Tech
The ultimate The Life of a Showgirl shopping guide for Taylor Swift fans
Oh hi! Welcome to another Taylor Swift album cycle. The singer is set to drop her highly anticipated twelfth studio project, The Life of a Showgirl, this Friday, Oct. 3 at 12 a.m. ET.
As promo for TS12 reaches a fever pitch, being a card-carrying Swiftie entails nonstop sleuthing for teasers about her unreleased songs, per tradition. I personally won't pretend to know what's going on with all of the Easter eggs and lyric puzzles trickling out this week. (That's a job for someone with triple my daily screen time.) But allow me to clue you in on all of the limited-time TLOAS merch drops, shimmery orange product releases, exclusive deals, and launch events tied to Showgirl's debut — official and otherwise — that you might have missed.
Wait, why orange?
Whoever said orange is the new pink had the gift of foresight. Swift assigns a specific color theme to represent each of her albums' eras as a means of vibe-setting and savvy marketing. For TLOAS, she picked a peppy shade of glittery tangerine with mint-green accents.
Swift explained her choice of hue on the Aug. 13 episode of her fiancé Travis Kelce's podcast, New Heights, when she announced TLOAS and revealed its main vinyl variant — a Portofino Orange Glitter pressing. “[Orange] feels like kind of energetically how my life has felt," she said. "And this album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during this [Eras] Tour, which was so exuberant and electric and vibrant.”
Swift first referenced her orange era on the very last stop of her record-breaking Eras Tour in December 2024, when she exited the stage through a pumpkin-colored door instead of descending on an elevator lift like usual. That just shows the level of forethought Swift puts into every single marketing decision.
All the TLOAS vinyl and CD variants you can still buy
Credit: Taylor Nation LLC / Target
Speaking of vinyl: The life of a physical media collector is not a frugal or stressless one. Swift has released 23 different hard copies of TLOAS so far, including eight vinyl variants, 14 CDs (counting box sets and signed copies), and one cassette tape. Many were available in limited quantities and sold out quickly.
At the time of writing, the primary Portofino Orange Glitter vinyl, a CD/poster bundle, a CD box set with a crewneck sweatshirt, and the cassette tape were still up for preorder through Swift's official online store. The orange vinyl and CD/poster bundle are also available through Amazon and Target at slight markups.
Target is carrying a couple of exclusive versions of TLOAS, including three CD/poster bundles with alternate covers and a "The Crowd is Your King" edition vinyl variant pressed in Summertime Spritz Pink Shimmer. The CDs were still in stock online when I last checked, but preorders of the vinyl are sold out. You might be able to snag it in person on Friday: About 500 Target stores across the country will sell it at midnight release parties (while supplies last). Visit Target's website to find a participating store near you.
Stay tuned for more merch
The only official TLOAS merch you can currently buy is a crewneck sweatshirt featuring its cover art, which comes as part of the aforementioned CD box set. Swift's online store sold another box set with a sparkly orange cardigan for $70 in mid-September, but it's no longer available.
Swift's past merch collections have included apparel, jewelry, drinkware, blankets, pins, guitars, guitar picks, candles, stickers, phone cases, and journals, so a much larger TLOAS drop is virtually inevitable. Some fans are convinced that Spotify's TLOAS pop-up event in New York City this week teased some upcoming items: A TS-branded vinyl case, robe, duffle bag, slippers, and megaphone ornament were spotted inside the activation.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
If you're looking for more TLOAS apparel and gifts in the meantime, you'll find tons of unsanctioned options on Etsy — and on several brands' social media feeds.
Brands are in their Showgirl era
Brands have "trendjacked" Swift's TLOAS rollout with orange-drenched memes, orange-themed deals, and limited-edition releases of orange products over the past month. (Trendjacking is a marketing term that effectively means "interpolating a viral trend.") None of the drops I've spotted are licensed collabs, but they wink-wink at a Showgirl connection in their titles and product descriptions.
KitchenAid's Tangerine Twinkle Stand Mixer
KitchenAid shared a mockup of a glittery orange stand mixer on its Instagram page the day of the TLOAS announcement. The post was such a hit with fans that the company decided to make it real. Only 12 of them up for grabs, and you can win one by entering KitchenAid's "Showbiz Sweepstakes" at some point before Oct. 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Opens in a new window
Limited-Edition KitchenAid Tangerine Twinkle Stand Mixer
OtterBox's Encore phone case
OtterBox calls the Symmetry Series Encore "the case of the year to match the album of the year" — subtle! It features a shimmering orange design that's drop-tested and scratch-resistant. It's priced at $59.99 and available for newer Apple iPhones as well as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Opens in a new window
Apple's Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro
Showgirl's branding is so potent that some Swifties credited it as the inspiration for Apple's new cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro. It's not, but the timing of the phone's release a couple weeks after Swift's TLOAS announcement was serendipitous. Other Apple gadgets that come in Showgirl-coded shades of orange include the AirPods Max headphones, the Beats PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds, and the M4 iMac.
Uber's 'orange era' deals
Uber is running a few promos tied to TLOAS (informally, of course). For starters, Uber Eats users can save 12% on select orange snacks, apparel, pet accessories, and beauty items through Sunday, Oct. 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Items available near me included Harvest Cheddar Sunchips, orange Spindrifts, literal oranges, mango-flavored lip balm, orange Nike running shoes, orange dog collars, and orange crafting beads, for reference.
Those attending a release-night party at a local record store, bar, or friend's house can save $12 on an Uber Comfort ride using the code SHOWBIZ. It's valid from Thursday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. through Oct. 5, so fret not if you have your festivities planned for later in the weekend.
Opens in a new window
Get tickets for The Official Release Party of a Showgirl
If you don't have any release weekend plans yet, throw on your finest orange garb and head to your local movie theater: Blondie returns to the big screen for The Official Release Party of a Showgirl from Oct. 3 to 5. The 89-minute event will feature the music video premiere for "The Fate of Ophelia," TS12's first single, plus behind-the-scenes footage of its shoot, lyric videos for the other 11 tracks on the album, and Swift's explanations of each song's meaning.
"Dancing is optional but very much encouraged 💃," the singer wrote on Instagram. Tickets are available at releasepartyofashowgirl.com.
Opens in a new window
For years, Elon Musk has talked about colonizing Mars. Now, he's talking about building Looney Tunes contraptions on the moon instead.
The New York Times reported that Musk told employees at xAI on Tuesday evening that he wants to build a factory on the moon to construct AI data center satellites. Not only that, but Musk wants the factory to include some type of gigantic space catapult, called a mass driver, that would then launch the satellites into space, purportedly for the sake of powering xAI's artificial intelligence network.
"You have to go to the moon," Musk reportedly told employees, per the Times.
In case you're wondering why this plan involves xAI and not just SpaceX, it's because the two just recently merged at the corporate level. Musk said that the merger was necessary to help xAI build AI data centers in orbit around the Earth.
While these plans sound like something straight out of science fiction, Musk does have an impressive track record with SpaceX, which has accomplished many engineering firsts.
Of course, Musk did not elaborate on how, exactly, this facility would be built, or on what sort of timeline it would come together. Musk has spent decades talking up the notion of using SpaceX to colonize Mars, but he recently pivoted to the moon instead. Musk often talks about the importance of making the human race interplanetary.
As Mashable has reported previously, Musk has a history of making bold announcements that don't come to fruition.
TL;DR: Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Copa del Rey semi finals are absolutely mouthwatering. A lot of fans will be focused on Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona, but the first semi-final matchup is arguably even better.
Athletic Club take on Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. The San Mamés stadium will host the first leg of this fiery rivalry. We're expecting passionate support, intense competition, and of course, drama in abundance. It's going to be electric, and you can enjoy everything that this famous game has to offer without spending anything.
If you want to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad?
Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 11. This fixture takes place at the San Mamés.
How to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free
Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE to live stream the Copa del Rey for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free by following these simple steps:
-
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
-
Visit RTVE
-
Watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free from anywhere in the world
Opens in a new window
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Copa del Rey without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
-
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
-
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
-
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free with ExpressVPN.
FREE $30 CREDIT: Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device come with a free $30 Samsung credit.
Opens in a new window
Set a calendar event because the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is set for Feb. 25 online at both samsung.com and the brand's YouTube channel. If you'll be first in line for one of the new Galaxy S26 devices, there's a special deal in store if you reserve in advance.
Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device will earn you a free $30 Samsung credit. In addition, you'll be eligible for a savings of up to $900 on your order, and get entered to win $5,000 to spend at Samsung.
We have some idea of what the new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup will include, but we'll all have to wait until Feb. 25 to get solid specs. But if you have intentions of upgrading, there's no harm in securing a reservation and saving $30. All you'll need to do is fill out Samsung's simple form with your name, e-mail address, and your phone number, if you feel like it. Then Samsung will keep you updated about future steps. The discount gets cancelled if you don't end up ordering a qualifying Galaxy device.
Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry said he wouldn't be surprised if the new S26 lineup comes with camera upgrades, in addition to more standard improvements like better battery life.
For those who've been patiently waiting for Galaxy Unpacked, now's your chance to place a reservation on a new Galaxy device with a free $30 credit. It's a win-win for those who are ready for an upgrade.
How One Couple Erased $40,000 of Debt in 18 Months (Without Eating Ramen)
Elon Musk wants to build a giant catapult on the moon
‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star James Van Der Beek Dead at 48 After Cancer Battle
Send Help review: GLOP! Youre not ready for Rachel McAdams latest… but I love it
How I Paid Off My Mortgage 10 Years Early On A Teacher’s Salary
Black Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle
-
Tech2 weeks agoSend Help review: GLOP! Youre not ready for Rachel McAdams latest… but I love it
-
Business5 months ago
How I Paid Off My Mortgage 10 Years Early On A Teacher’s Salary
-
Politics5 months agoBlack Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle
-
Tech5 months agoGet a lifetime subscription to the “ChatGPT for investors” for under $60
-
Tech5 months agoReview: The Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is the first wet/dry vacuum I liked
-
Business5 months ago
25 Low-Effort Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend
-
Business5 months ago
9 Ways to Command a Six-Figure Salary Without a Bachelor’s
-
Entertainment4 months agoFat Joe Recalls Bruno Mars Snapping on Him Over Question About Puerto Rican Roots: ‘Broke My Heart’