Why 'Showgirl Glamour' Emerged as the Dazzling Look of the New Year

Following a 31-year stint on the Las Vegas strip, the showgirls from the revue Jubilee! took a final synchronised kick in 2016. The extravaganza, renowned for its ornate costumes crafted by American fashion designer Bob Mackie, closed its doors due to declining audience numbers and critical critics who called it a spectacle “stuck in the past”.

Currently, roughly eight years later, the showgirl persona, or at least the showgirl style, is experiencing a revival.

The Sultan of Sparkle

Referred to as the “sultan of sequins”, Mackie has made over-the-top showgirl glamour his defining aesthetic, dressing everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Madonna. Recently, a “see-through” bodysuit he created for Cher in 1978 commanded $57,600, far exceeding its projected value, while a shimmering beaded bodysuit with lamé wings that Mackie created for Tina Turner for a 1977 concert sold for $19,200.

“In my view it looks more enticing for the younger performer who is desiring something other than what they grew up with”, he explained to a media outlet. “Contemporary performers are embracing a theatrical, more theatrical, show-stopping, grand statement.”

The Pop Culture Resurgence

It’s a look that made its way all the way to the heart of the cultural zeitgeist in 2025 largely due to Taylor Swift. Recently, the entertainment titan wore one of Mackie’s original Jubilee! costumes on the cover of her new musical project. The bedazzled bra and thong, feathered armbands and sparkly headpiece were tailor-made for a record called The Life of a Showgirl.

She isn't alone. This year, showgirl references have been incorporated by music artists including Dua Lipa as they whizzed across concert platforms in glitter, strategic openings and feathers, spotlighted against overstated sets. Lipa’s stylist a fashion expert told a style publication he wanted to bring “a showgirl spirit” to her Radical Optimism tour – drawing from pictures from the mid-century, her performers fluttered giant ostrich feather fans.

Drawing from the Past

These artists and other successful musicians also reference historical entertainment forms, including classic theater and ensemble references. The outcome are worlds away from the 90s pop style of short shirts and cargo pants, and hip-hop inspired dance moves that came before them.

But certain observers are on board with this showgirl revival. A former performer, a former Jubilee! showgirl who entertained in the early 2000s says the trend is “confusing”. She thinks the word term is being “used as an catch-all phrase including everything from The Radio City Rockettes to Broadway performers and now seemingly Taylor Swift.”

A Highly Sought-After Classic Style

For younger and young adult stars, Mackie’s retro designs have become incredibly sought-after. In 2024, a famous actress gave a nod to one of Mackie’s iconic muses, Cher, when the actress wore a semi-sheer embellished dress designed by the designer in 2001, which was similar to one he made for Cher to wear in 1967. Later that year, another pop star paid an private amount to buy the Mackie fringed mini dress she had worn earlier in the year to perform at the Grammys. In September, the singer wore a trio of retro Mackie designs at the MTV Video Music Awards. They are also a hit among collectors.

“The showgirl aesthetic bring about nostalgia for a past glamour,” says an archivist, head of special collections at the an academic institution, who researches the legacy of showgirls. “Now it is seen as a sort of ‘acceptable’ allure because it has been updated. It has got all the sophistication, the sparkles and the glitter but without the bare skin.”

More Than Just Fashion: An Icon of Vegas

The expert says showgirls are central to the identity of Vegas. She points to one-time leader Oscar Goodman who, during official events, was surrounded by two showgirls. Although Las Vegas currently lacks any showgirl-based productions, Jung says they are still featured as an emblem of the city, appearing at gatherings and in promotional material. “The showgirl is still a lasting figure of Las Vegas spectacle,” she says.

An Appeal of Transformation

The former showgirl says the complete change of a showgirl is part of the attraction. This is a notion the singer hints at in a recent behind-the-scenes film that captures the backstage action from her massive 2023 Eras tour, which included intense preparations, training and countless performances across dozens of cities, each lasting 3.5 hours.

Hardy describes her own showgirl performances as “comparable to completing an endurance race in stilettos every night”. Her feathered headdress tipped the scales at 34lbs. “I had to carry it all the way up the staircase to the platform from the green rooms three floors below in the basement. I had to start early for my moment so I could rest before I made my entrance. One is perspiring the whole time but creating this image that it’s easy and gorgeous and magical.”

It could be this is where the appeal of the showgirl really resides. In the chaos of 2025 there is a longing for a break from reality. Is there anyone better to look to than these performers, who have always personified make-believe, perfection and a universe where nobody falters.