A 17-year pop reign means three things: chart-topping bops, a multi-generational following, and the indelible force that is Taylor Swift. On TikTok, Swifties have affectionately dubbed her “mother,” not merely as slang to signify her iconic status as a female figure, but also because so many of us have grown up with her music. After all, who wouldn’t want a parasocial relationship with Miss Americana, a 12-time Grammy winner with the record for most American Music Awards won by a female artist?
Unsurprisingly, when word spread of her highly anticipated Eras tour coming to Singapore, tickets disappeared as swiftly as her name. For those who emerged victorious from ‘The Great War’ waged on the battlegrounds of Ticketmaster or post office, catch your breath, raise a toast, and then plunge back into the Tay Tay fray. The thrill of a concert does not simply commence at the venue—it starts from the meticulous coordination of concert outfits and looks.
The concert code is simple: Match thy look to the maestro. However, when it comes to the hit-churner T-Swizzle, nearly every album has an aesthetic of its own, which gives us about 7 distinctive looks to revel in. Take, for instance, the rainbow pixie dream of Lover, the soft-grunge femme fatale vibe from Reputation, or the fresh-faced cottage-core moment that is folklore. Rather than anticipating a jumbled mishmash come March 2024, we see it as an opportunity to celebrate Taylor’s kaleidoscope of aesthetics and genres—which is what the Eras tour is essentially all about.
So, thumb through her playlists, binge-watch her music videos and cruise down memory lane to find ‘The 1’ Taylor look you wish to recreate. To help you get started, the office Swifties at Vogue Singapore have curated an album of Eras-inspired Taylor Swift beauty looks to rock at the concert.
1 / 7
Midnights's bejewelled beauty
Three years after evermore, Taylor returned to say “It’s me, hi!” in 2022 with Midnights. A dreamscape of contemporary R&B, chillwave, and synth-pop, the aptly-titled Midnights is an intimate, introspective glimpse into the songstress’s late-night thoughts. From triumphant revenge anthems ‘Karma’ and ‘Vigilante Shit’ to love songs (that are now bittersweet in hindsight) ‘Sweet Nothing’ and ‘Lavender Haze’, Taylor brought us some truly memorable hits and accompanying beauty moments.
On the album cover and across some music video scenes, Taylor trades her signature bold-red lip for a more subdued, nude shade—as seen here in ‘Bejeweled’. For eyeshadow, she opts for shades of blue: a pertinent choice, symbolic of Taylor’s stages of vulnerability, serenity, and inspiration in this era. The soft, grunge glam make-up is a perfect reflection of her late-night dream-state, and can be achieved with the aid of shimmery blue shadow and neutral lipstick.
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folklore/evermore's textured braids
Sister albums folklore and evermore embody indie-folk sounds and storybook lyrics that unfold through the mellow strains of fingerpicked guitars, pensive piano choruses, and subdued percussion. Muted, grounded, and deeply cottage-core, Swift’s 2020 albums are an escape from glitz and glam of New York City, offering perhaps her most intimate repertoire yet.
In the cosy, woodland aesthetic of folklore/evermore, makeup takes a more neutral backseat while hair steps into the spotlight. A long French braid or two low braided buns emanate a soft, textured, and subtly lived-in look that’s textbook Taylor. Think effortless, natural, and minimalistic when recreating this look, and avoid anything overly neat and tidy. For an added romantic flair, curl the fringe or front sections of hair to emulate her natural ringlets.
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Lover era pinks
There was no shortage of bops for Taylor‘s 2019 album, Lover, from ‘I Forgot You Existed’ to ‘Cruel Summer’ (which we’re all set to scream at her 2024 Singapore concert).
As a general rule of thumb, dreamy pastel rainbow hues rule this era, and one can never go wrong by elevating the look with diamantes in the shape of love hearts around the eyes. Drawing from the title track of this album which features Taylor and her lover in a multi-coloured house, graphic pops of colour change with every scene. Pay homage to this era with hot pink streaks and a plush pink mouth, not forgetting those black luscious lashes—a Swift signature, of course.
4 / 7
Reputation's shower-fresh tresses
Uh, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. As any Swiftie worth their salt can attest, Taylor’s Reputation era serves as a dramatic departure from her soulful country-meets-pop image to something with a little more grit. Put in cinematic terms, 2017 was the time Taylor decided to fully embrace her dark side—that is, the abandonment of her heroine archetype for something that inches closer to anti-hero.
This, naturally, shined through in her hair and make-up choices. The most notable difference showed in her tresses. The singer’s iconic blonde, cascading ringlets—typically fashioned in a blowout—was swapped out for a sleek wet look and a shorter, choppier length. Emulate this look with copious amounts of styling gel and hair spray.
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1989's statement eyeliner
Taylor makes her full-transition into the pop genre with her 1989 album; a slickly-made synth-pop wonder comprising high-octane vocals and dynamic beats that were a far cry from the acoustic arrangements present in previous tracks. To mark this change, a micro-transformation in the form of more visually impactful make-up. Think theatrical Cleopatra-like eyeliner, as seen in her ‘Bad Blood’ music video as well as heavily lined peepers, smokey eyeshadow, and the occasional wig.
In terms of practicality, we would recommend rocking dramatic wings designed to withstand Singapore’s heat and humidity. All you need: a transfer-resistant and waterproof eyeliner, one steady hand, and a ton of good faith.
6 / 7
Red's indie sleaze delivery
Swift was textbook 2012 Tumblr girl when she was in her Red era—a sentiment we easily gleaned from her ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ music video. Debuting choppy, dip-dyed ends, the messy hairdo was a perfect match with the pop star’s charcoal-rimmed eyes, for a look that served every bit of indie sleaze that ruled the zeitgeist in the early 2010s.
And it was right in line with the overarching mood of Red, which was an acute delivery on the turbulent, fiery mood of her youth. Should you be looking to hit The Eras Tour with some manic-pixie nostalgia, finish your look with the same dishevelled pinked strands and that smudged eye look by way of a colour-depositing conditioner and some charcoal shadow work.
7 / 7
Speak Now's crimson lip debut
There’s a reason this was one of the most highly-anticipated album re-recordings in the ‘Taylor’s Version’ universe. A combined showcase of what Swift does best in terms of musical experimentation and lyrical finesse, the heart-rending tracks on her Speak Now album are soft around the edges, yet framed with a welcome sense of finality and departure from the darker hours of her lovelorn days.
Just as the songs on her tracklist perfectly encapsulated her transformation from teenage innocence into the early years of adulthood, this was when Swift also began to embrace more experimental beauty looks—apart from her usual country girl aesthetic of long wavy locks and nude pink lips. Case in point? This look of old Hollywood glamour in the music video for ‘Mean’ sees her tresses reimagined with side swept curls and a shoulder-length chop. Speak Now also marked the entrance of Swift’s iconic red lip, a crimson shade easily emulated via a budge-proof formulation courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury or Mac Cosmetics.
