Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl: Visual & Aesthetic Predictions (from a Designer & Art Nerd)
Taylor Swift’s upcoming album Life of a Showgirl is poised to be a masterclass in visual storytelling and personal branding. Drawing from art history and pop culture—from the Belle Époque’s cabaret cancan dancers to Vegas showgirls, Broadway’s Fosse choreography, and Y2K pop‑princess spectacle—Swift’s predicted “showgirl era” weaves glamour and grit, luxury and labor. Think jewel‑toned feathers, absinthe greens, deco geometry, neon casino lights, and glittering rhinestones paired with dark undertones of sacrifice and agency. Like her Reputation and 1989 eras before it, Life of a Showgirl signals a bold reinvention: earworm anthems matched with visuals that nod to Toulouse‑Lautrec, Josephine Baker, Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minnelli, Cher, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. This is branding as narrative world‑building, and it’s a roadmap for designers looking to translate cultural references into powerful, trend‑defining aesthetics.
Whether you claim Swiftie status or not, one truth holds: Taylor Swift is the Queen of Personal Branding. Every album arrives with its own visual universe and is crafted with the precision of a designer and the theatricality of a director. Her twelfth studio album, Life of a Show Girl, is predicted to be no exception.
This time, the stage lights turn to the archetype of the showgirl. A figure equal parts glamour and grit, luxury and labor. For Swift, it’s a nod to “the luxury that a showgirl puts on when she’s onstage.” and her life during the The Eras Tour.
From Paris cabarets to Vegas casinos, from Fosse’s Broadway grit and seduction to the tabloid-era Y2K pop princess, the “showgirl” has always been more than feathers and sequins. When she’s onstage, she may be seen as glamorous, but offstage she’s dealing with internal struggles. Our resident art history nerd and founder, Michelle Wintersteen, expands on her Life of a Showgirl post to further unpack the five cultural and visual references she predicts Swift will draw from.
BEFORE YOU KEEP READING, BINGE THIS:
1850s-1880s:
Belle Époque Showgirl
The original showgirls weren’t neon-lit Vegas dancers. They were the cancan performers of late-19th-century Paris, framed by gaslight and absinthe haze in “The Beautiful Age.” The Moulin Rouge opened in 1889 as a gateway to both elegance and excess. This is where cancan dancers emerged and were immortalized in Toulouse-Lautrec’s posters.
Yet the art of the period carried a darker undertone. Edgar Degas painted ballerinas not in the glory as we picture them today, but in awkward positions; being watched by predatory men with rats in the sidelines. While these series of paintings are often regarded as pretty, juvenile and sweet, they’re anything but. Degas, a huge misogynist, viewed ballerinas as vermin— buying into the name coined for them— les petits rats (little rodents). These young girls came from poor families, were malnourished and sexually exploited by opera subscribers. Hardly the elegant, daintiness that is attached to them today.
This is Swift’s Reputation undertone: the duality of the luxurious façade and the cost beneath it. It’s entertainment vs. oddity. Michelle also predicts that the musicality will reflect this as well— earworm-y tunes matched with lyrics that will leave you gutted.
Even her album art seems to reference Belle Époque through John Everett Millais’s Ophelia— a hauntingly beautiful painting of Shakespeare’s Ophelia as she dies beautiful even though her soul is tormented by the death of her father. The difference with Swift’s modernization of this is that rather than drowning, her face is breaking the surface and staring directly at the photographer. She signals more resistance, like she’s refusing to be diminished. Will we see this with her upcoming song, Fate of Ophelia?
From this era, expect to see jewel-toned feathers, grunge, absinthe greens, and her Rapturous look.
1920s:
Jazz Age Flapper Showgirl
The Roaring Twenties ushered in the flapper: bobbed hair, sequined fringe, and androgynous silhouettes that blurred gender lines. In speakeasies, jazz pulsed under prohibition’s shadow. Josephine Baker danced in Paris; Clara Bow (who inspired The Tortured Poets Department song) lit up Hollywood. Pleasure was everywhere—but was largely pushed by the fact that it had to be secretive. There became this immense gratification with breaking the rules without getting caught. It was a time of epicurean philosophy where an excess of pleasure was pain.
From an aesthetic standpoint, this is gender-bending, swimming in a glass of champagne, strip teasing, and Babylon-inspired parties with exotic animals. A champagne tower as freedom and as drowning in the excess (Champagne Problems, anyone?). It’s Evermore in visual form: indulgence undercut by restraint. For Swift, we may see deco geometry, fringed gowns, and The Tiny Bubbles in Champagne.
1940-50s:
Las Vegas Showgirl
These women are probably the vision of what comes to mind when you think of a showgirl: tall, gorgeous women wearing glamorous makeup and in towering feather headdresses, rhinestoned corsets, and sequins galore. The aesthetics during this time for the showgirl were larger than life— rotating stages and grand staircases. These large casino showrooms were made for mass consumption and truly coined the name Sin City for Las Vegas.
Stars like Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth were noted as sex symbols. Women became both the decoration and the commodity.
For Life of a Showgirl, picture neon casino lights reimagined as camp-level glitz.Think 1989’s pop spectacle with Baby, That’s Show Business style.
1970-80s:
High Drama Grit Glam Showgirl
The 1970s shifted the archetype from chorus to household name. Women were more empowered and embodied the seductress energy. Liza Minnelli in Cabaret, Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra, and Cher’s Bob Mackie gowns embodied glam, grit, and a show-stopping presence (Plus Elizabeth Taylor is one of the titles on the new album). This was the time when Fosse’s choreography ruled Broadway stages through his angular, sharp and seductive movements, making performances feel dark and deliciously magnetic.
Expect smoky cabaret stages, spotlight drama, and sleek costuming that frames her not as one of many, but as the Frightening showgirl with personal stories that defines the era.
Early 2000s:
Y2K Pop Princess Showgirl
This showgirl lived on MTV, in tabloids, and on award-show red carpets. From Britney Spears’ Circus, to Christina Aguilera in Burlesque, to Destiny’s Child’s choreography— women were packaged as hyper-glossy, hyper-feminine, and hyper-sexualised products. This aesthetic is drenched in body glitter, neon lights, and metallics.
Music-wise? Anthem-of-the-era hits that are ridiculously earworm-y— which is exactly what it’s looking like Swift will serve us by teaming up with Max Martin and Shellback again.
Taylor Swift has lived through the tabloid machine and reemerged on her own terms. In Life of a Show Girl, Y2K aesthetics are already surfacing with her It’s Beautiful album cover variant. It’s nostalgia sharpened with agency, not exploitation.
The Takeaway: Why Art History Matters
Across these eras, the showgirl embodies both the outward spectacle and the inner truth and sacrifice. And if you’re a designer, these takeaways of understanding art history isn’t just academic trivia, but a design superpower.
An example of using this on branding projects is coming up with concepts for Dental Hygiene Nation’s subscription boxes, and specifically their Château Dentaire box. We drew inspiration from Christian Dior’s iconic toile de Jouy pattern. Having this knowledge on art history allows you the designer to grab from a wide breadth of inspiration and gives you valuable cultural context for understanding current design trends.
So as Swift turns the spotlight on the showgirl, we turn the spotlight on art history. And when you know where visual language comes from, you can predict where it’s headed next.
Want to learn more about design? Tune every Tuesday to the Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast everywhere you listen to podcasts and on Youtube!
Want your brand to channel showgirl energy? Reach out via our contact form to book your project!
Spring Branding Vibes: 5 Brag-worthy Brands that Bloomed 🌷
Spring. The season of soft launches, floral fonts, and fresh starts. At MKW Creative Co., we’re all about bold brands— and spring aesthetics prove that softness can still make a statement. Think pastel palettes and design that feels like a deep inhale of lavender-scented air.
So whether it’s bringing a product to life through bold packaging or reviving a brand with story-driven visuals, we’ve had the honor of helping some incredible businesses bloom.
We're spotlighting five of our favorite spring-feeling projects that embody the season’s energy: optimistic, refreshing, and buzzing.
Spring. The season of soft launches, floral fonts, and fresh starts. At MKW Creative Co., we’re all about bold brands— and spring aesthetics prove that softness can still make a statement. Think pastel palettes and design that feels like a deep inhale of lavender-scented air.
So whether it’s bringing a product to life through bold packaging or reviving a brand with story-driven visuals, we’ve had the honor of helping some incredible businesses bloom.
We're spotlighting five of our favorite spring-feeling projects that embody the season’s energy: optimistic, refreshing, and buzzing.
🌸 Dental Hygiene Nation – Garden Party Subscription Box
Vibe: Floral, fun, clinically fresh
Nothing says spring like a routine reset. This is what inspired the design behind Dental Hygiene Nation’s Dental Garden Party Collection. Every quarter we team up with Dental Hygiene Nation to design their subscription boxes (including fan-favorites like Pearly Whites Ranch and Chateau Dentaire), and for Spring 2025, our team brought the life of the (garden) party. From merch sourcing to design, we created a box design that quickly became an all-time favorite.
As founder Caitlyn Cochran put it in the Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast ep. 057 Client Case Study: Dental Hygiene Nation, their subscription boxes are designed to feel like “a story time moment”—and this one is giving a sunny day at the office seeing your favorite clients and sipping on a slightly sweetened iced matcha.
📦 Peek inside the box → Dental Hygiene Nation Spring Box 2025
P.S. Did you know that we designed all of Dental Hygiene Nation’s branding back in 2021? Check out their full service brand design project.
“I love working with MKW Creative Co.! They are very organized and excited about new ideas and on trend campaigns. They are truly an asset to my business and so thankful to have found them!”
🍋 Avenue 8 Cocktails – Branding & Packaging
Vibe: Unmatched, sparkling joy, effortlessly elevated
Born out of a frustration with the male-dominated ready-to-drink cocktail space, Avenue 8 is Tiffany Jones’ bold antidote to tasteless, poor quality canned cocktails. With a background in residential interiors, Tiffany brought her discerning design eye to the table, and together we created a brand identity and award-winning packaging that earned us a Silver Medal in Packaging Design through the American Craft Spirits Association. We can confidently say that this looks (and tastes) like nothing else on the shelf.
By balancing the sophisticated logo with a juicy, punchy color palette, we designed a brand identity that is both inviting and elevated.
🎧 Listen to Tiffany’s founder story → Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 208: Client Case Study: Avenue 8 Cocktails
🍸 Explore the brand →Avenue 8
“Michelle and her team created a brand I could have never dreamed of! I did not know what the vision should be creatively and they patiently worked with me to evolve all the ideas into the perfect execution. I would give the entire team the highest accolades and recommend them to anyone looking to build a beautiful brand.”
🎾 Lily Par San Diego – Merch, Branding & Social
Vibe: Sporty-chic, coastal, blooming with preppy polish
Founder Kendall Kinsman created the boutique she wished existed when she re-entered the golf world in her 20s. Together, we crafted a brand that’s as chic as your favorite courtside 'fit with logo, merch, and social content that play off nostalgic prep with modern California cool. Think whiskey sours, pleated skorts, and the satisfaction of a well-played match point.
🎾 Listen to Kendall’s story → Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 183: Client Case Study: Lily Par
🌼 Follow on IG → @lilyparsd
“Michelle and the entire MKW Creative team are a dream to work with. Not only did they bring my brand to life, they also take an extensive amount of time explaining the importance and process of branding. I engaged MKW Creative because I was struggling to capture my vision. Michelle’s creativity and expertise elevated my brand beyond my imagination. The team is incredibly thoughtful and I highly recommend their branding services.”
🌼 Bloom RDH – Branding, Merch & Website
Vibe: Soft, empowering, made-for-community
Helping hygienists bloom into confident professionals? Say no more. Founder Kim Augustus planted her brand around empowering new dental grads through mentorship and education. We developed a visual identity that mixes softness and strength: a balance of bubbly optimism and rooted expertise. The result? A brand that feels warm, encouraging, and ready to blossom with her audience.
🎧 Hear Kim’s full journey → Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 193: Client Case Study: Bloom RDH
💻 Check out Bloom RDH → bloomrdh.com
“I can’t say enough about the amazing team at MKW Creative Co.! I knew I needed a stronger brand to represent my business, but I wasn’t quite sure what that looked like or had the time to dive into it. After seeing Michelle’s previous designs, I knew I wanted to work with her—and I’m so glad I did!
She took my vague ideas and transformed them into something fun and exactly what I envisioned. Not only did she update my branding, but she’s also handling everything that goes along with it! The entire process has been seamless, and the final results have exceeded my expectations!!
If you’re looking for a creative partner who truly understands your vision, look no further than MKW Creative Co. Highly recommend!”
🧺 Peach Grove House – Branding & Social
Vibe: Upstate New York meets modern charm, slow-living chic
Peach Grove House is a boutique luxury vacation rental and events venue for the modern traveler seeking charm, character, and a little countryside magic. Nestled in a lovingly restored 1800s Greek Revival estate in Upstate New York, this elegant vacation getaway blends historic charm with refined comfort.
We created a brand identity with elevated seasonal softness to complement the property's unique personality. From social templates to signage and branded merch, the visuals are inspired by fruit stands and, of course, peaches. Whether you're planning a private celebration or just scrolling their dreamy feed, Peach Grove House offers a slice of timeless tranquility—perfect for weddings, retreats, and slow sunny Sunday mornings.
🎧Learn all about Peach Grove House → Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 101 Hemsley Ventures with Ashley Brinton
🍑 Visit them online → peachgrovehouse.co
🌿 Follow on IG → @peachgrovehouse
“We love working with Michelle. She is so amazing and beyond talented. We love how easy it is to work with her and her team and we also love how she gets exactly what we want and makes our vision come to life! We have used her for three projects now and we can’t wait to use her for many more to come!”
Spring has sprung 💐
From delicate pastel palettes to community-rooted storytelling, these brands channel the spirit of spring. A season of renewal, rebirth, and the kind of thoughtful design that feels equal parts intentional and inviting.
When your brand embraces a spring aesthetic, you communicate a fresh perspective and optimism. A delicate power that welcomes people in and makes them feel like anything is possible.
Ready for a brag-worthy brand rebirth? Let’s work together!