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Taylor Swift Style 2011-2018
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Attending a wedding | New York City, NY | September 8, 2024

Larkspur & Hawk ‘Posy Earrings’ - no longer available
EF Collection ‘Diamond Mini Huggie & Prong Set Chain Stud Earring’ - $850.00
Cartier ‘Agrafe Herringbone Twisted Necklace’ - $27,250.00
Jacquie Aiche ‘Spaced Out High Neck Body Chain’ - $11,550.00
Wove Made x Michelle Wie West 'Custom Diamond Tennis Bracelet’ - $5,680.00 (starting)
Lizzie Mandler ‘3 Row Cleo Bracelet’ - $18,300.00
Zimmermann ‘Halliday Dress’ - $795.00
Vivienne Westwood 'Rosie Circle Frame Denim-Jacquard Bag’ - $544.00
Christian Louboutin ‘Condora ’85 Leather Heeled Sandals’ - $845.00

It’s not often we see Taylor looking this fancy outside Electric Lady - the NY recording studio where she’s recorded many of her albums (including all TV’s, Lover, folklore, Midnights, and TTPD). On this occasion, Taylor wasn’t heading in for a session - but for a wedding! With Travis as +1, the two were guests to the nuptials of model Karen Elson and Electric Lady Studios owner Lee Foster. To Vogue, Karen noted the importance of having one of their intimate ceremonies (the other was in Nashville) at Electric Lady. “[Lee has] put his heart and soul into [it] … it’s really his home,” she said. 

Taylor has a go-to wedding guest formula: a fit/flare midi dress, tons of jewelry, and minimalist heels. The dress is lovely and I’m a fan of the scallop detail at the top and hem + the pretty floral print. I can’t even get too mad at the wrinkles - it’s linen, after all. Overall, it’s a great pick for a breezy, late summer garden party. And of course I’m a fan of those minimal ankle strap heels (natch). 

The addition of the “something blue” bag was genius. It ties into the blue of her floral print + the coordinating Vivienne Westwood polo Travis was wearing. While Taylor couldn’t have known, it also played nicely with the bride’s custom Valentino gown which featured a blue floral appliqué. The biggest question mark? If wearing such a light coloured dress to a wedding is appropriate. There are unconfirmed remarks that the bride requested female guests wear cream. As someone who loves to aggressively plan and prefers to err on the side of caution, I elect to stay away from a dress this light - even with a floral print - when dressing for a wedding. Though Taylor’s dress is actually much warmer toned in retail photos. It falls closer to a pale orange. Ultimately, if this was indeed bride’s orders - I think she aced the assignment. 

I love that Taylor’s jewelry styling tapped into one of her key style pillars: repetition. All of these are familiar pieces we’ve seen styled before. The oldest are her earrings which she first showed off in 2021. Next is her beloved vintage Cartier necklace which she acquired last summer. And, most recently, both her EF Collection earrings and Lizzie Mandler bracelet which she wore to the Chiefs vs Ravens opening season game this week. 

In looking at her jewelry, my eye also happened to spot a body chain she paired with her Cartier necklace. This immediately brought me back to Jack Antonoff’s wedding last summer when she also wore this piece. Maybe it’s her wedding signature move. 

Illustration by Amelia Noyes

Out and about | London, England | August 12, 2024

Vivienne Westwood ‘Cut Off Jacket’ - $1,395.00
Vivienne Westwood ‘Wizard Frill Shirt’ - $760.00
Vivienne Westwood ‘Cut Off Skirt’ - $960.00
Vivienne Westwood ‘Tuesday Mini Bag’ $690.00
Sézane ‘Georgia High Mary Janes in Pistachio’ - $230.00

This marks a second time Taylor has made a direct pull from the VW FW 2024 lookbook. Like her previous look, shared by Brittany Mahomes when they were in Amsterdam, Taylor sought to diverge from the designer’s styling through her choice in footwear. The VW team styled this look with thigh-high red socks and tonal red platforms. Taylor instead opted for a Christmas Clueless-meets-Austin Powers aesthetic with crisp white socks and olive mary jane heels that bring out the green tones in her tartan set. I think the choice works to create a cohesive colour palette and makes more sense for the warmer weather in London. And also greeeeeeeeeeeen.

I personally love seeing the difference from in how a garment ultimately gets worn as a street style look it demonstrates an individual’s POV. The power of styling is everything! While a copy + paste of a campaign look is fun to see (esp for the designer kick of it all!), I think it’s most fun when someone brings that ‘styling’ element to a look and can depart dramatically from the designer’s original vision to give us their take on an outfit. I actually could imagine Taylor keeping the socks but opting in for those mary jane pumps and ditching the fussy shirt underneath for a simple tee or tank. If this were taking place in cooler temps I could also imagine a turtleneck and tights with heeled booties.

Taken in isolation, this is a great shoulder season look that, while not my personal taste, bridges the short hemlines and cute heels of summer with an autumnal palette and layering via the frilly white shirt. It also continues the connection between TTPD and VW. A signature of this era so far has been the corseted look, something that VW played a huge role in modernizing and integrating into their brand house codes.Taylor has worn many VW pieces for this era including while performing songs from TTPD on the Eras Tour.

This is Taylor’s first physical appearance since her trio of shows in Vienna, Austria were cancelled due to planned threats of a terrorist attack. Taylor has not commented thus far on these cancellations. According to reports, this appearance in London was following a party for Eras Tour staff ahead of her final string of shows at Wembley which conclude the European leg of this tour.

Illustration by Amelia Noyes

Out and about | Amsterdam, Netherlands | July 6, 2024

Vivienne Westwood Fall 2024 necklace

Taylor’s entire ensemble was pulled direct from the VW FW2024 lookbook, including this safety pin and pearl drop necklace.

Worn with: Vivienne Westwood dress + top + bag and Chinese Laundry heels

Out and about | Amsterdam, Netherlands | July 6, 2024

Vivienne Westwood ‘Heart Crossbody’ - $660.00

Was anyone else also reminded of this heart shaped crossbody Taylor carried oh so many moons ago?

Worn with: Vivienne Westwood dress and top

Get the look: Marc Jacobs

Out and about | Amsterdam, Netherlands | July 6, 2024

Vivienne Westwood ‘Tartan Wool Corset’ - $1,585.00

This particular styling of the blue Sunday dress and tartan corset is lifted directly from the VW Fall Winter 2024 collection. In classic Taylor fashion, it’s the accessory styling where she’ll quirkily make a look her own. The heart bag feels very true to Taylor’s perpetually romantic outlook and the sandals give the ensemble a vintage-leaning vibe (where VW would probably have opted for a punkier lace up boot or heeled platform).

Worn with: Vivienne Westwood dress and bag

Vivienne Westwood ‘Sunday Dress’ - $1,010.00

In new photos shared by Brittany Mahomes, we see Taylor wearing a full Vivienne Westwood ensemble.

While the colours may not be very TTPD, I’ll forever associate VW’s expert and iconic corsetry as this era’s signature item. It also likens back to memories of last summer when Taylor wore other bustier-like pieces (that floral corset comes to mind) to usher in a new era aesthetic.

Worn with: Vivienne Westwood top and bag

Get the look: House of CB

The Eras Tour | The Tortured Poets Department section | Version 2

Vivienne Westwood custom

Taylor first debuted the Tortured Poets section when she kicked off the European leg of the Eras Tour in Paris. I had wondered aloud when/if we would see alternate versions of this dress with other TTPD lyrics scrawled across it. It was particularly top of mind for me given that, at the time, we had four versions of Tortured Poets (The Manuscript, The Bolter, The Albatross, and The Black Dog) and four nights in Paris. 

Now we have an answer! A new version of Taylor’s corseted Vivienne Westwood dress debuted during Milan 1. This second version features lyrics from “Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?”. I personally love the effect of the words strewn across this costume, akin to ripped out diary pages meant to be discarded but instead worn with a daring defiance for all to look at. In a way, that’s exactly how I feel about Tortured Poets as an album: A compilation of songs from a chapter in her life she could have buried but that she needed to exhume for everyone to see and know. 

Looking closely, I couldn’t help but notice a difference between the application processes of the lyrics on Versions 1 and 2 to the recycled taffeta used as the base for the dress. On the original version, the lyrics are delicately transcribed in a thin, calligraphic hand and some neatly aligned sections. On Version 2, the lyrics are larger and cover more area of the dress as well as featuring an almost pointillism effect between strokes that sort of bears similarity to the beads on a friendship bracelet. 

Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | The Tortured Poets Department section | Version 1.5

Vivienne Westwood ‘White Three Row Bas Relief Choker’ - $690.00

I don’t think I’ve seen Taylor as committed to accessorizing as she has been on the Eras Tour.

It started with the Versace necklaces she wears for the opening Lover set, with each version getting its own coordinating necklace. Even the RED set sees Taylor wear the refreshed version of the Cathy Waterman ‘Love’ ring that appeared in the original 2012 album photoshoot and was later reworked to say ‘Red’ for the 2021 Taylor’s Version re-record.

During the TTPD set, Taylor has taken to coordinating her three row VW choker based on the two piece set worn underneath her corseted gown. So far, she’s worn a black one for her black and grey sets and this white one for a white set.

These are relatively small details but I find myself appreciating them so much. It’s the little things! Especially in a show that already requires so many quick costume changes, accessory swaps are something that could easily be forgotten about or done away with for ease. It’s with this in mind that I really appreciate that she chooses to complete the visual package as she goes through a live retrospective of the past ‘eras’ of her life.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | The Tortured Poets Department section | Version 2

Vivienne Westwood custom
Christian Louboutin custom

When it comes to the three versions of this set we’ve seen thus far I think the white does the best job at conveying the feeling of being stripped naked for the amusement of a live audience and integrates well into the leached starkness of the world she’s established in TTPD.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | The Tortured Poets Department section | Version 3

Vivienne Westwood custom
Christian Louboutin custom

In my predictions post for TTPD costuming on the TSS Patreon I had guessed that lingerie might play a theme, based primarily on the album’s official visuals as well as the ways physical intimacy is portrayed across the album. Noting, “While I don’t necessarily expect a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (Taylor’s Version) I also wouldn’t be surprised if … lingerie-like pieces make its way into her [TTPD] wardrobe.” This metallic bustier and hot pant set by #VivienneWestwood is around what I was expecting but as with a lot of things within the #TTPD set, it comes with a dose of bitterness. 

For her final number in the TTPD set, Taylor gives a rousing theatrical performance of “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart”. It’s thoroughly entertaining. It’s sardonically meta. It’s theatrical sarcasm.

The addition of the coat and tails reminds me a lot of her very famous ringleader costume from the original RED Era. Just as much as it did then, it feels like Taylor acknowledging the figurative circus that surrounds her celebrity and how, whether masterminding arbiter or unwilling performative participant, she is at the center of it. 

Full review of the TTPD set to come on the TSS Patreon! 

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | The Tortured Poets Department section | Version 1

Vivienne Westwood ‘Messaline Orb Three Row Choker’ - $600.00

Many more thoughts to come on the newly added Tortured Poets set to the Eras Tour, but it feels noteworthy with this necklace to take a moment and track the progression of VW as an Easter Egg.

Back in January, Taylor threw us an intentional Easter egg red herring courtesy of a candid outfit while out to dinner with Blake Lively. Her ensemble (a velvet olive green dress and leather boots adorned with snakes) screamed reputation (as she knew it would be perceived as such) but the hidden clue all along was the VW bag she was carrying.

The bag in question featured VW’s iconic 'orb’ logo which we also see here on this choker. The orb, to VW, was meant to be a take on the Sovereign orb of the British Royal Family and a cheeky reference to Vivienne’s self-described title of “queen” of fashion.

We also saw one of Vivienne Westwood’s ruffled shirts pop up in the “Fortnight” music video as Taylor received electroshock therapy for her perceived descent into madness.

And now we see this designer on the Eras Tour stage, bringing together the Clara Bow-esque choker accessorizing from Taylor’s 2024 Grammys appearance full circle.

It also doesn’t escape my notice that Taylor would opt to use the designs of one of the most well know British designers in the stage incarnation of what she dubbed Female Rage: The Musical from an album that achingly documents two high profile splits from British men.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

The Eras Tour | The Tortured Poets Department section | Version 1

Vivienne Westwood custom

For my own predictions post guessing at tour designers for The Tortured Poets Department set on the Eras Tour I noted: “When it comes to designers, I feel Vivienne Westwood would excel at this assignment.” The theatricality, the dramatics, the corsetry, the Britishness of it all (that cavalry / Black Parade moment). It’s the perfect style match and I’m so happy that Taylor and team fully hit the nail on the head when it came to selecting the right design partner for this moment.

The white colour of the gown ties into the established colour-leached palette of #TTPD while also adding to line of similar white gowns she wore for the 2024 Grammys announcing the album and in the album’s lead single music video “Fortnight”. There’s of course the wedding gown comparison, particularly for the way the skirt seems to mimic the gathers of a bride making a harried exit after being left at the altar. The way her lyrics are scrawled all over the garment also seems to combine Taylor’s emotive vulnerability in wearing her heart on her sleeve (and centering the ownership of her work) while also reading a little like the scribbling psychosis from The Shining when a single phrase was repeated in a typewritten manuscript. A part of me wonders if there will be additional variants of this skirt with other TTPD lyrics as we saw on the backs of the different album variants and Taylor’s grief playlist titles.

It also feels notable to me that this is an area in Taylor’s costuming that is absent of her signature sparkle. Sequins aren’t just a glittery aesthetic that Taylor loves to wear, but they also serve a function for stage to draw eyes to a performer and catch the light. In the same way she’s said that she can show us lies when “the lights refract sequin stars off her silhouette every night” in bravely going on stage every weekend amidst trying to heal a broken heart I also think there was a lot of catharsis and healing in performing these songs, her proudly owned body of work, for tens of thousands every weekend.

Photos by Kevin Mazur/TAS24 via Getty Images

“Fortnight” music video | April 19, 2024

Vivienne Westwood ‘Frill Shirt’ - €590.00

I’ve thought a lot about the colour palette of the world that Taylor has created with Poets and how it’s one of the most distinguishable things about the Tortured aesthetic we’ve seen so far. Enough so that it’s usurped her beloved (and endearingly noted ‘fuckass’) Olympus yellow candid filter with a drained out world to paint all of her latest social media posts with. To me there’s a lot to wade through there when it comes to black like grief or the poetry of Dickinson-esque shades of white and subsequently all the shades of grey the album itself covers. 

But what a delight it is to see a Vivienne Westwood piece on Taylor! I know many of us briefly thought both of the white gowns she’s worn recently were by her so it’s great to see her finally in her wares. This particular long shirt is from the mens line.  

Out and about | New York City, NY | January 10, 2024

Vivienne Westwood ‘Sibyl Orb Plaque Quilted Tote Bag’ - $2,120.00

The Vivienne Westwood bag she’s opted for here also has the brand’s iconic ‘orb’ design as its front flap - designed as a playful reference to the Sovereign orb of the British Royal Family and a play on VW being a longstanding British designer and a self-described “queen” of fashion. I personally like to think perhaps Taylor considers herself the queen of her own heart nowadays - if you catch my drift.

This also happens to be the first time Taylor has worn/carried VW!

Worn with: Little Lies dress and Jimmy Choo x Jean Paul Gaultier boots

Photo by Robert Kamau via Getty Images