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Taylor Swift Style 2011-2018
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MY FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

We’ve been married one summer now, honey, but I want ‘em all.

Here’s to going where you go.
To cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day.
To never going out of style.
To saying “I do” to our love story.

Happy anniversary lover and Lover (2019).

For Sarah Chapelle, a B.C.-based blogger and author, the amount of criticism Swift has received is proof that the singer is a true force of fashion regardless of what she wears. “Taylor is a style icon because she refuses to be a style icon,” Chapelle says. Much of Chapelle’s forthcoming book, Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras, is devoted to this perspective. With sections titled Modern Grandma Chic, The Power of Pastels and Bringing CottageCore to the Masses, the book, out in October, links Swift’s clothing choices to lyrics, personal triumphs, professional hurdles and her lifelong fixation with cats.

It also chronicles Swift’s repeat accessories (Dolce & Gabbana handbags), her high-low proclivities and many vintage moments. After dedicating more than a decade to researching more than 7,000 of Swift’s outfits via her blog, taylorswiftstyle.com, Chapelle has deduced that Swift’s strategy in dressing is directly linked to her vast reach.

“She’s trend agnostic so that makes her so relatable to so many generations,” Chapelle says. “Taylor stays away from being too loyal to the same brand for a long time. She isn’t the face of an international fashion house, and she refuses to play the celebrity game in the way it’s been done before. I think that mystifies people.”

To gain a deeper understanding of both Swift’s fashion sense and how she positions herself within the broader style discourse, I spoke with the only woman who may know Taylor’s style better than Taylor herself: Sarah Chapelle, the creator and operator of @TaylorSwiftStyled and author of Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras, which hits shelves this October. Tl;dr she’s the one who found all the Tortured Poets Department clothing Easter eggs.

“Taylor Swift Style is the definitive Swift style Bible,” Chapelle tells me. “It tells the fashion story behind every single Taylor Swift album and her musical and sartorial evolution, and it’s based on my own content archives and extensive research, accompanied by over 200 photographs of Taylor’s most fashionable moments.”

Like Swift herself, Chapelle is thorough and eagle-eyed…some might say a fanatic. She writes long, thorough captions to help followers interpret Swift’s clothes and patiently answers questions about all things Taylor from an educated, not a stan-crazy perspective. Most helpfully, she finds affordable dupes for many of Swift’s items. Have I purchased boots worn by Taylor and identified by Sarah? No. But I asked for them for my birthday.

This TSS Patreon post is free but please consider subscribing to support the editorial efforts that go into making posts like this.

This post will be a dive into the first ‘half’ of the Tortured Poets album inclusive of a track by track of the album’s first sixteen songs. The remaining fifteen will be published in a paid-only Part II.

If there is one line from my book that I return to often it is: Taylor Swift is nothing if not an artist deeply committed to subverting expectations. 

Outside a hub of hardcore ‘Swiftie Scholars’ this sentiment is a hard sell for most to believe.

BY SARAH CHAPELLE

Taylor’s fashion is the oft-neglected half of what makes her artistry so compelling. I have always believed that her music is only half the story - it’s the part that we hear - and the style story is the part we see. And that story is no less vivid and abundant with connotations to interpret. I believe this so ardently I wrote a book dedicated to defining the way her fashion and her music has told the dovetailed narrative of her artistry.

On April 19 we were finally able to match up the sound to the style stepping stones she’s been laying for the past year. And what a treat it was to be able to write about it for Marie Claire!

Many thanks to Halie Lesavage and Sara Holzman.

It’s also worth noting that Swift is hyperaware of the dangers of celebrity. “I see a lot of celebrities build up these emotional walls around themselves where they let no one in,” she said in 2014, “and that’s what makes them feel very lonely at the top.” Staying emotionally open in her lyrics and accessible in her fashion is surely a way she avoids creating walls. Her fans must sense that. But it can lead to some self-conscious looks on the red carpet and in her street attire. This was true of the white custom-made Schiaparelli gown with a floor-sweeping hem and train that she wore to this year’s Grammys, which was criticized across social media. On Instagram, Sarah Chapelle (@taylorswiftstyled), who is publishing a book this fall about Swift’s style, likened the gown’s draping to “tangled bedsheets” … Chapelle, who has spent years tracking and decoding every detail of Swift’s outfits, assumed that the gown and its black accessories were Easter eggs. This time, the hint was to her forthcoming album The Tortured Poets Department, which has a black-and-white cover of a woman in black underwear lying in white sheets. Chapelle hunted down the make of the undies — a sheer Saint Laurent top and The Row’s briefs — and noted that Swift’s wearing so much of late from those brands was no coincidence. “Is there ever one with Taylor, really?” wrote Chapelle.

For as long as there have been celebrities, people have been trying to dress like them. While dressing like certain famous people may be more aspirational — not everyone can afford custom couture — Swift’s marketing prowess extends to the clothes she wears.

Sarah Chapelle, a fashion reporter who created the fashion blog and Instagram account Taylor Swift Style, described one of Swift’s style pillars as mixing “high low” pieces or wearing designer items alongside pieces from more-accessible retailers.

“This kind of approach really underlines her approachable, relatable image,” Chapelle said.

Chapelle said she thinks this style is what Swift gravitates toward. It has the added bonus of “creating an entry point for her fans to be further able to relate to her and to buy into a piece of her — to really foster that fan connection relationship of being able to emulate something that she likes aesthetically and having a piece of that in your own real life,” she said.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

Only bought this dress … so I could take off my ceremony dress.

My first Valentine’s Day as a wife seemed like a great time to hold on to certain memories and give my reception dress a moment on the feed.

This dress was like a champagne bottle uncorked: bubbly and fizzy. Perfect for cheersing to the toast of my town. A husband who is thoughtul and kind, patient and generous, sensitive and darkly funny … and also born in the wee hours before New Year’s Day.

💚

- Sarah

Photo by Kaoverii Silva

Are you ready for it? A new Taylor Swift book inspired by her best outfits throughout the decades is headed for bookstores. The book titled Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras doesn’t come out until Oct. 8, but the buzz around it has already landed the tome as a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon for fashion design.

Longtime fashion blogger Taylor Swift Style (known offline as Sarah Chapelle) wrote the book and has garnered 240,000 followers on Instagram, along with being credited in publications such as Billboard, People, Harper’s Bazaar and more for her research. You can expect more than 200 photos of some of the “Delicate” singer’s most iconic looks, as well as insight into the hidden meaning behind each outfit. It’s no secret that Swift loves a good Easter egg, and Chapelle looks to delve into the effortless fusion of fashion and music through every red carpet gown and streetwear style that’s spotlighted.

“Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras is a natural extension of my blog and Instagram account that combines detailed identification reporting with analyzing the intention behind each look — definitively capturing her style evolution across almost two decades,” Chapelle tells Billboard.

Each first-edition comes with a rainbow spine that’s symbolic of each era, as well as gold foiled pages, which Chapelle hopes will help “people see this book as something truly special and worthy of being displayed.”

What also sets her book apart from any other Swift books goes beyond the research. Chapelle has been listening to Swift’s music since 2006 and even saw her open for Rascal Flatts and Brad Paisley. Using the built-up knowledge and love of the “August” singer, she hopes that the amount of care and thought she put in will come to all who pick up a copy.

“I’ve been documenting Taylor’s fashion since 2011, providing not only the exact pieces she’s wearing, but also providing my personal insight and context on her clothes as a communication tool,” she says. “All my most significant firsts as a young female were easier to navigate and process because they were mirrored and comforted by the soundtrack that she wrote. I hope what comes across in this book — and in everything I do — is the level of care, thought and deep-rooted feelings that are there. I’ve been inspired by Taylor’s emotional authenticity for over half my life, and I hope that’s captured in these pages.”

PRE-ORDER TAYLOR SWIFT STYLE: FASHION THROUGH THE ERAS

Throughout the twelve games she’s attended, her style has been consistent. Sarah Chapelle, who covers the pop star’s fashion at Taylor Swift Style (on Instagram @taylorswiftstyled) and is the author of the forthcoming Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras, tells T&C that Swift’s NFL era is “feminine, thoughtful, and on-theme.” She explains, “Taylor’s NFL era style reflects the same level of intention and care she brings to all her fashion. Even as a sports spectator, Taylor is someone who is fully aware of the weight of her fashion choices. I love that she’s taken the same level of care in her game day style and the brands and businesses she supports with her outfits as she does with all her fashion. The level of intention she brings to her style makes her so fun to watch as a fan.”

Her outfits have stuck to the formula, Chapelle explains, including “a stylish coat paired with a simple base, in Chiefs colors naturally, and a heeled boot.” If she goes to the Super Bowl, what could Swift wear? Here’s Chapelle’s guess: “Taylor has generally stayed loyal to the Chiefs color palette of red, black, and gold so I definitely imagine that will continue. While she’s shown that she’s not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeves literally in custom wear showing off Travis’s number like her Kristin Juszczyk jacket, I can also see her in something as laidback as what we saw at the AFC Championship Game in her red Guest in Residence cashmere sweater to show comfort in having a quieter, supporting role and letting the spotlight be on the team and players.”

TAYLOR SWIFT STYLE: FASHION THROUGH THE ERAS

Available for pre-order now. Out October 8, 2024.

The story of Taylor’s style evolution from almost two decades of looks.

The designers. The details. And the intention behind it all.
Featuring 200+ photos spanning 10 albums (+ Eras Tour).
Accompanied by Critically Kind commentary (natch).

When it came to choosing a single image as homage to Taylor’s style, I selfishly had greener ideas in mind. Never fear - the spine is 💚.

One look made the most sense. A look iconic and quintessentially “Taylor”: Unabashedly girly, that had a cat eye sharp enough to kill a man, and a red lip classic thing that we all like. But also one that meant something more. A look that Taylor took and elevated to take on new meaning - intertwining the two methods of communication she has used in equal measure her entire career: Her music and her fashion.

A watershed moment capturing a rising country star poised on the precipice of her next great venture months before unleashing an album that would lift her out of the modern day trappings of ‘pop star’ and into someone of true, undeniable, legendary status. While looking every bit the timeless icon she would become. It was also a moment that split apart the atomic identity of Taylor Swift the artist before her reputation was leveled and rebuilt into something even grander that we see flourishing today.

I hope this caption gives a glimpse into the heart, the soul, and the care that went into this book. I’m sure you know, but I’ll earnestly say it now: Pre-orders mean everything. They make a difference. I’ve put a link in bio here options to pre-order from your preferred seller.

Taylor once dreamed of writing an album dedicated to a real love that shines golden like starlight. As a love letter to her catalogue and career that’s changed and formed my life in every way - the front and page edges of this first run of TSS: FASHION THROUGH THE ERAS ⭕ will be gilded in special, first edition gold foil.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for believing in the style behind the story and that this story in particular was worth telling.

- Sarah

Taylor Swift’s attire never goes out of style — even when it’s football themed. 

Since September, the pop star has been photographed cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs games while sporting red vintage team apparel. It’s prompted many online to ask where Swift gets the team swag from.

Some of her looks are one-of-a-kind finds or were custom made for her. Most of the Chiefs gear Swift has sported comes from local stores and independent fashion designers.

Sarah Chapelle, who meticulously documents the singer’s looks on her popular fashion blog Taylor Swift Style, wrote in an email that Swift tends to put a lot of intention into her fashion choices.

Instead of wearing official NFL merch to every game, Chapelle wrote, she often reps pieces from small and women-owned businesses, as well as brands that offer vintage options.

“Opting to spotlight these types of brands,” she wrote, “is a clear reflection of her personal values that will also hopefully have the indirect benefit of creating a market of more options for female fans of the sport, who deserve to have the opportunity to show their support for something they’re passionate about with garments that aren’t just pink washed.”

Taylor Swift’s style is synonymous with her music – the debut country era saw a focus on cowboy boots and babydoll dresses, while Red had a focus on 1950s silhouettes and playful accessories, Reputation was black on black on black, and Lover was bold and bright pastel colors. Folklore and Evermore saw her take a turn towards cottagecore, with maxi dresses and cardigans, while the Midnights era did a 180 with an eye for fun glamor and sleek lines.

The superstar’s willingness to tell stories not just in her lyrics but with her clothes ensures that there is a fashion era for any fan, and many of them turn to [… Taylor Swift Style], run by marketing executive Sarah Chapelle, to not only get the almost immediate details of Taylor’s looks but also to find inspiration in mixing high and low fashion, and discovering the best budget dupes.

Sarah began documenting Taylor’s fashion choices 12 years ago – on the very auspicious date of October 13, 2011; thirteen is Taylor’s lucky number – but she says that although “it sounds very Swiftian,” it was unintentional. 

Sarah was studying journalism at the time and says that her blog, which started on Tumblr, “represented a crossroad of many of my interests and a way to coalesce my passions for storytelling, style, and Taylor into one”. 

“At the time, it felt like an opportunity to create content in a very niche subsection of my interests that was left open by social media being in its infancy and major fashion publications focusing primarily on red carpet or photoshoot fashion. But capturing all those in between moments that are far more relatable for the everyday fan was what interested me most.”

I GOT MARRIED

POV: Preparing to walk down the aisle to a Taylor Swift song

Over the summer, sometime around when Taylor got her ears pierced and a certain loving album celebrated its anniversary, I got married to my partner (ahem - now husband 🥹) of ten years.

Like a lot of Taylor fans, I’ve grown up in the wake of her music. Her songs have been the soundtrack to all the key moments in my life - from first crushes to first heartbreaks and a million other fragile, emotionally turbulent, and highly specific moments in between that only Taylor can capture with her open heart and attuned pen.

Over the course of running this blog for the last decade some of you have also been witness to a few other of my personal milestones: Graduating college, starting my first job, buying my first home, getting engaged, signing a book deal … and now saying “I do”.

A more poetic person than I might say:

We were both young when I first saw you.
That this love is difficult, but it’s real.
That I’ll never have to be alone.
That I picked out a white dress.
That it’s a love story. And I said yes.

💚

- Sarah

Photo by Kaoverii Silva

Taylor Swift Sells Out Stadiums, Movie Theaters—and Clothes

Sarah Chapelle has compiled the most comprehensive archive of Swift’s outfits on her blog, Taylor Swift Style, and is working on a book about the singer’s approach to fashion. In the 12 years since she started the blog, Chapelle said, Swift’s style has remained “consistently and unabashedly feminine.” 

She noted that Swift crafts her personal style around her different eras the same way she does her music. During her darker “Reputation” chapter, for example, she wore a lot of black, dark green, camouflage and snake print. In one of two music videos for “Delicate,” a song on that album, Swift wore pastel nail polish, which Chapelle said tipped fans off to the palette she had planned for her “Lover” era. 

“She uses [fashion] as a communication tool,” said Chapelle. “That’s how her songs work: taking a certain moment in time and a certain way she felt and permanently encasing it in song to create a lasting memory.” 

Taylor Swift crafts her personal style around her different eras the same way she does her music, noted Sarah Chapelle, who runs the blog Taylor Swift Style.