Eras: The Looks That Led to Midnights

Eras: The Looks That Led to Midnights

By: Emma Greene

This week, Taylor Swift has smashed countless records with the release of her tenth studio album, Midnights, a thirteen-track record encompassing thirteen “sleepless nights” throughout her sixteen-year music career. In celebration of the album’s success and anticipation of The Eras Tour, we have curated a list of Swift’s defining looks from each of her ten album eras.

Taylor Swift (Debut) (2006)

Swift took home her very first CMT award in 2007 and was named winner of “Breakthrough Video of the Year” for her “Tim McGraw” music video. Swift accepted in a gown which perfectly aligned with her debut album’s teal hues. Swift donned the gown again in her music video “Teardrops on My Guitar” which was released two years later in 2009.

Fearless (2008)

Although her debut album had several hits, Fearless brought Swift into the spotlight. While wearing this stunning black sequin gown, Swift took home an armful of gramophones, the first four of her eleven Grammy awards.

The music video for track six on the album, “You Belong With Me,” won Swift her first Video Music Award. Kanye West’s interruption of Swift’s acceptance speech began the bad blood which has lived on between the two artists since. Swift recreated this ancient-greek-inspired KaufmanFranco look for her “Look What You Made Me Do” music video in 2017.

Speak Now (2010)

Still true to her country music roots, Swift’s Speak Now tour was defined by cowgirl boots, sparkly dresses, and red lipstick. This era’s red lip is rumored to be Covergirl’s “Hot.” Swift won her next two Grammys for this album, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Mean.”

Red (2012)

Embracing the full hipster aesthetic of the early 2010s, Swift’s “22” music video look defined the happy-go-lucky moments on Red. In the video, Swift combined a graphic tee reading “not a lot going on at the moment” with heart-shaped sunglasses, and a black fedora. Swift utilized the t-shirt’s phrase again as covert promotion for Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021, with Blake Lively, friend and director of Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video, posted a photo from the music video set with “not a lot going on at the movement” in the caption.

1989 (2014)

Inspired by her move to New York City in March of 2014, the 1989 era is represented best by Swift’s street style that year. She is pictured here leaving the gym in a simple yet stunning look. 1989 saw Swift begin to embrace more grown-up silhouettes which flattered her supermodel-esque proportions.

A more adult version of her previous light-catching looks, Swift was no stranger to shimmer on the 1989 world tour. Like her street style, Swift continued to wear heels and short hemlines, emphasizing her runway legs and height.

Reputation (2017)

Reputation was not released until 2017, but this period in Swift’s career began one year prior. The ensemble that defined this new chapter in Swift’s career was her Louis Vuitton look at the 2016 Met Gala, “Manus x Machina.” In deep plum lipstick and her brightest blond hairstyle, Swift met her now partner, Joe Alwyn. The events of this night inspired the songs “Getaway Car” and “Dress” on Reputation. 

In the music video for the album’s lead single, “Look What You Made Me Do,” Swift recreated several of her past looks and hinted at the album’s content. This video also gave fans the first look at Reputation’s serpentine edge.

Lover (2019)

Swift’s Lover style was a complete turnaround from that of Reputation. Cotton-candy-colored and more pop-focused than ever, Swift first wore Lover’s look at the TIME 100 Gala in April of 2019. Swift was nominated for a position on Time’s list by fellow singer-songwriter, Shawn Mendes, who served as her opening act for a portion of the 1989 tour. She accepted her place on the list in a pastel pink and yellow gown by J. Mendel.

Folklore (2020)

Released without announcement on August 18, 2020, Folklore was the first of Swift’s surprise albums that year. Swift embraced cottagecore comfort with cardigans, long hemlines, and messy buns.

Evermore (2020)

Evermore was released only two months after its predecessor, and as such, Swift’s style in the sister albums are a part of the same era. Swift continued to embrace plaid and comfortable imperfection while promoting her second surprise pandemic-era album. This casual approach was seen in the album’s cover, on which Swift appears with a slightly crooked french braid.

Midnights (2022)

Although Midnights has yet to be released, Swift donned two stunning outfits on the night she announced the album. Swift accepted three space men on August 22, 2022 for “All Too Well: The Short Film” starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brian. 

To the ceremony, Swift stunned fans in a “bejeweled” Oscar de la Renta gown reminiscent of that which she wore in the 2017 music video “Look What You Made Me Do.”

Swift exited the award ceremony in a stunning midnight blue number patterned with silver stars. The look served as the perfect easter egg only hours before Swift’s announcement of her tenth studio album, Midnights.

We certainly hope swift will recreate some of these looks while on tour in 2023, and can’t want to see what will be added to the list as the Midnights era progresses.

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