Taylor Swift Releases New Countdown After Announcing ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

The countdown revealed that The Life of a Showgirl: The Shiny Bug collection will be available until Wednesday, August 20. “The Life of a Showgirl: The Shiny Bug Vinyl Collection is available now on my site for 48 hours❤️‍,” she captioned the Instagram post, which also featured a glimpse of the alternative album cover.

Days after announcing The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift is keeping fans fed with a new countdown.

The official website for Swift, 35, is promising news at 2:00 p.m. ET on Monday, August 18. While there are no other details, fans are searching for clues in the purple sparkly background and green font.

“Oh here we go again,” one fan wrote in the comments section of the official Taylor Nation X post on Monday, while another one added, “ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME AN HEART ATTACK LOL.” A third speculated, “Purple variant of the first drop.”

Swift broke the internet when she revealed on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast that her highly-anticipated 12th album would be released on October 3. In the “New Heights” episode, Swift brought out a brief case with her initials “TS” adorned on the front in orange font.

So I wanted to show you something,” Swift told Travis, 35, and brother Jason Kelce on the Wednesday, August 13, episode, before taking out the record from the mystery box. “This is my brand new album, The Life of a Showgirl.”

Swift explained that she collaborated with her “mentor” Max Martin and Shellback for the album, which was created during her record-breaking Eras Tour. (The duo previously worked with Swift for songs on her Red, 1989 and Reputation albums.)

“I would do three shows in a row, [and then] I’d have three days off,” Swift said. “I’d fly to Sweden, [then] go back to the tour. I was physically exhausted at this point in the tour, but I was so mentally stimulated and so excited to be creating.”

She continued, “It meant the world to me to have this creative experience, where we knew that we had to bring the best ideas we’ve ever said. I also know the pressure I’m putting on this record by saying that, but I don’t care ’cause I love it that much, and I’m so proud of it. It just comes from the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in my life. So, that effervescence has come through on this record.”

Swift explained that the lyricism in her Folklore and Evermore albums will still be present. Travis, for his part, called the album “all bangers.

Taylor Swift is no stranger to reinvention, dazzling fans yet again with her elaborate costume for the cover of her highly anticipated 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. Turns out, her look has an iconic backstory.

Legendary designer Bob Mackie spoke out about the eye-catching ensemble he created in a new Instagram post shared on Tuesday, August 19, revealing that it was originally put together for the “Jewel Finale” of the Las Vegas show, Jubilee.

“Produced by Don Arden; the show featured over 1,000 costumes based on Florenz Ziegfeld stage shows with elaborate couture costumes worn by the showgirls. It was the longest running showgirl spectacular in history and ran from 1981 to 2016,” he shared in his caption.

The costume worn by Swift is accessorized with a crown-like headpiece, luxurious feather accents and cascading beading chains, all contributing to the regal and extravagant vibe.

Mackie revealed that no detail was spared while creating the dramatic, rhinestone-encrusted look, which was designed to awe. “The bra, undergarments, and armbands are all French wirework and backed with a blush fabric for a nude illusion,” he wrote. “The bra and underwear have set stones and drops at the under-bust of the bra and the waistline of the underwear.”

Stylist and Sin City native Jose Rodrigo told Page Six that authentic showgirl ensembles can weigh anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds due to the heavy embellishments.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Hottest Showgirl Themed-Tour Outfits Ahead of Taylor Swift Collaboration

As Us Weekly previously reported, Swift sent fans into a frenzy when she revealed on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast that her upcoming album would be released on October 3.

As part of her appearance on the “New Heights” podcast, Swift also released the track list, revealing her collaboration with fellow pop star Sabrina Carpenter and other songs, including “Elizabeth Taylor,” “Ruin the Friendship,” “Opalite” and “The Fate of Ophelia” — just to name a few.

She later revealed an alternate cover for The Life of a Showgirl: The Shiny Bug Vinyl Collection, offering fans the limited-edition wintergreen and onyx marbled vinyl or the violet shimmer marbled vinyl options.

Taylor Swift Explains the Meaning Behind Her Sexiest Album Artwork Yet on ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

On Aug. 12, Taylor Swift announced her 12th original studio album, The Life of a Showgirl and a sparkly orange era on her website.

This news spread like a ray of golden sunshine, cutting through some bleak headlines for women. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lost its female leader because President Donald Trump did not like the published jobs numbers. And as TIME reported, this labor market data also revealed that women are leaving the labor market in droves.

The next day, on New Heights, Jason and Travis Kelce’s podcast, Taylor complimented Travis’ sweatshirt. “Thanks, sweetie, it’s the color of your eyes,” responded Travis, sending Swifties into a tailspin.

Finally, Swift revealed more details. Her album will be released on Oct. 3 and she shared its artwork and tracklist. The announcement is not just a reflection of modern American gender dynamics, but a masterclass in modern advertising.