Taylor Swift: An Ever Shifting Style Icon

The second that Taylor Swift released “Look What You Made Me Do,” I ran to my iPhone, opened my Spotify account and listen to her newest song. Yet toward the end of the song, she sang three sentences that broke my 10-year-old heart: “I'm sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now.” “Why?” “Oh, cause she's dead!” Could curly-haired, guitar-playing Taylor be gone forever? Would she never wear red lipstick or sparkly dresses again?

Being a Taylor Swift fan since I was ten years old, I have seen every single one of Taylor Swift’s eras, from cowgirl boots to princess gowns to crop top sets. The more I thought about the old Taylor being “dead,” the more I realized that with each new album, Taylor completely transforms herself. She wasn’t “dead” she was just being reborn, as Taylor does with every new record she puts out.

Taylor Swift not only changes her sound with each new album, she also completely changes her look. She is a style chameleon, constantly shaping her look to reflect her new music. I decided to go back and relive each era from “Taylor Swift” to her current day “reputation” look.

Taylor Swift

A young sixteen-year old Taylor took the country world by storm with the release of her self-titled album. Just breaking into the music scene, her frilly dresses and cowboy boots matched her youthful persona. She sang songs about school-girl crushes and heartbreak, which matched her sweet, girly style.

Her red carpet style fit that of any high-schooler, dresses reminiscent of what one wore to their prom. With her wild blonde curls and sparkly eyeshadow, Taylor was an innocent teenager singing songs about unrequited love like “Teardrops on My Guitar.” This was Taylor’s full-on country phase as shown through her musical style and red carpet style. Who would’ve thought she’d go on to rule the pop world?

Fearless

“Fearless” is perhaps one of Taylor’s best albums and when she began to build her image. With red lips, sparkly dresses, and blonde curls, it was impossible not to recognize the country-pop icon. Her music was more mature as was her sense of style. Instead of frilly dresses, Taylor opted for tight, sparkly low-cut dresses.

Even with these changes, Taylor retained her romantic, girly style. However, she slowly began to ditch the cowboy boots and her sound became more pop inspired. During this era, Taylor was overtaking the pop and country world, winning numerous CMT awards and Grammy’s for “Fearless.” Her newfound success and fame shown through her glamourous red carpet style. She was no longer the modest country girl from Pennsylvania, she truly was “fearless” when it came to her sense of style.  

Speak Now

“Speak Now” is my personal favorite Taylor Swift era. After winning the Grammy for “Album of the Year,” Taylor Swift wrote and produced “Speak Now” entirely on her own. Her style was also as iconic and beautiful as ever. Taylor still donned her signature blonde curls, red lips and sparkles, and her style continued to mature. This era is encapsulated by old school Hollywood style dresses. From faux bobs to over the knee A-line dresses, Taylor’s look was the epitome of classy and stylish.

Her music style and red carpet style were basically a more mature version of “Fearless.” She was still wearing romantic looking dresses and singing love songs, but her sound and style were more mature. “Speak Now” is like an older sister to “Fearless,” more mature, yet sharing some of the same DNA. Toward the end of this era, Taylor began experimenting with her style, trying to find herself. She began straightening her hair and ditching the sparkly dresses. “Speak Now” is when Taylor encapsulated her image, only to completely change it in her next era.

Red

In this era, Taylor finally deviated away from her signature look. She traded in blonde curls for pin straight hair and bangs. Her style was characterized by high-waisted shorts, and of course a lot of red. Her red carpet style was still very classic, yet as the era went on, Taylor became edgier wearing dresses with see through panels and slits. This drastic change in style matched her drastic change in musical sound. While she was still technically a country singer, her songs had a lot more of a pop influence. Album hits like “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “22” were definitely more pop than country, and fans started to wonder which direction Taylor’s sound was headed.

In this era, Taylor was experimenting with her sound and personal style. She was dipping her toes into the pop music world, while also trying to change her style, beginning with a drastic hair change. Her style was transitioning from vintage Hollywood to a modern day Hipster. From striped shirts to ultra-high-waisted shorts, Taylor’s new look was almost unrecognizable from her 16-year-old self. This era helped Taylor find the new sound that she wanted to pursue. After losing for “Album of the Year” at the Grammy’s, Taylor was ready to go full on pop.  

1989

Taylor Swift was ready for big changes; she chopped off her long, blonde locks into a bob and she finally decided to release an official pop album. She was officially changing her sound and style. While fans feared what her first pop album would be like, it was a complete success. Her album’s sound was completely different than anything she had ever produced before. Taylor traded in her cowboy boots for high heels and was completely dominating the music scene worldwide. She not only took a musical risk, but continued to take fashion risks. She wore more daring looks like crop tops and mini dresses.

With her new shorter hair style, Taylor definitely looked more mature than in any of her previous eras. “1989” was also her most mature album to date. She traded in long glamorous dresses for low cut jumpsuits and country love songs for pop like “Shake It Off.” Taylor was becoming one of the world’s largest pop stars, and her trendy style certainly showed it. Taylor  was beginning to find her new sound and style, but like all popstars, it was constantly changing.

Reputation

Taylor’s music and personal style are completely different than that of any of her previous eras. “Reputation” is the polar opposite of Taylor’s country roots. Her songs and look are edgy and mature. From wearing chain chokers to all black, Taylor has come a long way since her sparkly dresses and cowboy boots. Her sound explores electronic beats and is clearly pop with no country influences. It’s different than anything Taylor has ever made, and her new edgier style reflects her new sound.

Taylor’s new look completely opposes her image of being America’s sweetheart. She is embracing the reputation that the media gave her. Because many people referred to her as a “snake” she has incorporated snakes into almost all of her outfits. She is completely embracing everything anyone has ever said about her. But it is clear that past her new rough exterior, she is still the same Taylor. She is still writing catchy love songs, she is still passionate about music, and she still cares for her fans. The only thing she doesn’t care about is what people think about her.

When I first heard “Look What You Made Me Do” I was in shock. Taylor truly has completely changed her sound, but her clever songwriting and catchy songs weren’t gone. Listening to the album, it is clear that the old Taylor isn’t “dead,” she is just evolved. I’ve been a fan of Taylor since I was 10, and I don’t think I will stop anytime soon. Even when people judge me for sticking with her, I still remain loyal to her. It is undeniable that Taylor is a rare success. She has stayed relevant in the music industry for so long, and will continue to do so as she continues to change her style while retaining her original sound.