🔗 Share this article Why 'Showgirl' Became the Sparkling Look of the New Year Following a three-decade stint on the iconic Vegas strip, the performers from the production Jubilee! took a final synchronised kick in 2016. The extravaganza, renowned for its elaborate costumes crafted by celebrated designer Bob Mackie, closed its doors due to declining audience numbers and critical commentators who labeled it a spectacle “stuck in the past”. Today, almost a decade later, showgirls, or at least the showgirl style, is experiencing a revival. The King of Sparkle Dubbed the “sultan of sequins”, Mackie has made theatrical stage sparkle his signature style, outfitting everyone from Marilyn Monroe to music superstars. Earlier this month, a “see-through” bodysuit he made for Cher in 1978 commanded $57,600, far exceeding its initial estimate, while a shimmering fringed bodysuit with reflective wings that Mackie crafted for Tina Turner for a 1977 concert sold for $19,200. “In my view it looks more appealing for the emerging artists who is seeking something other than what they grew up with”, he told a publication. “New stars are pushing toward a show-stopping, more spectacular, show-stopping, entrance-making statement.” A Pop Culture Comeback It’s a look that made its way all the way to the heart of mainstream fashion in 2025 largely due 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, ostrich-feather armbands and shimmering headpiece were tailor-made for a record named The Life of a Showgirl. Swift is part of a trend. This year, showgirl references have been embraced by singers including Sabrina Carpenter as they danced across arena stages in glitter, strategic openings and ostrich feathers, highlighted against camp sets. Her fashion curator Lorenzo Posocco mentioned in an interview with a fashion magazine he wanted to bring “a showgirl spirit” to her Radical Optimism tour – referencing pictures from the mid-century, the backup dancers waved giant feathered fans. Drawing from the Past These artists and other successful musicians also take inspiration from historical entertainment forms, including burlesque and dance line references. The results are worlds away from the 90s Britney Spears era of crop tops and baggy pants, and hip-hop inspired dance moves that were popular earlier. But some critics are on board with this showgirl renaissance. Nancy Hardy, a ex- Jubilee! showgirl who entertained in the early 2000s says the trend is “bemusing”. She thinks the word showgirl title is being “used as an broad label covering everything from The Radio City Rockettes to Broadway performers and now apparently modern pop stars.” A Coveted Vintage Style For gen Z and modern stars, Mackie’s retro designs have become extremely desirable. In 2024, a famous actress honored to one of Mackie’s iconic muses, Cher, when the actor wore a translucent embellished dress designed by the designer in 2001, which was similar to one he designed for Cher to wear in 1967. Later that year, a singer paid an private amount to buy the Mackie tasseled mini dress she had worn at an awards show to perform at the Grammys. In September, the singer wore a collection of vintage Mackie designs at the MTV Video Music Awards. They are also a popular item among collectors. “The showgirl aesthetic bring about fond memories for a historical elegance,” says Su Kim Chung, a curator at the a Las Vegas university, who researches the legacy of showgirls. “Today it is considered a sort of ‘toned-down’ sexy because it has been adapted. It has got all the elegance, the sparkles and the glitter but without the bare skin.” More Than Just Style: An Symbol of Las Vegas She says this figure are central to the imagery of Vegas. She points to ex-mayor Oscar Goodman who, during official events, was surrounded by two showgirls. While Las Vegas currently lacks any showgirl-based productions, Chung says they are still featured as an logo of the city, appearing at conventions and in advertisements. “The showgirl is still a remaining figure of Vegas spectacle,” the expert says. The Allure of Transformation Nancy Hardy says the transformative effect of a showgirl is part of the appeal. It’s something the singer hints at in a latest docuseries that captures the off-camera action from her massive 2023 Eras tour, which included intense practice sessions, workouts and countless shows across dozens of cities, each going on for 3.5 hours. Hardy describes her own showgirl performances as “comparable to extreme physical exertion in stilettos every night”. Her feathered headdress was 34lbs. “I had to wear it all the way up the stairs to the stage from the backstage area three floors below in the basement. I had to leave early for my entrance so I could rest before I went on stage. You’re perspiring the whole time but crafting this fantasy that it’s easy and beautiful and ethereal.” It could be this is where the true allure of the showgirl really is found. In the chaos of 2025 there is a longing for fantasy. Is there anyone better to turn to than these performers, who have always represented fantasy, idealism and a realm where no one makes a mistake.