Critically Kind takes on Taylor's fashion
With Phoebe Bridgers (x) | November 1, 2022
Reformation ‘Lorenzo Velvet Dress’ – $328.00
I woke up to so many questions this morning.
Which tour date am I going to?
How many am I going to?
How is Paramore opening for Taylor Swift in the year 2023?
But the biggest question on my mind is when was this photo of Tay and Phoebe taken and where.
“Bejeweled” music video | October 25, 2022
Michael Schmidt Studios custom ensemble
To create this look (a favourite of mine from the video), thousands of Swarovski crystals were placed and sewn by hand to a black base. Her knee-high boots also received the same treatment for a matching head-to-toe ‘bejeweled’ moment.
The Graham Norton Show | October 28, 2022
David Koma gown
Taylor’s black sleeveless column appears to borrow a print from the brand’s Resort 2023 collection. In terms of dressing for a seated televised interview moment, this feels like an improvement over her Jimmy Fallon appearance.
The black is subdued but the embellishments add just the right amount of elegant sparkle. The skimming silhouette of the gown extends all the way to the ankle to create a clean, fluid line. And the makeup and hair feels signature Taylor (red lip, cateye flick) but the long low pony is fresh and also allows her bare shoulders a moment to shine.
Love!
Worn with: Nick Horey earrings and Anita Ko ring
“Bejeweled” music video | October 25, 2022
Catherine D’lish custom corset
When I saw that Dita would be credited in a music video, I didn’t have much context in mind as to how it would happen or the circumstances — but I did suspect that the burlesque legacy’s iconic martini routine would somehow come into play. And oh did it.
This embellished corset with the bobbed hair and oversized earrings and necklace were possibly my favourite look of the video.
Amsterdam film | October 7, 2022
J.R. Hawbaker custom ensemble
Film costume designer J.R. Hawbaker spoke at length to Vanity Fair about the decisions and fittings in making Taylor’s wardrobe for her scene in Amsterdam.
The director of the film aside, I find the costuming process for film fascinating and Hawbaker thoughtfully expanded on some of her costuming choices – not only to fit with the film’s period dressing, and provide contextual clues as to Taylor’s character storyline, but also to work for the physicality required of her scene.
Hawbaker said the hand-knit forest green dress was meant to reflect the movie’s time period of the early 1930s with the black accessories of a fascinator, faux fur collar, gloves, and belt to “suggest bereavement without hitting the point too hard” (Taylor plays the daughter of a deceased man, her scenes mostly centering on grieving at his coffin).
The knit material chosen was also meant to be easy to mend in case of rips during the physical stunt work of the scene. Its stretch also allowed extra padding to be sewn into the costume – for the benefit of Taylor’s stunt double.
I personally love learning and knowing that these things are always thought of with the greatest attention to detail – both for form on camera but also for function in filming scenes.
Behind the song “Snow On the Beach” | October 12, 2022
Reformation ‘Leone Cashmere Sweater Mini Dress’ – $278.00
I’m a big lover of stripes, though I usually gravitate towards those in more neutral tones. For Midnights, however, and the gentle lean towards 70s-inspired fashun—this multi-color stripe is very fun and feels like a lovely nod to that. Not only because of the context of something slightly more laidback and casual, I think not opting for an opaque/matte red lip was the right call. The pink here is softer and sweeter.
Taylor first wore this dress in a recent Spotify video but it’s nice to get a much bigger picture of it in this new behind the scenes video for her song with Lana Del Rey.
Get the look: Walter Baker, $89.99
2022 NSAI Awards | Nashville, TN | September 20, 2022
Michael Kors ‘Embellished One Sleeve Cutout Gown’ – $7,990.00
Taylor has worn many sequinned gowns over the years. She has, in fact, even worn many black sequinned garments. In my predictions post for this event, most of my guesses centered on a more ‘business bitch’ bent on what is very much a signature Taylor lewk. Not only to reflect the gravity of the honour she was being bestowed with (Songwriter of the Decade) but also to grasp a sense of familiarity of her recognizable style (sparkles!) just with a more serious edge.
I love how the midi length here conveys a sense of maturity and composure, without going over-the-top dress-code wise (this isn’t the Oscars) like a full-length gown would. The slit and the cut out keeps things svelte and a little sexy, but the professional length and additional coverage from the asymmetrical long sleeve provide a nice balance that reign the lewk in from going overboard.
I also appreciate the overall styling here with the low, sleek pony. While a kicky high, voluminous pony would have bumped up the ‘fun’ factor, I think keeping it low and simple and clean complements the overall sharpness and modern tones of the dress. Kohl-rimmed eyes and her signature red lip make this instantly Taylor, but also a little vampy and sexy.
All in all an excellent outing in my opinion. What did you think?
Worn with: Rahaminov earrings, Anne Sisteron ring, and Aquazzura sandals
Get the look: La Femme, $448.00
Los Angeles Times | September 2022
Vintage Dress – not available for purchase
Âme Jewelry ‘Totem Circle Stud Earrings’ – $3,500.00
De Beers ‘Forevermark Five Diamond Station Ring’ – price available upon request
Bondeye Jewelry ‘Wave White Diamond Ring’ – $950.00
I love this mix of modern and retro plus the very fun interplay of shapes and geometry here between each of her jewelry pieces (a circle, diamonds, and an organic wave) against the more quilted print of her (sadly) vintage dress.
Toronto International Film Festival | Toronto, Canada | September 9, 2022
Louis Vuitton custom gown
For Taylor’s appearance at TIFF, I was hedging bets as to whether she would show up in the business babe-adjacent attire that she has favoured when attending promotional events where she wants to underscore her title as director on the project … or leaning into the glam showgirl aesthetic that tentatively appears to be the defining factor of the upcoming Midnights era.
In making her appearance at TIFF in this very glam sequinned custom LV gown: I think we have our answer.
I love how the gold paillettes are very reminiscent and recognizable within Taylor’s style repertoire. The girl has yet to meet a sequin she doesn’t love. But the very elegant way the skirt falls (perfectly hemmed btw to just kiss the floor – so well done) combined with the draping chain details makes this feel like a classed up extension of her MTV VMA appearance that had very similar shoulder details. It’s also a very nice slideshow moment where we now have a Midnights-esque appearance in: Silver, a colour, and now gold.
The RED hair (those bangs! the sleek blowout!) gave me temporary whiplash wondering if this was an appearance from 2012 I had somehow missed also feels like a very prescient tie-in to the fact that the project she is promoting is for that very same re-recorded album.
All in all – well done. She looks great, she looks classy, she looks glam and it somehow hits the mark for both of the albums she’s promoting (RED TV and Midnights). And that is not easy to do!
Worn with: Melis Goral earrings and Djula + Cadar rings
MTV Video Music Awards | Newark, NJ | August 28, 2022
Oscar de la Renta Resort 2023 – $24,990.00
I have the privilege to be able to write this caption with the full knowledge of Midnights on my mind and the awareness that this look is likely a taster of a rich, luxe, almost showgirl glam style. A new, womanly version of the retro and vintage fashion she has favoured for more than a decade – but elevated. And with a fun, vampy sex appeal.
I’m of the opinion this is not a reference to her 2009 dress from this same event – it’s distinctly different in silhouette and composition. Perhaps if I were looking at an asymmetrical one-shoulder gown with diagonal swathes of glitter – I could see the comparison. But this feels far removed from that Kaufmanfranco of 13 years prior.
While this dripping diamond mini has a lot of vintage feels (I love the halter neck), it doesn’t feel right to draw comparison to vintage Taylor fashion. This is a sartorial step in a fresh, new direction to reflect a new body of work and a new period in her life. Let’s consider and treat it as such.
Worn with: Pat McGrath makeup x2, Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, and Christian Louboutin sandals
Taylor Swift Style 