Click here to read the full article.
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
For “Star Wars” fans with $180,000 to spare, Neiman Marcus is offering something
even harder to come by than a vintage lightsaber: a look inside the famously guarded world of Lucasfilm.
The luxury department store has unveiled its annual Fantasy Gifts collection, headlined by a one-of-a-kind “Star Wars” experience that includes private access to Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic, custom lightsabers and four VIP tickets to an upcoming “Star Wars” world premiere and afterparty. The six-figure package arrives ahead of the franchise’s 50th anniversary in 2027, when Disney and Lucasfilm will release Shawn Levy’s highly anticipated “Star Wars: Starfighter.”
The experience begins at One Letterman in San Francisco’s Presidio, home to Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic, the visual effects company George Lucas founded in 1975. Guests will receive private, behind-the-scenes access to the studios where some of Hollywood’s most recognizable cinematic worlds have been brought to life, along with a visit to an active Lucasfilm production.
Also included is a one-of-one replica of an “Ahsoka” Season 2 lightsaber hilt prop signed by Lucasfilm president and chief creative officer Dave Filoni, as well as a private consultation to design a pair of custom-assembled lightsabers.
The “Star Wars” package is the centerpiece of Neiman Marcus’ 2026 Holiday Book, which is celebrating its own milestone: 100 years since the retailer introduced its now-famous holiday catalog. This year’s edition, titled “Grand Gestures,” continues the Fantasy Gifts tradition that began in 1959, when Stanley Marcus started offering customers elaborate, sometimes outrageous presents that money could buy — provided they had enough of it.
And while a $180,000 trip inside the “Star Wars” universe may be the most obvious draw for Hollywood obsessives, the rest of this year’s lineup is similarly ambitious.
For fashion and jewelry collectors, Neiman Marcus is offering a six-day trip through Venice, Florence and Milan hosted by the Buccellati family, featuring private museum and atelier visits and a design session with Andrea Buccellati to create a bespoke piece of high jewelry. Another package, offered in partnership with Verdura, takes guests to New York City for a private tour of the jeweler’s historical collection and a fitting for a custom Maltese Cross cuff set with emeralds, sapphires and diamonds, followed by dinner at Orso and producer house seats to a Broadway show.
Dolce & Gabbana is contributing a Carretto Siciliano foosball table, complete with hand-painted Sicilian artwork, solid wood construction and a screen-printed glass playing field. A fragrance experience with Saujet and Lalique includes a trip to Alsace, France, where guests will stay at Villa René Lalique, participate in a perfume masterclass and receive an exclusive first-edition crystal fragrance trunk.
For those who prefer being on the water, another gift includes a fully loaded electric Arc Sport wake boat, personalized equipment and private lessons with world champion wakesurfer Austin Keen. And in perhaps the most sentimental offering of the bunch, customers can work with Neiman Marcus’ corporate chef to refine a cherished family recipe, which will then appear on the retailer’s restaurant menus nationwide for a full year.
“The 2026 Fantasy Gifts continue to redefine extraordinary luxury through one-in-a-lifetime experiences, unparalleled access, and boundless imagination,” Darcy Penick, president and chief commercial officer of Exemplar Luxury Group, Neiman Marcus’ parent company, said in a statement.
This year’s holiday campaign, dubbed “Holiday Fantasy,” also features supermodel Natasha Poly in imagery shot by director and photographer Alexandre Bassard at Neiman Marcus’ Beverly Hills store. The retailer is rolling out additional in-store events, holiday dining experiences and gift guides across its locations and digital channels.
A portion of every Fantasy Gift purchase will benefit the Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation through a corporate donation. The retailer is also continuing its seasonal fundraising campaign for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
