Fashion

LVMH Kicks Off Sixth Edition of Global Open-Doors Event

Fashion

Phoebe Philo Spring 2027: Easy Does It

Fashion

Samuel Gui Yang, Oude Waag Lead a Quieter Shanghai Fashion Week

Shop
Fashion

Can’t Stop Thinking About Taylor Swift’s Chainmail ‘Showgirl’ Dress? Here Are 5 Similar Styles to Wear Right Now

Make your next going-out look an ode to the new album (and the Y2K-era chainmail trend).

By Stacia Datskovska Plus Icon

Stacia Datskovska

Senior Commerce Writer for WWD

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

View All

October 6, 2025, 5:34pm

Add us as a Google Preferred Source

taylor swift wearing a chainmail dress while looking off to the side in her album art; two similar chainmail dresses in gold and silver over a white background

Courtesy Mert Alas, Marcus Piggott, Manufacturers

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.

5 Best ‘Showgirl’-Inspired Chainmail Dresses to Shop

View more +

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.

Fashion Features

From the Archive: 30 Glam-to-Kitsch Halloween Costume Ideas From the Runway

Celebrity News

Taylor Swift's Dior Dress Tells a Cinderella Story on the Academy Museum Gala 2026 Red Carpet

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

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

$32.99

Buy Now at amazon

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kelsey Randall (@kelsey.randall)

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.)

Sign up for WWD Shop’s newsletter to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.

Versace Metal Mesh Slip Mini Dress

$4,900

Buy Now at versace

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

$156.80

Buy Now at nordstrom

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

$1,840

Buy Now at farfetch

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

$3,690

Buy Now at net-a-porter

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

$276

pre-order Now at revolve

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

Why Trust WWD

Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.

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.

WWD Recommends

Most Popular

WWD

Get all the top news stories and alerts straight to your inbox.

Enter your Email

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Can’t Stop Thinking About Taylor Swift’s Chainmail ‘Showgirl’ Dress? Here Are 5 Similar Styles to Wear Right Now

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

5 Best ‘Showgirl’-Inspired Chainmail Dresses to Shop

‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Vinyl

Versace Metal Mesh Slip Mini Dress

Edikted Backless Chainmail Minidress

Giuseppe Di Morabito Chainmail Dress

Rabanne Chainmail Mini Dress

8 Other Reasons Chainmail Mini Dress

Related Articles

‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Vinyl

Versace Metal Mesh Slip Mini Dress

Edikted Backless Chainmail Minidress

Giuseppe Di Morabito Chainmail Dress

Rabanne Chainmail Mini Dress

8 Other Reasons Chainmail Mini Dress

Why Trust WWD

Meet the Author

Tags

WWD Recommends

Ferran Torres Talks World Cup and That Hat

Most Popular