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Taylor Swift Style 2011-2018
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The Eras Tour | Fearless section | Version 5

Roberto Cavalli custom

My very first thought upon seeing this dress was, “Oh that’s very Roberto Cavalli.” Which makes all the sense in the world why Taylor would want to time a new Cavalli creation (by Creative Director Fausto Puglisi) in Milan - one of the fashion capitals of the world and home country to both Cavalli and Puglisi.

Roberto Cavalli is known for many of its signature house code prints, like those of big cats. We see that reference in other Fausto-created pieces for Taylor on the Eras Tour such as the cat head emblem on the tops of the 1989 2.0 sets.

On this new Fearless dress, we see another classic print come to life: Roberto Cavalli’s iconic ‘Ray of Gold’ print. ‘Ray Of Gold’ was first introduced by the designer in 2007 and revived and recreated by Puglisi for a limited capsule collection in 2024. The original inspiration source for Cavalli was the beautiful refraction of a sunbeam on the golden facade of an art deco lighter. To me, the fan-like visual calls to mind the windblown hair toss of the Fearless cover albums.

After recreating the 'Ray of Gold’ print, Roberto Cavalli CEO Sergio Azzolari told WWD that Fausto is “very respectful of Roberto, yet at the same time he succeeds in reinterpreting his style in a more contemporary way, without distorting the brand.”

There’s something refracting light meets lionfish meets Flintstones meets sand through an hourglass meets animal print about this look. Which is to say I think it looks fantastic and eye-catching. However, I personally find Versions 1 and 4 come closest to honouring the original aesthetic of the Fearless era. Your thoughts?

Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | 1989 section | Version 8

Roberto Cavalli custom
Christian Louboutin custom

While I’m sure this particular two piece was a cheeky Chiefs nod, particularly with certain special guests in the audience when this set debuted during Paris 4, this is indeed a yellow / orange set.

The designer Fausto Puglisi, creative director of Roberto Cavalli, said, “The ombré shading in tones of orange and yellow adds depth to the design.”

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | 1989 section | Version 7

Roberto Cavalli custom
Christian Louboutin custom

One of the signature elements of the Eras Tour costuming has been balancing visually referencing eras past, but refreshing them for the modern day. Her co-ordinating tops and skirts worn for the 1989 section are a great example. The previous quad of beaded ensembles (pink, gree[eeeee]n, orange, and blue) all featured colours and coordination that embodied the polish and shine of the original 1989 era but in a new, fitted skirt silhouette.

With the European leg of the tour, Taylor introduced a new series of 1989 costumes by Fausto Puglisi for Roberto Cavalli that are a shift from the original design concept.

From the ombre shading, the skater skirt fit, the incorporation of the Cavalli big cat emblem at the bust, and the two tone element. To me it all falls much closer to the original costuming of the 1989 Tour with bralettes and metallic skater skirts by Jessica Jones. Many of the new outfits debuted in Paris seem to have undergone what I call a ‘makeunder’ to more closely resemble their original, canonical tour ensembles and not the refreshed 'Taylor Versions’ we’ve seen thus far on the Eras Tour in 2023/24.

While Taylor also has the opportunity to mix/match these coloured sets to create endless new pairing possibilities, based on the sketches my thought is that these two-tone sets were created with the intention of being mismatched, right down to the coordinating Louboutins. And on that note, there is one very famous New Yorker known for mismatching her Louboutins which, if intentional, would be an apt 1989 era reference: the one and only Carrie Bradshaw.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | Acoustic section | Version 7

Roberto Cavalli custom

The Eras Tour | Acoustic section | Version 6

Roberto Cavalli custom

The Eras Tour | Acoustic section | Version 5

Roberto Cavalli custom

There’s a part of me playing between two potential reads on the new silhouette (and designer) of the surprise song dresses.

The first primarily is function in that not only do these dresses seem lighter in terms of fabric (the previous looked like a heavy plissé, this appears to be a more lightweight, flowy chiffon) which she might find more beneficial for summer. This dress style also does away with the cold shoulder element of the previous style. This, I have to imagine, is a result of Taylor contributing to the Errors Tour one too many times. For background, during the quick change from the 1989 Set to the Acoustic Set Taylor would have to don the Surprise Song dress in darkness … and she missed the arm hole a few times. Amusing to us but perhaps frustrating for her! This lightweight, sleeveless design tackles both those issues.

But there’s another part of me that’s possibly ‘reaching’ because these dresses sort of bear resemblance to the breezy, sundress styles that were signature to the Debut era when she most often performed just her and an acoustic guitar. As a debut stan, I’ve always begrudgingly accepted the acoustic set as a pseudo stand-in for her early day, unplugged roots.

That said, I actually really loved the nostalgia of the past designer she used here - Jessica Jones. It felt like an appropriately sentimental use of fashion costuming as Jessica was the primary costumer for the 1989 and reputation Tours.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | 1989 section | Version 5

Roberto Cavalli custom
Christian Louboutin custom

One of the signature elements of the Eras Tour costuming has been how it balances visually referencing eras past but refreshing them for the modern day. Her co-ordinating tops and skirts worn for the 1989 section are a great example. The previous quad of beaded ensembles (pink, gree[eeeee]n, orange, and blue) all featured colours and coordination that embodied the polish and shine of the original 1989 era but in a new, fitted skirt silhouette.

With Version 5 by Fausto Puglisi for Roberto Cavalli we see a lot of changes in tactic. From the ombre shading, the skater skirt fit, the incorporation of the Cavalli big cat emblem at the bust, and the two tone element. To me it all falls much closer to the original costuming of the 1989 Tour with bralettes and metallic skater skirts by Jessica Jones. Many of the new outfits debuted in Paris seem to have undergone what I call a ‘makeunder’ to more closely resemble their original, canonical tour ensembles and not the refreshed 'Taylor Versions’ we’ve seen thus far on the Eras Tour in 2023/24.

Unless this is Taylor’s cheeky attempt at an Alvin and the Chipmunks meme replication I’m a bit stumped on the decision to go cotton candy two tone across this entire outfit - mismatched Louboutins included. My only thought is there is one very famous New Yorker known for mismatching her Louboutins which would be an apt 1989 era reference if intentional: Carrie Bradshaw.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | 1989 section | Version 4

Roberto Cavalli custom
Christian Louboutin custom

Naturally I have my own personal favourite of Taylor’s 1989 co-ordinating sets (everyone say it with me now #iykyk) but this blue shade is so good on Taylor.

Photo by Kevin Winter/TAS23 via Getty Images

“I Can See You” music video | July 7, 2023

Roberto Cavalli ‘Beaded Fringe Dress’ - $6091.00 (no longer available)

Taylor bringing forth all the feels by wearing the exact same outfit (pulled from the archives) that she wore to open the Speak Now Tour all those years ago. And never one to let a single detail slip - she also threw in some “Long Live” arm lyrics for the extra sentimental of us (aka all of us).

Worn with: Everybody boots

Also worn: Speak Now Tour

The Eras Tour | Fearless Section | Version 3

Roberto Cavalli custom

On Night 2 at MetLife, Taylor introduced a new silver version of her Fearless Version 2 dress which she also wore to Night 3.

The Eras Tour | 1989 section | Version 3

Roberto Cavalli custom
Christian Louboutin custom

Not only do we all get to benefit from Taylor in orange, but it’s also incredibly charming she chose to debut this colour in Florida - a state known for the fruit.

Photo by Octavio Jones/TAS23 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | 1989 section | Version 2

Roberto Cavalli custom
Christian Louboutin custom

If you follow the TSSQ blog then you know I have an ongoing tag dedicated to me live reacting to Taylor in green. Needless to say that tag was popping off yesterday when Taylor swapped out her original pink co-ord set for the 1989 section of her setlist for this gree(eeeeeeeeeeee)n one. And matching booties, natch.

I don’t think I need to elaborate further that this set is my clear favourite between the two.

Doesn’t she just look like the happiest string bean in green?

The Eras Tour | Fearless Section | Version 2

Roberto Cavalli custom

This dress was incredibly fun in motion - the degradé here is thanks to thousands of hand-applied Swarovski crystals.

Worn with: Christian Louboutin boots

The Eras Tour | reputation Section

Roberto Cavalli custom

I audibly gasped when I first saw photos of this asymmetrical bodysuit. The red, black, and diamond beads are pure art but the way the snakes intertwine and cover her body like tendrils create beautiful movement across the entire garment. The way it only exposes half of her body also gives the visual of being enveloped and becoming one with the snake, while still exposing vulnerable parts of human flesh. To me, this speaks to the duality of reputation itself - an album that’s all about the interplay between perception and reality.

The one arm silhouette is also an artful and subtle nod to the original version of her opening bodysuit by Jessica Jones from the reputation Tour.

The Eras Tour | Fearless Section

Roberto Cavalli custom

This is Taylor Swift at her most classic for the stage - a fringed, sparkly dress and boots. It doesn’t get more staple than that.

And I may or may not be emotional thinking about the longstanding history Taylor has forging iconic tour looks with this designer. You may recall the iconic opening look of the Speak Now Tour - also a gold fringe dress - was RC. A journey through the eras, indeed.

Worn with: Christian Louboutin boots