Taylor Swift has undergone multiple sonic and sartorial eras throughout her decade-and-a-half-long career, starting as a country sweetheart and evolving into a global pop superstar. Her highly anticipated Eras Tour will take fans through the musical eras of her career, past and present, and nod to the many aesthetics she has explored. From ballgowns and cowboy boots to sophisticated styles and matching crop top-and-skirt sets, Swift has been a true style chameleon, and her latest “Midnights” era is steeped in ’70s flair.
Taylor Swift is known for her ability to shift her style to mirror her sound, and her Eras Tour is a journey through the many musical and sartorial eras of her career.
Taylor Swift is well-known for her ever-changing style, both musically and sartorially. Throughout her 15-year career, she has gone from country sweetheart to global pop superstar, experimenting with different musical genres and proving herself to be a true style chameleon along the way. Swift has described her latest Eras Tour as a “journey through the musical eras of my career (past & present)” and fans can expect costumes that nod to the many aesthetics she’s explored through the years.
When Swift first hit the scene as a teen, sweet sundresses and cowboy boots were her signature, not to mention those tight blond ringlets. Her youthful, relatable looks matched her lovestruck lyrics and status as an up-and-coming country darling. During her “Fearless” era, Swift embraced fairytale fashion, incorporating ballgowns, corseted bodices, tulle-skirted styles and sequins into her wardrobe. She even sang of her love for “glitter and sparkly dresses” during her “Saturday Night Live” monologue in 2009.
Swift’s love affair with red lipstick began during her “Speak Now” album cycle. Her outfits featured plenty of purple-hued looks that nodded to her album art, and this period also marked the start of Swift’s vintage-influenced stylings. During the “Red” era, Swift stuck to a classic color palette of black, white, navy and red, favoring prim collared shirts paired with high-waisted shorts or pearls teamed with tea-length dresses nipped in at the waist.
When Taylor’s fifth album, “1989,” came out, she was already living in high-fashion New York City. She traded in her signature country-girl style for matching crop top and skirt sets and heels from top designers. With the release of “Reputation,” Swift underwent her most dramatic style shift to date, wearing dark colors like hoodies, combat boots, cargo pants, and camouflage patterns. She sported snakeskin prints and serpentine jewelry aplenty as an answer to Kardashian’s allegations that she was a snake on social media.
With “Lover,” Swift traded in the moody hues of her “Reputation” days, replacing them with sugary sweet pastels, dreamy tie-dyed separates, and plenty of sparkle to match her new album’s bubblegum sound. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Swift’s duo of critically acclaimed “sister albums” had her paring back production and placing a focus on storytelling. She dressed in cozy countryside-ready outfits featuring plaid coats, rich velvets, ditsy florals, and chunky knit sweaters.
Swift’s latest “Midnights” era has been steeped in ’70s flair, from the knit polos, corduroy pants, and blue eyeshadow in her album artwork to the glitzy, glittering, Studio 54-worthy looks she’s been wearing on recent red carpets. When Swift said she’s a mirrorball, she clearly meant it. Swift has truly shown herself to be a chameleon, unafraid to take on new sounds and styles with each new album cycle. We can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.