Before the Friday release of the 12th Studio album of Taylor Swift, “The Life of A Showgirl”, the singer teased her by sharing the imagery of her dressing of jewelry, feathers and an imposing hairstyle. It was the kind of transformation that fans expected Ms. Swift, whose eras as a musical artist are associated with a distinct aesthetic.
Its turn to rhinestones and glitter borrows the dress codes of a kind of performance which emerged in the European cabarets of the 19th century and exploded in Las Vegas in the 1950s. To execute this turn, Ms. Swift borrowed a whole designed by a man who has dressed showgirls (and the rare showman) at the generation of the Z generation: Bob Mackie.
“I always consider her as a little fairy tale princess,” said Mackie, 85, in an interview, referring to Ms. Swift. “This young girl. But he is an adult now. “
Photos of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott by Mme Swift, 35, carrying a design silver by M. Mackie, appear on the covers of three of the eight versions of the album “The Life of a Showgirl” (in particular, on two vinyl records and a CD).
This set was originally designed for “Jubilee!”, The Sompmp Revue in Las Vegas from 1981 to 2016 which became the oldest production in the city. It had more than 1,000 costumes that Mr. Mackie made in collaboration with designer Pete Menefee for the show.
The precious costumes and the feathers were carried out in France, said Mackie, adding that the end of all the looks took more than a year. The vast wardrobe of the show would have caused a shortage of Swarovski crystal because so many stones were necessary.
“When they had each showgirl on stage in the final, you cannot believe your eyes,” said Mackie. “It was so wild.”
Mr. Mackie generally makes fittings with stars that carry his creations. He does not have the pieces he made for “Jubilee!” And did not get the costume to Mrs. Swift. (A spokesperson for Ms. Swift did not immediately answer the questions sent by e-mail on how she obtained the costume.) She was carrying it on certain album covers of “The Life of A Showgirl” was a surprise for him.
“Well, it was rather fun to see,” said Mackie, who shared an article on Mrs. Swift bearing the look on Instagram shortly after teasing his album imagery.
Master Costumeur has become synonymous with spectacle during the six decades since he dressed his first star, actress and singer Mitzi Gaynor. Those who followed include dear, Tina Turner, Carol Burnett, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Madonna, Beyoncé, Pink and Elton John.
Ms. Swift and superstars like Zendaya, Miley Cyrus and Sabrina Carpenter, who attended an after-party MTV Video Music Awards last month in a brilliant and fringed confection of Bob Mackie, helped him and her creations to a new audience.
“They all want to look like this showgirl,” said Mackie.
For what?
“It shocked me because it was a bit, like an old-fashioned thing that had his day,” he said. “But now all of a sudden, stylists and stars are just a little fascinated by these outfits, and they love to enter it, and it’s like a whole different world for them.”
