The Life of a Showgirl
Worn On: 10/3/25 // THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL
the commentary
The cover look of Taylor’s 12th era! You may recognize Area as the embellished designer behind many of Taylor’s football looks (see: her rookie season Super Bowl outfit). Known for their crystal trim and sensual cutouts. This particular collection, Spring 2022, touches on what Vogue described as their “showgirl roots.” Inspired by “Deco glamour, Brazil’s Carnaval, and the glitz of an off-duty Vegas dancer.” You might say - a perfect fit.
The collection is resplendent with the brand’s signature sparkle. Beading drips from every piece. Sensuality oozes. Crystal thongs spell out A-R-E-A. But this isn’t overt sexuality done flippantly. Creative director Piotrek Panszczyk said of the collection, “We are all showgirls. Showgirls aren’t just about being pretty. It’s political; it’s about their bodies—and they are tough.” Fashion writer Steff Yotka concurred, describing the garments as “over-the-top pieces for a woman who knows what she wants.”
Indeed, a repeated element through Taylor’s New Heights interview was how this album was crafted to pull the curtain back on the Eras Tour and to lay bare the life that unfolded off-stage. The athleticism, the exertion, and the effort that was required to put on the show is counterbalanced by the stripped back moments once the curtain falls. She described of the cover shot, captured by reputation photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, as the core ethos of the album. “I wanted to have this off stage moment as the cover,” she described, “because this album isn’t about what happened on stage. This is about what I was going through off stage. I didn’t want to have the lights as bright. This, to me, tells more about what the contents lyrically are. The life behind it all, beyond it all.”
There’s so much to dissect from this photoshoot. The fractured elements. The twisted tension. The dark glamour that glitters with the beautiful danger of a diamond encrusted dagger. I can’t wait to dive in!
the clothes
* Not available for purchaseFeature Photo by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott