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5 Best ‘Showgirl’-Inspired Chainmail Dresses to Shop
If you’ve spent any time on the internet (or out in public) this past weekend, you know everything there is to know by now about Taylor Swift‘s “Life of a Showgirl” album. Whichever way you might feel about it (and trust us, there are a lot of mixed opinions out there), one thing is for certain: Swift’s album-art fashion stole the show, and we specifically couldn’t stop thinking about her two chainmail dress looks — granting the singer glamorous showgirl looks that are still living in our heads rent-free.
Though the starlet said “I like ’em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal,” on her new track “CANCELLED!”, we like her cloaked in styles from the queer, Brooklyn-based designer Kelsey Randall, who crafted custom versions of her bestselling, made-to-order Celine Gemstone Chainmail Halter Dress and Crystalline Plexi Rhinestone Chainmail Dress for one of the world’s most high-profile clients. The designs, developed closely with Swift’s stylist Joseph Caseell, are nothing short of elegant, sensual, and striking in equal measure: benefitting from halter necklines, silver- and gold-tone chains, hemlines punctuated by crystals and rhinestone fringe, as well as gleaming chainmail disks as the main event.
Unfortunately, the exact handmade dresses worn by T.Swift in this instance are unattainable, but (much like you can grab her album vinyl on Amazon, add her lipstick-of-choice to cart, and snag some fan-made “Life of a Showgirl” merch while you’re at it) it’s still very possible to replicate Swift’s sultry showgirl aesthetic with the help of luxe chainmail dresses online.
‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Vinyl
Price upon publish date of this article: $32.99
According to WWD’s archivist Tonya Blazio-Licorish, the body-skimming chainmail dress was introduced by Spanish-born fashion designer Paco Rabanne in 1968. Rabanne perfectly anticipated the upcoming obsession with all things retro-futurism and inspired a wave of designers to release their own takes. Soon, celebrities jumped on this hardware-heavy bandwagon, with the likes of Farah Fawcett and, later, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, and Kim Kardashian choosing the dress style for head-turning red carpet appearances.
Considering the fact that, in an homage to the Y2K era, metallic finishes are all the rage right now across footwear, accessories, and fashions, it’s really no surprise that chainmail dresses are en vogue in 2025. As Swift so aptly proved, they make ideal style statements for performers but are also highly wearable for all occasions during which you want to look simply unforgettable.
Stumped on where exactly to shop dresses similar to the two thrust into the spotlight by the “Elizabeth Taylor” singer? Here are five styles worth the investment. (You’ll be able to wear them on Halloween if cosplaying Swift herself, yes, but also to every gala, cocktail reception, and celebration on your upcoming calendar.)
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Versace Metal Mesh Slip Mini Dress
Yes, there’s nothing cheap about this minidress selection from Versace, but it’s also an ideal way to mimic Taylor Swift’s recent obsession with chainmail while giving your bod a bit more coverage. The first thing that catches the eye here is uniform metal mesh, which sits close to the body and accentuates the collarbones via the dress’ cowl neck style. Look a bit closer, though, and you’ll spot the label’s iconic Medusa ’95 hardware dotting the shoulder straps: a true “stealth wealth” status symbol that you’d be remiss not to match with Versace jewelry. Worried about putting a premature end to all your showgirl dreams because of the metal’s scratchiness? Fear not, as the lining of the dress is actually made from a silk blend, guaranteeing softness during all of your evening whereabouts.
Price upon publish date of this article: $4,900
Edikted Backless Chainmail Minidress
Can’t spend a bit under $5,000 for a new, Swift-coded outfit? Look no further than this wallet-sparing alternative, which is no less visually alluring. Sold by the Gen Z–loved brand Edikted, the minidress not only boasts a cowl neck like the previous pick but also has a missing back — for moments that require a bit of promiscuity in the fashion department. The metallic chainmail mesh here will catch the light and make you all the more radiant in the process; as for that short hem, reserve it for special nights out with the girls… or “a best friend who [you] think is hot,” per Swift.
Price upon publish date of this article: $156.80
Giuseppe Di Morabito Chainmail Dress
Need a “Life of a Showgirl”–inspired piece that will nonetheless fit the dress code of a glitzy fundraiser at The Ritz? Here’s Giuseppe Di Morabito’s Chainmail Dress — a more modest but still-stunning number with a draped bodice, asymmetrical hem, and micro-rhinestone construction that mirrors the rhinestone fridge used by Kelsey Randall. In this way, the dress only looks like it’s swathed in chainmail, but, by swapping metals for gems, is actually made all the more chic. For that reason alone, grabbing it (even at full price) should be as easy of a decision as buying back your masters.
Price upon publish date of this article: $1,840
Rabanne Chainmail Mini Dress
Rabanne, as you’ve already learned, is the label (and designer) singlehandedly responsible for introducing the world to chainmail dresses, so you really can’t get more original and iconic than this. Though the Rabanne-pioneered chainmail gown has taken many shapes and forms throughout the label’s history — featuring embellishments as big as disks and as small as tiny metallic sequins — this particular piece has the advantages of a smooth underhand feel and a hue that, on its own, evokes pure luxury. What you’ll also be getting? A modern scoop neckline, a curve-blessing fit, slits at the hem for a more fluid range of motion as you dance the night away, and a 100-percent aluminum construction that will leave jersey-knit, denim, and wool dresses in the dust this fall. By shopping the dress, you’ll enter the circle of Rabanne’s devoted fans (which includes Sabrina Carpenter, Suki Waterhouse, Anne Hathaway, and many more A-listers).
Price upon publish date of this article: $3,690
8 Other Reasons Chainmail Mini Dress
Another party-ready yet budget-conscious chainmail dress option, this 8 Other Reasons bestseller is so popular, it’s only coming back in a week. The good news? You can pre-order it now for all the festivities in your near future. The element we’re most attracted to here is a glittering, detachable neck strap that moonlights as a necklace, granting the dress an Old Hollywood–esque look that Swift might recommend augmenting with some fishnet stockings and bright-red nails. Do as she did and tack on patent-leather pumps to the outfit (Swift’s pick was a crystal anklet–laden Jimmy Choo heel with a flattering, V-cut vamp and pointed toe).
Price upon publish date of this article: $276
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on celebrity style and how to emulate it.
