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ByHannah Jeon/Updated: April 29, 2022 2:31 pm EDT
When it comes to today's most famous pop stars, there's perhaps no one as versatile — or ever-changing — as singer-songwriterTaylor Swift. Since her debut into the music world 15 years ago, the American singer has had a stunning transformation from a 16-year-old country music sweetheart to a global music icon and pop phenomenon — and now, of course, she's alsoproven she can master the indie and alternative genre with her latest albums "Folklore" and "Evermore" (via NME).
Indeed, Swift has been an artist who has continually evolved with every new album — and each new era has not only marked a distinct change in her sound and genre, but also her style and aesthetics. In fact, ask any "Swiftie," and they'll probably have a favorite era — whether it's the nostalgic teenage years of "Fearless," or the dark and edgy comeback of the "Reputation" era. In honor of the pop star's constant evolution through the years, here's an in-depth look at every one of Taylor Swift's iconic eras — and all the fashion styles, aesthetics, and symbols that defined them.
Taylor's debut album introduced the world to a country music darling
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Ah, the era that started it all! The year was 2006, and a young aspiring country star named Taylor Swift entered the world of music with nothing but a guitar (and a pair of cowboy boots). After years of performing in bars and venues in Nashville in hopes of getting a record deal, the singer-songwriter debuted her first and self-titled album, "Taylor Swift," at the mere age of 16 years old — and soon enough, the young singer was opening for famous country acts like Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill, all while having hits like "Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Tim McGraw" topping the charts (via Billboard).
The success of her debut album, of course, had Swift emerging into the music world as a teenage country darling, instantly recognizable by her tight blond curls, floral sundresses, and signature cowboy boots — and all of it coming together to form a monumental breakout era defined by Swift's country-chic style and sweet girl-next-door status, as noted by Fashionista. And who could forget her adorable country twang?
The Fearless era was full of sequins and teenage romanticism
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With the release of her highly successful sophom*ore album "Fearless," the year 2008 had Taylor Swift beginning to emerge as a household name, with now-classic hits like "You Belong With Me" and "Love Story" quickly establishing the singer as a teenage country-pop icon. In fact, Swift even earned her first Album of the Year Grammy win for "Fearless," making history as the youngest-ever artist to claim the category at age 20 (until 18-year-old Billie Eilish broke her record in 2020), per The Boot.
As for what the iconic "Fearless" era was defined by, early fans will nostalgically recall the singer's sparkly dresses and ball gowns, signature winged eyeliner, hand hearts, and — of course — Swift's lucky number 13, which the singer started donning on her hand for her performances during this era. "'Fearless' was an album full of magic and curiosity, the bliss and devastation of youth," Swift recalled in early 2021(via Taste of Country). "It was the diary of the adventures and explorations of a teenage girl who was learning tiny lessons with every new crack in the facade of the fairy-tale ending she'd been shown in the movies."
Speak Now was Taylor's most magical and thSpeak Now was Taylor's most magical and theatrical era
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Following the success of "Fearless," Swift set out to further prove herself as a rising star, and more specifically, as a talented songwriter. Her 2010 album "Speak Now" was her first (and only) self-written album, written entirely by herself without the help of co-writers — and, as noted by Pitchfork, it was a truly personal and confessional album that focused on that transitional period between "adolescence and adulthood, innocence and understanding, country and pop."
Much like the album itself (see: songs like "Enchanted," "Sparks Fly," and "Long Live"!), the "Speak Now" era was undoubtedly defined by its magical and theatrical aspects. TaylorSwift's ambitious Speak Now World Tour, in fact, was inspired by Broadway and was a truly wondrous spectacle filled with pyrotechnics, lighted trees, dancers and aerialists, and multiple costume and set changes (via Billboard). Ultimately, when you think "Speak Now," you'll probably think of Swift's sparkly dresses and looser curls, her "Wonderstruck" perfume line and her ethereal "fairy tale" aesthetic — not to mention, the color purple!
The Red era saw Taylor shifting into a more mature, experimental style
Think of the "Red" era, and you'll probably think of red lipstick and black fedoras — and of course, TaylorSwift's straight hair and blunt bangs. With the release of her 2012 album "Red," the singer debuted a new, edgier style, swapping out her usual glittery gowns for high-waisted shorts, striped shirts, and vintage dresses — and also famously ditching her signature bouncy curls for sleek, straight locks (via Billboard).
Swift's shift from her signature "princess fairy tale" aesthetics to a vintage, more mature style, of course, was also a reflection of her shift in sound (and themes) for her fourth album. According to NPR, "Red" in many ways represented a "turning point" in Swift's life and career while "on the precipice of adulthood," with the singer experimenting with different sounds beyond her previous country-pop style to touch on — and blend — new genres such as mainstream pop, rock, and even EDM and dubstep. "Musically and lyrically, Red resembled a heartbroken person," Swift reflected in 2021 (via NME). "It was all over the place, a fractured mosaic of feelings that somehow all fit together in the end. Happy, free, confused, lonely, devastated, euphoric, wild, and tortured by memories past."
The 1989 era established Taylor as a global pop phenomenon
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Perhaps her most memorable and iconic era, "1989" marked Swift's first full-scale pop album — and, as noted by Vulture, had the singer taking over the music world as a worldwide mega-pop star, experiencing more commercial success than ever before. Few could escape the ubiquitous pop hits of "Shake It Off," "Blank Space," and "Style" in 2014 to 2015, and Swift's presence was felt pretty much everywhere: on the radio, at outings with her famous "BFF girl squad," and at countless award shows where she snagged the biggest awards of the night.
Mirroring her transition from country to pop, the "1989" era was also defined by other major changes for Taylor Swift: She moved to New York City, cut her hair into a short bob, and, of course, changed up her fashion style, opting for crop tops, skater skirts, and more form-fitting clothes that completed her transformation from a country sweetheart into a bombshell mega-pop star.
Reputation was Taylor's darkest and edgiest era yet
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Following the peak of her career in the "1989" era, Taylor Swift found herself in the midst of bad press and negative public scrutiny — and it all started, of course, with her infamous feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. After months of disappearing from the public eye, Swift made an iconic comeback in 2017 with her sixth studio album, "Reputation" — and needless to say, it was quite a different feel from any of her previous eras. Declaring that "the old Taylor was dead" in her lead single "Look What You Made Me Do," the singer officially shed her "good girl" status and instead embraced the "snake" image put on her by the public (via Rolling Stone). "Yeah, this is the character you created for me, let me just hide behind it," Swift told Vogue of the persona she created.
Reflecting the darker aspects of her electro-pop album, Swift's style during the unforgettable "Reputation" era was also noticeably edgier and grungier: Her classic red lip became darker and she rocked oversized sweatshirts, sequined bodysuits, and lots of thigh-high boots (via Evie Magazine). And how could we forget "Bleachella," when she bleached her hair to an edgy platinum blond?
The Lover era was full of pretty pastels and bright, colorful optimism
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Talk about a 180 from the "Reputation" era! Moving away from the dark and edgy style of her previous album, Swift ushered in her seventh era with the bright and cheery lead single "ME!," complete with a music video full of butterflies, rainbows, and colorful pastels (via Variety). The noticeable shift in aesthetics also reflected the bright optimism of "Lover," signaling that the "old Taylor" perhaps wasn't dead, after all. "I've decided that in this life, I want to be defined by the things I love — not the things I hate, the things I'm afraid of, or the things that haunt me in the middle of the night," Swift wrote in the album's foreword (via PopSugar). "Those things may be my struggles, but they're not my identity."
With this optimism of the "Lover" era came lots of brighter, more colorful looks in Taylor Swift's wardrobe — including lots of fringe, sparkles, pastel-colored menswear, and '70s-inspired clothes. There was also, of course an abundance of the color pink — including in her hair, when she dyed the ends of her locks a pretty pink (via Bustle).
Folklore and Evermore had Taylor embracing the cottagecore aesthetic
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It's safe to say that fans did not see it coming when Taylor Swift surprise-released "Folklore," her eight studio album, in July 2020 — nor when she followed it up in December with yet another surprise "sister album," titled "Evermore." Written in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, the two surprise albums had Swift changing up her musical genre once again, departing from her mastered pop sound to delve into indie-folk and alternative rock, per NME.
Of course, with the whole new sounds of "Folklore" and "Evermore," the new era also had Swift embracing a new "cottagecore" aesthetic — perfectly encapsulated by the album art of Swift frolicking in the woods, donning cozy sweaters and prairie dresses, and wearing her hair in braided buns (via W Magazine). And if there's one "piece de resistance" that perfectly captures the cozy cottagecore vibes of the "folklore" and "evermore" era? The iconic cardigan, of course!
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