Taylor Swift's Weekly Appearance marks her transition into the Showgirl Phase
In a surprising turn for her artistic career, Taylor Swift has ventured into a new direction with her latest album and tour, "The Life of a Showgirl." This album, set to release soon, marks a departure from her previous styles, as Swift trades woolen overcoats and broderie-anglais dresses for elaborate, sparkling costumes reminiscent of the classic showgirl aesthetic.
The costumes in "The Life of a Showgirl" are juxtaposed with empty theatres and cold, green light, possibly symbolizing quiet, lonelier moments after the show. Swift wrote this album during the European leg of her "Era's Tour," which became the highest-grossing tour of all time, spanning 51 cities across 5 continents. Performing for stadiums of people during her tour, a schedule potentially as grueling as that of a Vegas showgirl, may have influenced Swift's connection to the showgirl image.
The showgirl aesthetic, characterized by elaborate, sparkling costumes, feathers, and iconic burlesque elements, symbolizes glamour, spectacle, and theatricality. Pop stars, including Swift, have been drawn to this image due to its ability to captivate audiences with stage lighting and its feminine styling.
Swift's recent album visuals prominently feature traditional showgirl costumes designed by Bob Mackie, a renowned designer known as the "Guru of Glitter," who has created looks for stars like Elton John and Miley Cyrus. This highlights how the showgirl image carries a legacy of dazzling, high-glamour fashion that pop stars adopt to connect with both vintage performance traditions and modern spectacle in their music videos and live shows.
Taylor Swift is in excellent company as she embraces the sartorial codes of a Las Vegas dancer, as other performers have done before her. Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue, and Addison Rae have all referenced the showgirl image in their performances or music videos. Kylie Minogue, for instance, performed at least four songs in a crystal-dripping leotard, giant feather bustle, and feather headdress during her 2005 tour. Christina Aguilera's performance in "Lady Marmalade" and her role as an executive producer on "Burlesque: The Musical" further solidify her association with showgirl styling.
Addison Rae donned a gem-encrusted cage bra for her "High Fashion" music video, further referencing the showgirl image. The cover of Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" features her in a crystal embellished demi-bra with jewels trailing down her torso, submerged in a bathtub.
Swift's high-octane performances during her "Era's Tour" and her statement about the album's contents, "It's what I was going through off-stage," imply a connection between her personal life and the showgirl image. Pop stars may also feel an affinity for showgirls due to their dedication, talent, and grit, as suggested by their grueling performance schedules.
In another image, Taylor Swift poses with her arms wide in a showgirl-inspired outfit covered in sparkling gems, further emphasizing her embrace of this iconic image. The life of a showgirl, with its glamour, spectacle, and theatricality, seems to resonate with Swift, offering a new and intriguing direction for her as an artist.
[1] For more information on the history and significance of the showgirl image, please refer to this article.
- Taylor Swift's latest album, "The Life of a Showgirl," appears to draw inspiration from the rich legacy of dazzling, high-glamour fashion associated with showgirls, as indicated by the album's visuals and her adoption of traditional showgirl costumes designed by Bob Mackie.
- The showgirl aesthetic, with its combination of elaborate costumes, feathers, and iconic burlesque elements, has long been a captivating symbol of glamour, spectacle, and theatricality in pop-culture, attracting performers like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, and Kylie Minogue, among others.
