🔗 Share this article Why 'Showgirl Glamour' Became the Dazzling Aesthetic of 2025 Following a three-decade tenure on the iconic Vegas strip, the performers from the production Jubilee! gave one last synchronised kick in 2016. The production, renowned for its elaborate costumes designed by celebrated designer Bob Mackie, ended its run due to declining audience numbers and critical critics who called it a spectacle “trapped in time”. Today, almost a decade later, showgirls, or at least the glamorous showgirl look, is back. The Sultan of Sequins Dubbed the “king of sparkle”, Mackie has made dramatic showgirl glitz his trademark look, clothing everyone from screen legends to Madonna. Recently, a “see-through” bodysuit he designed for Cher in 1978 commanded $57,600, seven times its estimated price, while a shimmering fringed bodysuit with lamé wings that Mackie created for Tina Turner for a 1977 performance sold for $19,200. “I think it looks more attractive for the emerging artists who is seeking something other than what they were accustomed to”, he told a media outlet. “Today's artists are striving for a show-stopping, more spectacular, attention-grabbing, memorable statement.” A Pop Culture Comeback It’s a look that sashayed all the way to the centre of popular culture in 2025 largely due to a chart-topping superstar. In the past few months, the entertainment titan wore one of Mackie’s vintage Jubilee! costumes on the cover of her 12th studio album. The crystal-covered bra and thong, feathered armbands and shimmering headpiece were perfect for a record called The Life of a Showgirl. She isn't alone. This year, showgirl inspirations have been embraced by pop stars including Miley Cyrus as they danced across concert platforms in sparkles, revealing designs and plumes, illuminated against theatrical sets. Her fashion curator a fashion expert mentioned in an interview with Vogue he wanted to bring “a showgirl spirit” to her Radical Optimism tour – referencing pictures from the 50s, the backup dancers fluttered giant ostrich feather fans. Drawing from the Past These artists and other chart toppers also reference historical performances, including burlesque and ensemble references. The final look are worlds away from the 90s pop style of short shirts and utilitarian trousers, and hip-hop inspired dance moves that were popular earlier. But not everyone are enthusiastic with this showgirl revival. An ex-showgirl, a ex- Jubilee! showgirl who danced in the 00s says the trend is “bemusing”. She thinks the word term is being “used as an broad label encompassing everything from The Radio City Rockettes to Broadway performers and now seemingly modern pop stars.” A Coveted Classic Style For millennial and millennial stars, Mackie’s classic designs have become incredibly sought-after. In 2024, Zendaya gave a nod to one of Mackie’s first major stars, Cher, when the actress wore a see-through embellished dress designed by the designer in 2001, which was similar to one he made for Cher to wear in 1967. Subsequently, another pop star paid an significant price to buy the Mackie beaded mini dress she had worn earlier in the year to perform at the Grammys. In September, Carpenter wore a series of vintage Mackie designs at the MTV Video Music Awards. They are also a popular item among fashion collectors. “This style inspire nostalgia for a bygone era of glitz,” says an archivist, head of special collections at the an academic institution, who studies the history of showgirls. “Now it is considered a sort of ‘safe’ appeal because it has been updated. It has got all the glamour, the crystals and the glitter but without the bare skin.” A Than Simply Fashion: An Symbol of Vegas The expert says this figure are central to the identity of Sin City. She points to one-time leader Oscar Goodman who, during public appearances, was surrounded by two showgirls. While Las Vegas does not host any showgirl-based productions, Chung says they are still featured as an logo of the city, being present at conventions and in marketing. “The showgirl is still a lasting symbol of Vegas glamour,” the expert says. The Appeal of Escape Nancy Hardy says the transformative effect of a showgirl is part of the appeal. It’s something Taylor Swift alludes to in a latest behind-the-scenes film that captures the backstage action from her extensive 2023 Eras tour, which included intense rehearsals, workouts and 149 performances across 21 countries, each lasting 3.5 hours. She describes her own nights in the spotlight as “like extreme physical exertion in heels every night”. Her feathered headdress tipped the scales at 34lbs. “I had to carry it all the way up the stairs to the stage from the dressing rooms three floors below in the basement. I had to leave early for my cue so I could recover before I went on stage. You’re working hard the whole time but maintaining this fantasy that it’s effortless and beautiful and magical.” It could be this is where the appeal of the showgirl really lies. In the chaos of 2025 there is a desire for fantasy. What better figure to emulate than showgirls, who have always represented make-believe, flawlessness and a world where nobody falters.