If you’ve opened the internet, any form of social media, or have merely left your home in the past few months, you’ll know that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is upon us. At this point, I believe every Instagram following now expands to include someone updating us via stories from every single concert location. (We all vicariously saw the rain in Philly, Ice Spice at MetLife). And with concerts of this scope (i.e., Harry Styles, Beyoncé, etc.), fans are there to participate. In addition to singing the lyrics to every song back to Ms. Swift, one must dress like her, too. And for Swifties in particular, their tribal garb seems to consist of a sparkly dress and cowboy boots.
That well-worn Fearless era outfit equation seems to dominate—you know her, you love her, you can buy her on Amazon—but it’s not the only one. Some Swifties have ventured further, referencing niche moments in the pop star’s sartorial history. Think: breathing Halloween-style life into an allusive song lyric or dressing as a character from a 2014 music video. A lapsed Swiftie myself, much of my knowledge base skews toward the earlier eras. The singer-songwriter has tried on mildly different personas per size in tandem with each album, but has, at her core, stayed true to her core feminine, slightly twee aesthetic—may the oxfords always prevail. Below, we’ve rounded up 18 niche throwback references to consider for your Eras ensemble, if you don’t want to be feeling like a face in the crowd.
A Very Victorian ‘Love Story’
Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Erickson Public Relations
Taylor Swift concert or renaissance fair? You decide.
The Band Geek
Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
For those who played in their high school band, use You Belong With Me as an excuse to give that uniform another life.
Those ‘Blank Space’ Mascara Tears
I was in high school when this iconic music video came out and I still think about it.
The 2023 Grammys
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
One of her best red carpet ensembles to date, this Oscar de la Renta number is begging for a reinterpretation.
Any Type of Snakes
Photo: Scott Legato/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
If you know you know. If you don’t, you can dig into the lore here.
The Twee Era
Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Grab your striped shirt, Oxfords, and a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses, and make your friends wonder whether you're heading to Eras or an in-person game of Where’s Waldo? Bonus points for hot pants.
The ‘Evermore’ Cover
If you have a flannel in your closet and know how to french braid, this one’s for you.
The “Pegacorn” Halloween Costume
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show
Some may see this as a winged unicorn, but Swift dubbed it a “Pegacorn” on her instagram page. Seems comfy, no?
Any Ensemble Featuring a Beanie
Photo: James Devaney/WireImage
Make sure to tuck all your hair but a few perfectly coiffed strays inside.
Add Fingerless Gloves
Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage
Even if you still plan on adopting the sequin-dress-and-boots uniform, why not add a set of fingerless gloves as Swift did in the early days?
‘You Belong with Me’ Pajamas
Another comfy option, DIY a t-shirt, grab a pair of plaid PJ pants, and some old 3D glasses, and you’re set.
The VS Fashion Show Cameo
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
Who could forget? Now, if only you could find Pete Wentz to add to the ensemble.
The Manus x Machina Met Gala
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
If you want to infuse your ensemble with a bit of punk energy, why not riff on her edgiest look yet?
The “No, It’s Becky” Meme
If you were on tumblr in the 2010’s, this one’s for you.
The Ballet Attempt
Photo: Christopher Polk/TAS/Getty Images for TAS
While performing Treacherous on the Red tour, Swift went full ballerina.
The Edgy Hoods
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
It seems her edgier Reputation era spurred a love of hoods. First spotted in her Ready for It music video, hoods popped up in later ensembles like the 2023 iHeart Radio Awards and the Willow music video.
The Cats Endeavor
For the budding costume designer in the group, here’s a challenge for you: recreate her cat-human form in the movie musical.
The Honorary NYU Graduation
Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Who can forget this moment? Looks a lot more comfortable than sequins, that’s for sure.
