Pop phenomenon Addison Rae may be singing about wearing ripped blue jeans, but in the real world, she s wearing pieces of fashion history. Earlier this week, she was one of the first to wear Dario Vitale s much-anticipated and loved spring 2026 Versace collection—which had just been revealed on the runway two days before. Last night, she made her live television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in something very different, but equally exciting: A 70-year-old dress that had been custom-made for burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee.
“Gold and glitz felt right at Rockefeller Center,” says stylist and fashion editor Dara, who has been working with Rae for a little over a year. “It’s a place with such history and cultural weight, and these venues are getting more and more rare. When Addison and I work together, it’s always equal parts respect and irreverence. We love conjuring the glamour that’s come before, but she has to make the space hers.”
The dress was sourced from Los Angeles vintage shop The Way We Wore. “I bought the dress about 35 years ago from Doyle Auctions,” says the store s founder, Doris Raymond. Weighing in at 16 pounds, it s corseted top and bias-laid fringe is covered with gold sequins, rhinestones, and bugle beads. The piece stayed with Raymond, a sleeping beauty, until Dara reached out in search of a gold beaded dress for her client. “When Addison came out of the dressing room with it on, it felt like it was made for her.”
The fact that it made its silver screen debut on the eve of a major showgirl moment was truly just a coincidence. Both Dara and Raymond mentioned that the dress was purchased months ago, while Rae was looking for clothing to wear in the High Fashion music video. “It’s in the video for like two seconds,” Dara says. “We always knew we would use it again for something. It feels like an essential part of the fabric of her artistry. For her TV live performance debut, she pulled it out of storage, and it just felt completely right. It sparkles and moves in such a special way, and it just amplifies her effortless approach to glamour.”
And while she may have been wearing a piece of fashion history (in fact, the dress is part of a trio and Dita Von Teese owns one of its sisters), the singer and her stylist still wanted to make it feel like Rae. “We kept everything else quite raw and simple,” Dara says. “Undone hair and makeup. No jewelry. We had a bunch ready and took it all off. Gloves, furs, diamonds. All edited out. More modern, more Jane Birkin. Easy.” On her feet were custom Nou mules.
That gave Rae the space to shimmy, shake, and move in a way much like Lee was known for. Except that the modern star had strobe lights.
