Critically Kind takes on Taylor's fashion
Instagram | October 21, 2022
Dodo Bar Or ‘Brad Striped Bodysuit’ – $203.00 (sold out)
I obviously have many thoughts and even more feelings about Midnights and a lot of fashion to catch up on. I’m hopeful to share both as I continue to listen and enjoy and process this album and this incredibly fun rollout!
Worn with: Vanessa Mooney choker
Midnights Tumblr theme | October 20, 2022
Free People ‘Renata Fur Coat’ – $168.00
It isn’t the 70s without some kind of shag moment. This is a very fun lavender-adjacent moment (that I suspect is part of a music video lewk?).
Our last midnight before Midnights… | October 20, 2022
Urban Outfitters ‘BDG Grayson Polo Sweater’ – sold out
This photo really feels like the final manifestation of all my previous hopes for Taylor’s fashion. The hair, the dewy neutral makeup, the fun mix of textures and materials rendered in a retro 70s-inspired packaging.
Dreamy! Sighs!
Worn with: Urban Outfitters pants
Get the look: Banana Republic, $99.97
Our last midnight before Midnights… | October 20, 2022
Urban Outfitters ‘BDG High Waisted Baggy Corduroy Pant’ – sold out (similar linked)
Though this journey hasn’t even fully begun yet, I want to say that I’ve had the most rewarding and delightful time documenting the Midnights fashun we’ve seen thus far.
In case you missed it, back when we were quaintly calling Lover ‘TS7’, I made an entire prediction post dreaming of a crochet-filled, 70s-inspired, corduroy and paisley, dreamy retro era supported by a valiant return to media, interviews, and appearances.
Quoting that post now feels like a true full circle moment.
“Colour palettes ranging from burnt terracottas to pastels to maximalist super saturated patchwork colours. The colours of a dying sunset and the earth. Coming back to ground and nature. A representation of her coming back to “roots” — but making it Taylor … Suede, paired with OTK boots. High waisted denim, boldly patterned and colourful sweaters.”
It’s been a delight—and we’re truly only at the starting line. I look forward to listening to this album in just a day’s time and for the rest of this era to unfold. Including many more corduroy pieces (hopefully still available for sale) like this one to come.
Worn with: Urban Outfitters top
Get the look: Tillys, $42.99 | Madewell, $74.99
Out and about with Joe Alwyn | New York City, NY | October 18, 2022
Calzedonia ‘Honeycomb Motif Eco Tights’ – $18.00
Taylor has long loved a subtle design on her tights as a little added pattern ‘oomph’ to her outfit. I was actually immediately reminded of two past instances where she’s paired a plaid skirt with designed tights.
The first back in December 2014 and the other more recently last October.
Worn with: Ralph Lauren bag and Aritzia skirt
Out and about with Joe Alwyn | New York City, NY | October 18, 2022
Aritzia ‘Classic Mini Skirt’ – $98.00 (exact print no longer available)
Worn with: Ralph Lauren bag
Get the look: Tommy Hilfiger, $60.98
Out and about with Joe Alwyn | New York City, NY | October 18, 2022
Ralph Lauren ‘Tremont Leather Cross-Body’ – no longer available
It brings me indescribable joy to continue to see Taylor continue to carry this bag. It’s one of the oldest in her collection and debuted back in October 2010. It recently resurfaced in candids from this past June but any glimpse of it is so exciting!
Worn with: Aritzia skirt
Check out the multiple times Taylor has toted this bag here.
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
Attending the premiere of The Banshees Of Inisherin | New York City, NY | October 10, 2022
Stella McCartney ‘Single Breasted Oversize Blazer’ – $1,495.00
Taylor is really gravitating towards boxier/oversized silhouettes these days. With a pair of wide leg pants like these, I think either committing to an intentionally oversized/baggy look is very on trend as of late.
My personal preference would be to offset a wide leg trouser like this with a more tailored blazer – but I’m also not one to look a gift blazer in the mouth.
Worn with: Etro bag and Prada loafers
Get the look: Aqua, $70.80
Taylor Swift Style 