IT'S A VERSAYCE! -The Delightful Tackiness Of The Aesthetics In Showgirls
Showgirls: A moral clusterfuck of a film about maiming one's path to success in the span of a few months. Showgirls is problematic for many reasons (an entirely separate essay) and has been historically ridiculed by critics and movie-goers alike. It's a movie where everyone's an asshole, and bad behavior is rewarded in spades (VEGAS CASINO GAMBLING PUN INTENDED), and it just so happens to be one of my favorites. Not only is the film comically bad, it was also comically expensive. With a budget of $45 million, the production team spared no expense when it came to visuals. If there's one thing this movie got right, it's the stereotypical depictions of ostentatious Las Vegas pageantry. The sets and costumes exude a bright, shiny, tacky VA-VA-VOOM, making for a true delight for the eyes. Like many films with a strong-willed, adventurous protagonist, our journey begins with a leather jacket.
Nomi Malone, our indentured heroine, stands hitchhiking beside a dusty highway. Her aforementioned jacket (with fringe and concho studding) over a floral shirt (buttoned all the way down) paired with acid-wash mom jeans, black cowboy boots, a vintage suitcase, and, of course, a switchblade pay homage to the classic drifter.
She's a diamond in the rough, determined to make it as a dancer at any cost. However, due to her own insufferable behavior, Vegas does not welcome Nomi with open arms. And then, all of a sudden, it does. The same night Nomi loses everything to (surprise!) gambling, she meets Molly, a costume designer with a superhuman ability to tolerate her bullshit. Molly just so happens to design the costumes for Goddess, a MAJOR show playing at the Stardust Hotel. For no reason rooted in logic, Molly is intrigued by Nomi and offers her a room in her adorable trailer. How convenient for Nomi! She's been in Las Vegas for barely two seconds, and she's already found housing, a friend, and connections to her dream job. Lashing out at everyone she comes in contact with is already working in her favor! Six weeks pass and the two become bosom buddies for reasons that will always remain unclear, given that Nomi is unapologetically selfish in all areas of her life. The film does make a point of letting the audience know that Nomi is really good at doing nails. So it’s okay because even though Nomi exhibits all the traits of a toxic friend, Molly can get a perfect manicure at any time!
One night before a shift at The Cheetah, Molly convinces Nomi to "wear that dress I made last week" so she can accompany her backstage at a showing of Goddess.
BY GEORGE SHE'S GOT IT!
The color! The cut! The layers of fringe! The disco ball earrings! Not at one point does Nomi realize how lucky she is to have a friend who can sew. It's the perfect coming-out dress for a budding showgirl and a night of sexy-dance-fighting at the club, hence this last photo where she's stomping out of jail. But I digress. Before getting locked up after starting a fight on the dance floor, Nomi meets Cristal Connors, THE GODDESS! THE STAH OF THE GAWD DAMNED SHOW!
"I think it's the best show I've ever been in, I just hope I can do it justice."
When we first meet the iridescent Cristal, she’s not wearing much other than a thong and eyelashes big enough to hit you in the face before you can even say 'Hi.' Cristal crystallizes (yeah, that’s right) her show-stopping status in the next shot, where we catch her in her aprés show robe. The glamour here is so overwhelming; I swear I saw some glitter shoot out of my TV. The feathers! The tinsel highlights! The eyeliner matching the highlights! SO. MUCH. GLAMOUR. It's overstimulating. How many pounds of sequins were used in this movie? As if things couldn't get even more extra, we take a peek into Cristal's dressing room.
The shot where she takes her makeup off makes me want to take a bath in Ponds Cold Cream. When it comes to the film's makeup, more is more. Everyone get your eyeliner and lipliner! Countour! Sculpt! There's no such thing as natural beauty in Las Vegas.
Molly and her trademark accessories, measuring tape, and granny glasses on a chain, helping Cristal adjust. Not a hair out of place on this gal and goood looord those eyebrows! She makes me want to pick up a tweezer again.
Everyone's face in this movie is a painting. There's a reason why they're called makeup artists. You're drawing a new face on someone's current face. That's called art.
Arguably the most iconic fashion moment in the film takes place when Nomi and Molly visit the Forum.
Nomi's off-stage look always involves a pushup bra, a crop top, and denim cutoffs. Molly's style is artsier and understatedly sexy, playing with bright colors and accessories. Of all the characters, her style is probably the most fashion-forward. I mean, a cardigan paired with a crop top? She knows how to mix it up.
Okay, the storied Versayce scene. My favorite part of the entire movie. While at The Forum, Nomi spots a dress in the window at Versace, and she needs it. To be fair, the dress is pretty spectacular. The tight shift fit with cutouts held together by buttons bearing the Medusa Motif is quintessential Versace. Molly offers to make her one just like it, but NO, DAMN IT! Nomi wants the real thing right now.
JUST LET HER MAKE IT FOR YOU! SHE'S A COSTUME DESIGNER! SHE CAN SEW ANYTHING! SAVE YOUR MONEY!
VERSACE VERSACE VERSACE VERSACE VERSACE VERSACE VERSAYCE VERSACÉ VERSACHE VERSAUCHI VERSAKI VERSUCHI
What? You didn't think she wasn't going to get her way? Of course, Nomi gets the dress and proudly wears it to her first day of work, telling everyone it's from "the Versayce at the Forum." No one bothers to correct her because other than Molly, everyone in this film is an asshole who cannot be trusted even with pronunciation.
Look at that oversize patchwork jacket. I bet it was the first piece of clothing she made.
If anyone's an artist in this film, it's Molly. After all, she is the one responsible for creating the lewks in the show.
What a gorgeous evil mermaid!
Art imitates life in this BDSM number. Throughout the entire film, Nomi and Cristal have a lust/hate relationship that turns into a full-blown obsession. Cristal wines and dines her and then calls her a whore. I think the real question here is, Aren't we all whores?
"You need more tears."
MORE VERSAYCE! The jacket anyway.
The whole number. I'd kill for a Versace mini skirt from the 90s but Nomi would kill me first.
Though she's not as flashy as Nomi or Cristal, Molly has the most creative style of anyone in the film.
Was American Apparel inspired by this movie?
She's never without her granny glasses in case there's a sequin or stitch that needs re-sewing. And even in the Las Vegas heat, she's not afraid to layer. Overalls over tie-dyed thermals. Vests over tie-dyed thermals. A moral conscience over Nomi's ego. Like Nomi, we need Molly more than she needs us, and if you know how the film ends, you know we don't deserve her.
In her farewell scene, Nomi leaves Vegas the way she came. Hitchhiking!
However, after plowing through people's lives and careers, Nomi departs with a little more glamour and confidence than when she came. Note the tiger print lamé button-down buttoned all the way down and Cristal's hat, which serves as some kind of love letter to Nomi. OH EM GEE! Cristal had feelings for her all along! To wrap things up nicely, Nomi rides off into the sunset with the same creep who dropped her off and stole her stuff. Finally, the two travelers tumultuously and violently make their way to Los Angeles, where there are bigger-budgeted productions she can demolish. I think I'm the only person ready for Showgirls 2.