India, Aug. 22 -- Goodbye cardigans, hello rhinestones! With last week's announcement of her upcoming album "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift has officially entered a bold new era - one where she is trading her minimalist girl-next-door persona for unapologetic maximalism that is steeped in sequins, feathers and rich cultural history. Ms. Swift unveiled multiple versions of the album cover, which feature the pop diva in embellished, rhinestone-ed ensembles complete with sleek fishnets, abundant jewels and headdresses crowning a black bob - reminiscent of the classic showgirl aesthetic of the 1920s designed to overwhelm the senses with spectacle, excess and show-stopping glamour.

Central to the jaw-dropping visuals is Taylor Swift's ...