🔗 Share this article How 'Showgirl' Became the Glittering Aesthetic of This Year Following a 31-year tenure on the Las Vegas Boulevard, the showgirls from the production Jubilee! gave one last synchronised kick in 2016. The extravaganza, famous for its intricate costumes created by celebrated designer Bob Mackie, came to an end due to falling audience numbers and unimpressed commentators who described it as a spectacle “stuck in the past”. Now, roughly eight years later, the showgirl, or at least the glamorous showgirl look, is experiencing a revival. The King of Sequins Referred to as the “master of glitz”, Mackie has made theatrical showgirl glamour his signature style, outfitting everyone from Hollywood icons to Madonna. In a recent auction, a “naked” bodysuit he created for Cher in 1978 sold for $57,600, far exceeding its projected value, while a metallic fringed bodysuit with shiny wings that Mackie designed for Tina Turner for a 1977 show sold for $19,200. “I think it looks more enticing for the emerging artists who is seeking something other than what they grew up with”, he stated in an interview with a publication. “New stars are pushing toward a glamorous, more theatrical, breathtaking, entrance-making statement.” The Mainstream Comeback It’s a look that made its way all the way to the epicenter of popular culture in 2025 thanks to Taylor Swift. Recently, the entertainment titan wore one of Mackie’s original Jubilee! costumes on the cover of her latest record. The crystal-covered bra and thong, plumed armbands and shimmering headpiece were ideal for a record titled The Life of a Showgirl. She has company. This year, showgirl inspirations have been incorporated by music artists including Miley Cyrus as they danced across arena stages in glitter, revealing designs and plumes, highlighted against overstated sets. Lipa’s stylist Lorenzo Posocco mentioned in an interview with a style publication he wanted to bring “a showgirl attitude” to her Radical Optimism tour – inspired by pictures from the mid-century, the backup dancers fluttered giant feathered fans. Drawing from the Past Lipa, Carpenter and other hitmakers also reference classic performances, including burlesque and dance line references. The outcome are poles apart from the 90s pop style of crop tops and baggy pants, and urban dance moves that preceded this trend. But not everyone are on board with this showgirl revival. A former performer, a one-time Jubilee! showgirl who entertained in the 2000s says the trend is “confusing”. She thinks the word showgirl title is being “used as an catch-all phrase encompassing everything from The Radio City Rockettes to Broadway performers and now seemingly modern pop stars.” The Coveted Classic Style For millennial and millennial stars, Mackie’s classic designs have become extremely desirable. In 2024, Zendaya gave a nod to one of Mackie’s first major stars, Cher, when the star wore a see-through beaded dress made by the designer in 2001, which was inspired by one he made for Cher to wear in 1967. Subsequently, Miley Cyrus paid an private amount to buy the Mackie beaded mini dress she had worn at an awards show to perform at the Grammys. In September, the singer wore a collection of retro Mackie designs at the MTV Video Music Awards. They are also a hit among vintage enthusiasts. “This style evoke a sense of longing for a past glamour,” says an archivist, head of special collections at the a Las Vegas university, who researches the history of showgirls. “Today it is viewed as a sort of ‘acceptable’ appeal because it has been updated. It has got all the sophistication, the crystals and the glitter but without the bare skin.” More Than Just Fashion: An Symbol of the City She says the showgirl image are central to the imagery of Sin City. She points to one-time leader Oscar Goodman who, during official events, was accompanied by two showgirls. While Las Vegas no longer has any showgirl-centric productions, the historian says they are still used as an logo of the city, showing up at gatherings and in marketing. “The showgirl is still a lasting symbol of Vegas glamour,” the expert says. The Allure of Illusion Nancy Hardy says the magical transformation of a showgirl is part of the allure. This is a notion Taylor Swift references in a latest docuseries that captures the off-camera action from her massive 2023 Eras tour, which included exhausting rehearsals, workouts and 149 shows across dozens of cities, each going on for 3.5 hours. She recalls her own showgirl performances as “similar to extreme physical exertion in heels every night”. Her feathered headdress was 34lbs. “I had to carry it all the way up the steps to the performance area from the green rooms three floors below in the basement. I had to leave early for my cue so I could rest before I performed. One is sweating the whole time but crafting this image that it’s simple and beautiful and magical.” It could be this is where the fascination of the showgirl fantasy really is found. In the busyness of 2025 there is a desire for fantasy. What better figure to look to than such icons, who have always represented make-believe, perfection and a realm where no one makes a mistake.