When Taylor Swift announced her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, one thing immediately stood out to me: orange was going to be a key player. From the album cover colors to the song titles, the bold energy of orange practically begged me to translate it into a chair design.

But the question was: what would a Taylor Swift “showgirl” chair look like?

The answer came quickly—feathers and sequins.

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The Inspiration

As soon as I thought “showgirl,” I pictured dazzling orange feathers, sparkling sequins, and a touch of glitter. A vision of boldness and sparkle. I went on the hunt and found a fiery orange sequin fabric online. Then, scrolling through Etsy, I spotted an orange feather wrap and even a headdress. I took a chance and ordered them both, hoping they would be a good match.

    

While I waited for the mail to arrive, I searched my chair stash. It had to be the right shape—dramatic, feminine, and theatrical. The perfect candidate emerged: a Victorian chair with a carved rose crest, curved frame, and elegant presence. It already looked like it was waiting to step onstage.

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Painting the Frame

Although I knew orange pairs beautifully with seafoam blue, I didn’t want the contrast to be too stark. Instead, I reached for rose gold paint layered with a soft iridescent pink wash. This gave the frame a glow that was glamorous without overpowering the sequins.

For extra sparkle, I brushed a touch of glitter-tinted paint over the carved embellishments. It added just enough shimmer to catch the light like stage makeup under the spotlight.

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Trusting the Creative Process

Here’s the truth: when I start designing a chair like this, I don’t fully know where I’m headed. That might sound scary to some, but to me, it’s when I have the most fun.

I always begin with an idea—a spark of inspiration—but from there, it’s a matter of trusting the creative process. I give myself permission to take risks. If something doesn’t work, I change it. No pressure, just possibility.

On this chair, I didn’t know exactly how I would attach the feathers or how sequins would behave as double-welt cord trim. But I had faith that once I was in the flow, the answers would appear. And they did.

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Showgirl Details

As I stapled the sequin fabric to the bottom of the chair, the way it hung reminded me of a showgirl’s short skirt. I trimmed it evenly all around and decided to leave it—it was a little bit cheeky, a little bit theatrical, and a whole lot of fun.

The feather placement worked best on the back of the chair, creating a dramatic reveal when viewed from behind. And yes—you can actually sew double welt cord out of sequins. That discovery was a game-changer and gave the edges of the chair an extra layer of sparkle.

For a final wink to the album, I added a playful nod to the last track: fishnet hose on the front legs. After all, what’s a showgirl without fishnets?

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Listening, Then Creating

One important part of my process was waiting until I had listened to the entire album. I wanted to hear every track, feel the vibe, and soak in the energy before I put the finishing touches on this piece. That Friday afternoon, I worked while the songs played—and the chair came alive in the process.

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The Magic of Making

More than anything, this chair was about letting the magic show up. Creativity isn’t always about following a perfect plan. It’s about taking an idea, adding feathers and sequins, and allowing yourself to be surprised by what happens next.

For me, that’s the joy of creating a chair like this—one inspired by Taylor Swift, my previous TS Chairs (see them here), and the life of a showgirl. It’s bold, playful, and a little bit risky…just like stepping out on stage.

Psst… Want to design your own chair makeover?
Join me for the Ugly Chair Challenge, October 15–19! It’s a fun 5-day experience all about chair design where you’ll learn tips, tricks, and creative ideas to turn your “blah” chair into a showstopper. 🎉

👉 Click here to join the Ugly Chair Challenge