Editor’s Note: Carly McCurry of The Cute North Georgian Magazine shares her views with our Now Habersham readers.
In elementary school, I committed an unforgivable crime. A social faux-pas of the highest order. I wore a dress. Worse, a pink dress. I recall standing in line for lunch when Taylor, or Tay-Tay, as she was known, approached me with a tap on the shoulder. She informed me in no uncertain terms that a fashion felony had taken place. With the gravity of a judge passing sentence, she stated, “Well, aren’t you brave wearing a dress in the fifth grade.” I had been condemned by a jury of my peers and would summarily face execution. In 2005, the closest thing to a dress in a tweens fashion repertoire was an Abercrombie and Fitch jean mini skirt, usually worn over capris-length leggings.
Yet, in the past two years not only have dresses been destigmatized, but celebrated. Thus paving the way for demure fashion aesthetics, marking a forceful return to glamor a la Sabrina Carpenter. This can be attributed to various cultural influences, including the release of the 2023 Barbie movie, trad-wife influencers like Hannah Neeleman, and Taylor Swift’s Era’s tour, all celebrating themes of femininity, nostalgia, and glitter. Glitter everywhere.
Let’s explore the resurgence of the glamorous celebrity and how it empowers the rest of us to embrace our most feminine lives in 2025.
The resurgence of the glamorous
Sabrina Carpenter
Cinched waist, full bosom, and cascading curls of soft blonde hair—one might assume Sabrina Carpenter courts the male gaze, but I believe she captivates the female gaze instead. Yes, she dances in, if we’re being perfectly honest, attractive lingerie. However, the soft pastels and delicate, refined design evoke the elegance of an upscale, intimate commercial crafted for a female audience.
And when was the last time we saw a pop star radiate such ripe, succulent femininity? She doesn’t exude pure sex appeal like Cardi B or deliver the subtle winks of Taylor Swift. Instead, she embodies every woman’s sixties daydream—the perfect balance of sensuality and softness, a vision of the femininity we long to reclaim.
How to Get the Look
So, how can we in North Georgia claim Sabrina Carpenter’s sugar-spun sensuality for our own? Heatless curlers, baby! I absolutely love my heatless curlers. My hair is never so bouncy or lustrous as when I take a few minutes in the evening to wrap my hair in my favorite beauty tool.
Sabrina is more than the hair but manifests as the dewy young woman, described in her hit song Espresso, “Soft skin, and I perfumed it for ya.” According to Glamor magazine, Carpenter follows an extensive skincare routine that includes cleanser, toner, serum, SPF, moisturizer, lip balms, and fragrance. Quite the regimen, but honestly, I relish those quiet moments in front of the mirror, my spa sponge headband pushing my hair back as I indulge in my own ritual. While I don’t possess Sabrina Carpenter’s positively luminous complexion, I have noticed a newfound glow since incorporating these steps a few weeks ago.
It turns out that an hourglass figure, blonde curls, and glowing skin aren’t just beautiful on Marilyn Monroe.
Hannah Neeleman
If Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way, then Hannah Neeleman is positively perfect every day. The ultimate trad-wife, she makes Little House on the Prairie look effortlessly chic. No, she isn’t immodest—she’s a committed Mormon whose primary residence is a Utah ranch. Yet this beauty queen, entrepreneur, homesteader, and Instagram influencer embodies the essence of trad-wife culture, even if she gracefully sidesteps the title. She prefers her Mrs. America crown to the title of “Queen of the Trad-Wives.” She reminds me of a French manicure—polished, elegant, and simple. In a word, perfect.
Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm exudes an effortless beauty that makes one believe she truly woke up that way. Her serene glow, perfectly tousled hair, and rosy complexion suggest a life untouched by chaos, as if mornings on the farm consist solely of fresh bread baking and golden-hour light streaming through vintage lace curtains. Every image she shares feels impossibly curated yet undeniably authentic—one can’t help but believe she effortlessly snapped a photo of herself pulling muffins from her $30,000 dollar AGA stove, the picture of pastoral perfection. Her aesthetic is both aspirational and grounded, a modern embodiment of grace wrapped in a perfectly pressed apron.
How to Get the Look
To achieve a look that suggests birds and deer would gather at the sound of your melodic voice, start with her princess-like hair. Her blonde locks are often restrained in braids, buns, headbands, or hair scarves, but when let down, it flows, artfully tousled. Her wardrobe mirrors her lifestyle—simple yet sophisticated, favoring flowing linen dresses, structured aprons, and well-worn riding boots that hint at a life spent balancing both femininity and real-world (almost) ranch living.
Taylor Swift
A wink, not a leer, toward sensuality—Taylor Swift has brought sparkles back to the forefront of American fashion. Don’t believe me? Ask any boutique owner in North Georgia, and they’ll tell you that since her Eras tour, glitter, glamour, and hot pink have made a dazzling comeback. I visited a local Habersham boutique last year and spoke with the owner about the surge of customers flooding in to prepare for the Eras tour and the steady stream of clients seeking Taylor-inspired glitz; she confirmed numerous mother-daughter duos and clusters of friends shopping as if for prom to prepare for the concert. The same trend was evident at The Rustic Rebel in downtown Clarkesville, where one can peruse the latest fashions that still evoke the style of the Era’s tour. A typical outfit for a Taylor Swift concert often starts with a shimmer—sequined dress, rhinestone boots, and stacks of friendship bracelets.
The difference between Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift is subtle but significant. Swift, a quintessential Millennial, stands at 5’10” and towers over Carpenter both in industry experience and stature. She commands the stage with a guitar in hand, seamlessly blending storytelling, vocal artistry, and precise choreography. Conversely, Carpenter embraces a more theatrical performance style—reminiscent of a Victoria’s Secret show, where appearance takes center stage.
This isn’t a critique of Carpenter; many view the return of unapologetic femininity and sensuality in fashion as a welcome shift. The resurgence of a genuinely glamorous aesthetic signals a renewed cultural appreciation for beauty. However, embodying Taylor Swift is less about sex appeal and more about confidence. Even in revealing outfits, Swift’s wardrobe choices are extensions of her music, enhancing the narrative she weaves rather than serving as a tool for attention. The gaze follows her not for what she wears but for the stories she tells.
How to Get the Look
Let’s start with the hair—it’s all in the bangs. Taylor Swift has single-handedly revived the hipster bangs of the 2010s, proving that soft, face-framing fringe never truly goes out of style. Whether slightly tousled or perfectly blown out, her bangs add an effortless, vintage touch to her overall aesthetic.
Beyond the bangs, she’s a master of the glossy wave—a golden-brown cascade that looks like molten honey under stage lights. Her hair always maintains an enviable, healthy sheen, whether styled in a chic shoulder-length cut or flowing past her shoulders.
Achieve this look with a round brush and a blow dryer for volume. For waves, use a curling iron, wrapping hair away from the face, then smooth Hair Oil for a luminous finish. Complete with a maintained with a trusted shampoo. Taylor’s effortlessly feminine, high-shine style is easily within reach with the right tools and products.
Her wardrobe ranges from dazzling bodysuits and sky-high heels to flowing, ethereal pastel ball gowns, effortlessly balancing Bridgette Bardot with Natalie Wood. My advice, rather than trying to capture all of Taylor at once, study one of her aesthetics and make it your own, Instagram and Pinterest are there to help.
Conclusion
For years, femininity in fashion teetered between rebellion and rejection, but today, it has made a bold and unapologetic return. Sparkles, curls, ballgowns, and beauty are no longer guilty pleasures but celebrated expressions of personal style. Whether through Sabrina Carpenter’s sultry yet soft allure, Hannah Neeleman’s pastoral perfection, or Taylor Swift’s dazzling reinvention of glitter and romance, women are reclaiming what it means to be glamorous.
This resurgence isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about permission. Permission to embrace beauty, to enjoy the elegance of a perfectly curled bang, to wear a dress without apology, and to live femininely in a world that once dismissed it as frivolous. From North Georgia boutiques brimming with Eras-inspired shimmer to homestead kitchens where aprons and artistry blend seamlessly, the new era of glamour invites us all to enter the light. And I, for one, am ready to shine.
