Taylor Swift is stepping into a dazzling new era. On Wednesday, the pop superstar revealed the tracklist and album artwork for her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, set to release on October 3. True to the album’s title, Swift is embracing burlesque-inspired looks, featuring feathered boas, ornate headpieces, and sparkling scalloped diamonds that evoke the glamour of a classic Vegas showgirl. Collaborating with luxury fashion houses like Area, The Blonds, and Rene Caovilla, Swift’s Showgirl era is all about extravagance and theatrical flair.
For the album cover, Swift wears a crystal-embellished minidress with a balconette-style bra and scalloped cutouts from Area’s spring 2022 collection, a nod to what Vogue calls “the glitz of an off-duty Vegas dancer.” Other featured ensembles include a rhinestone-studded deep red one-piece with a corseted bodice and pointed bust accents from The Blonds’ fall-winter 2024 collection, paired with opera gloves, knee-high boots, and her signature fishnet tights.
The show-stopping pink ostrich feather outfit, also from The Blonds’ fall 2025 collection, was styled with a crystal headpiece and chandelier wrap-around sandals by Rene Caovilla. Fashion critic Sarah Chappelle highlights that the collection was inspired by figures like models, showgirls, it-girls, or actresses—making it a perfect match for Swift’s Art Deco-infused Showgirl era.
Stylist and content creator Jack Savoie praised Swift’s maximalist approach, noting, “This era is pure glamour. The crystals, sweeping feathers, and gorgeous heels celebrate beauty and craftsmanship. Showgirl dressing requires intricate details and artistry, and her stylist, Joseph Cassell Falconer, is clearly creating unforgettable looks.”
Swift’s high-fashion history is well-established, having worn custom pieces by designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Roberto Cavalli, and Alberta Ferretti during her record-breaking Eras Tour. With The Life of a Showgirl, she elevates that glamour even further. The album builds on visuals introduced in her Midnights era “Bejeweled” music video, which featured famed burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese recreating a sultry martini-glass dance, as well as a Moulin Rouge!-inspired crystal two-piece designed by Michael Schmidt Studios.
On the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, Swift explained her vision for this era: highlighting the behind-the-scenes realities of life on tour. Between March 2023 and December 2024, Swift performed 149 shows across five continents, becoming the highest-grossing tour of all time.
“My day ends with me in a bathtub, not usually in a bedazzled dress,” Swift shared. “I wanted to glamorize the offstage aspects of touring. This album isn’t about what happened onstage—it’s about what I experienced offstage.”
