess, I wasn’t actually that familiar with Chinese designer Chris Chang, but after looking at some of her Poesia creations as well as her MAC collection, I can see myself becoming a fan! 

The range, which was initially announced in January and will be available in May, was inspired by the ancient Chinese art form Kunqu and is best described as a kaleidoscope of colour.

Products in the line include Lipstick, Cream Colour Base and Eye Shadow in shades reflective of her distinctively extravagant creative flair, such as turquoise, plummy lavender and neon orange.

Good Luck Trolls

Available in August, this is one fun collection that certainly takes me back! The packaging features contrasting colours, glitter and troll silhouettes, with the latter also making an appearance on the inside.

The range has 22 products spanning across Lipstick, Lipglass, Eye Shadow, Pigment, Glitter, Reflects Glitter, Beauty Powder and Chroma Craze as well as a Brush, and these come in some funky colours and even funkier names. 

Some of the products in the line are Can’t Be Tamed Lipstick (sheer lime yellow), Bubble Butt Lipglass (magenta with pink and blue glitter), Suns Out, Buns Out Eye Shadow (mustard yellow with pearl) and Tease and Thank You Chroma Craze (bright cobalt blue).  

Selena

The Selena Quintanilla-inspired collection is launching in October and was actually announced back in July, but this month MAC revealed the first of its products.

Como La Flor lipstick is a deep fuchsia created by Selena’s sister Suzette and inspired by her fans. It was named after one of her most famous and recognizable songs, which debuted in 1992.

Selena was known for her love of bold lip colours and was often pictured wearing strong shades, so Como La Flor seems like a perfect tribute to her. Can’t wait to see what else MAC has in store for this line!

Brooke Candy

Another confession, I don’t actually know who Brooke Candy is (I’m not really down with the rap scene), but I do like her collection with MAC, which I would describe as rather fierce and unapologetic.

Available in the US this week and in the UK in May, the range has Lipstick, Lip Pencil, Vamplify, Bronzing Powder, MAC Studio Eye Gloss, Liquid Eye Liner, Haute & Naughty Lash and MAC Studio Nail Lacquer, in shades ranging from golden and nude to purple and black.

Star Trek

Now this I’m familiar with! Star Trek Beyond, the newest movie in the revamped Star Trek franchise, is set to hit the big screens on July 22 and has teamed up with MAC to launch a very cosmic collection!

The range houses 25 products in the Lipstick, Lipglass, Pressed Pigment Eye Shadow and Studio Nail Lacquer categories, and the art work features four of the strong female characters from the films: Seven of Nine, Deanna Troi, Nyota Uhura and Vina.

The line launches in September, but if you’d like to get your hands on it sooner, you can head over to MAC’s Gaslamp store (in San Diego), where a limited pre-sale will take place on July 21.