The fashion cycle is a relentless, ever-spinning wheel, yet every few seasons, a truly unexpected trend emerges to capture the zeitgeist. This year’s trend seems to be the Showgirl.
Lagos makes a fair case to be added to the list of cities that never sleep. However, despite its marathon parties on weekends and holidays, the city maintains a moderate work-party ratio on weekdays. But all rationale and care for capitalism was thrown out on 4 September 2025, as people headed to the Fired and Iced restaurant to celebrate Beyoncé’s 44th birthday. It was Thursday, and although most people were coming from work, the party was full of energy and of cowboy hats.
The cowboy hat became an unintentional trend of 2024. The Grammy-winning singer, Beyoncé, made it a massive page of her branding as her latest album was the country project, “Cowboy Carter”. However, by the end of the year, everyone from Sabrina Carpenter to Lana Del Rey had dropped a country-esque song. This slow assimilation of “country” into mainstream pop culture led to the popularity of the cowboy aesthetic, or as social media has branded it, “cowboy core”.
From Beyoncé concerts to regular parties, the cowboy hats and boots became a staple in society. The fashion industry, never one to be behind, saw designers like Louis Vuitton, CHANEL and Diesel partake in the trend. The cowboy trend was a gradual takeover, as a year earlier, the Business of Fashion reported that, “Retailers in the US and UK introduced 240 per cent more new styles of cowboy boots and denim shirts than they did in the same period last year.”
We haven’t had a universal trend so coincidental that it felt suspicious in a while. Now, a year later, there seems to be a new aesthetic that everyone is trying their hands at: the Showgirl!
Tracing the roots of the Showgirl aesthetic
A showgirl is a female performer in a theatrical revue, often a dancer, who wears elaborate and sometimes revealing costumes. The term dates back to the 19th century, having been featured in Parisian music halls such as the Moulin Rouge. In the 20th century, it gained popularity in American productions like the Ziegfeld Follies and Las Vegas casino shows. However, outside the Burlesque and Las Vegas scene, the showgirl had disappeared from the public subconscious until recently.
Google Trends shows a 100% increase in interest in the topic of Showgirl in 2025, compared to the last 21 years. This is largely due to the recent release of Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” However, similar to the cowboy trend, while all fingers can easily be pointed towards Swift, there have been other coincidental appearances of the trend between 2024 and 2025.
The first being the Gia Coppola film, “The Last Showgirl”, which saw Pamela Anderson return to the big screen in a lead role since 1996. The movie officially hit the theatres in December 2024, but expanded in February 2025. This coincides with the increase in interest on Google Trends in February of this year.
The Showgirl aesthetic and how to spot it
Head-to-toe embellishments, such as sequins, rhinestones, and beading, define this aesthetic with an abundance of shimmer and light. The silhouette is deliberately bold and body-confident, incorporating corsetry or bustiers to sculpt the torso and high-cut leotards to lengthen the legs dramatically.
Accessories are essential and oversized, most notably the use of large, feathered plumes and elaborate headpieces that add height and spectacle, complemented by fringe, long gloves, and dramatic, heavy makeup.
Some celebrities have also embraced the showgirl trend lately, and here are a few:
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus’s recent fashion evolution, particularly surrounding her visual album, “Something Beautiful” (released in May 2025), provided an early, high-fashion blueprint for the modern showgirl. Cyrus centred her visual aesthetic around archival Thierry Mugler couture, specifically from 1997, giving her “showgirl” a sophisticated, avant-garde edge.
Taylor Swift: the sequined, classic glamour showgirl
The subsequent visual rollout for Taylor Swift’s project, titled “The Life of a Showgirl” (released in October 2025), solidified the trend’s mainstream appeal. Swift’s style in this era is a direct embrace of maximalist, classic cabaret and Vegas legends, reinterpreted for a pop superstar.
Embellished mini-dresses, beaded two-piece outfits, and bespoke crystallised bodysuits define the aesthetic. Her look is further characterised by the dramatic incorporation of feathers and fringe, including towering pink feather headpieces, plush feather boas, and elaborate fringed details.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
The clearest signal of the showgirl trend’s cultural saturation is its influence on the highly anticipated return of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2025. After a hiatus and rebrand, the show—long flirted with fantasy—now fully embraces a theatrical, showgirl-inspired theme.
The show featured musical performances with artists in pink corsets, knee-high stockings, and feathered pink wings — a literal translation of the showgirl aesthetic.
African brands reimagining the showgirl aesthetic
Here are a few brands that offer similar styles, enabling you to channel your inner showgirl!
Bibi Lawrence
Although often labelled as a bridal shop, Bibi Lawrence transcends the typical confines of wedding attire by venturing into custom pieces that cater to a variety of occasions outside the marriage institution. The brand is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, showcasing a remarkable skill in embellishment and draping techniques that elevate each garment to a work of art. The allure of Bibi Lawrence lies not only in the exquisite fabrics and cuts but also in the details that bring each creation to life, such as the dragonfly piece designed for Diana Eneje. A true showgirl is never complete without her jewels, and Bibi Lawrence understands the importance of accessorising.
Mairachamp
Now, who said “shimmery” can only be crystals? The showgirl aesthetic has seen several changes over the years, from its cabaret and flapper days in Paris to its rhinestoned Las Vegas dancers. With the world changing and acknowledging African fashion, it is only a matter of time before ‘Beading’ runs the world! Mairachamp‘s stunning beaded designs beautifully embrace the showgirl’s vibrant and striking accessories.
Stella Yedia
Did anyone say flapper? The 1920s and the 2020s share several similarities, including the popularity of book clubs and the emergence of flappers. Nigerian designer “Stella Yedia” brings a fresh perspective to the showgirl aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the 1920s flapper trend, a style created in response to the restrictive corsets of the 19th century. Stella Yedia introduces a free-spirited angle of the aesthetic.
Lafalaise DION
This Ivorian designer uses cowrie shells to create sultry and elegant pieces. Much like the showgirl aesthetic, which emphasises shimmer, intricate details, and bold silhouettes, Lafalaise DION‘s work adds a distinctive, beaded element that fits the aesthetic’s love of elaborate, eye-catching adornment. Her designs offer a fresh twist on traditional rhinestones and sequins, with a nod to African craftsmanship.
What the showgirl trend really represents
The rise and fall of trends may reflect our capitalistic impulses, but they also bring brightness and joy into our lives. The cowboy trend allows us to indulge in a Texan fantasy. On the other hand, the showgirl trend transports us even further back, to a time when women danced and swayed freely, unburdened by notions of propriety. Its carefree spirit is a reminder that, at its best, fashion isn’t just about rules or status — it’s about fun.
Read more: Come closer, fashion girls! Here’s how to accessorise like a Lagos babe on vacation
