Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
When Kelsey Randall launched her namesake fashion brand in 2015, dressing Taylor Swift was at the very top of her wish list.
Now, a decade later, her dream’s come true, with the designer’s crystal-covered creations featured throughout Swift’s new “The Life of a Showgirl” album artwork and in the music video for the record’s lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia.”
“I design for people who are looking to be center stage — whether it’s a bride on her wedding day or a pop star,” Randall tells Page Six Style.
“Most of the work I do is custom, which is really fun and exciting because you get the opportunity to tailor it to the person and what kind of message they’re trying to convey.”
Even more challenging? The particular look Swift’s team wanted wasn’t available.
“It was a dress that had been stolen on a photo shoot,” Randall recalls, adding that she was “disappointed” but “had this weird faith that something was going to work out.”
Guess it was kismet; a few weeks later, Randall learned Swift’s team had stumbled across one of her custom, never-before-worn pieces in a costume archive.
“It was a very, very similar style to what they had originally wanted,” she says. “I had no idea what they were working on, but I was convinced we were getting the ‘Reputation’ vault tracks, because the dress is gold and has green stones on it and almost has this snakeskin effect.”
Studded with peridot stones and clear rhinestones and trimmed with “real chandelier crystals” at the hem, the mesmerizing mini wound up in one of the most striking (and sensual) snaps from Swift’s “Showgirl” album shoot, lensed by renowned fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
But that wasn’t all; several months later, Swift’s stylist asked the designer if she’d be able to make a second dress.
“I knew I wanted there to be a through line between the two dresses. We both got really excited about this chainmail fringe — they way it moves and sparkles,” she says.
“And we obsessed over the colorways; there was a lot of sending each other rhinestones overnight. We looked at dozens of different options in very similar tones to make the perfect combo.”
Fittingly, the winning color palette was inspired by the most memorable outfit from Swift’s Eras Tour.
“It’s all iridescent — primarily in shades of pink and purple but with undertones of peach, white and gold,” Randall says. “I loved that colorway right off the bat; it’s so dreamy. Having heard the album now, I’d say it’s very ‘Opalite!’ But it specifically reminded me of the Versace bodysuit from the Eras Tour, which is so symbolic and iconic.”
Source : https://pagesix.com/2025/10/04/style/taylor-swift-showgirl-dress-the-fate-of-ophelia-music-video
