Taylor Swift’s Style Has Never Been Good, But It’s Always Been Genius
What if style isn’t just how you wear something—but why? Enter Taylor Swift.
No, she’s not a fashion icon in the Audrey Hepburn or Alexa Chung sense. She’s not even the type to dictate trends like Rihanna or Zendaya. But Taylor Swift’s wardrobe has always been more than fabric and seams. It’s prophecy. Foreshadowing. A woven code for the faithful to decode.
And lately? She’s been wearing a whole lot of plaid.
In the last seven months alone, Taylor has worn plaid at least eight times. Tribeca in soft flannel. The VMAs in yellow tartan. The US Open in gingham. But the biggest clue? It might not be what she’s wearing at all.
Fans noticed something strange about the Lover House in The Eras Tour visuals. The green room, the one representing Debut, was updated. Its wallpaper? Plaid. It’s been there since the tour launched, hiding in plain sight. Could this mean Debut (Taylor’s Version) is next?
Or is the plaid trying to tell us something darker?
Plaid is punk. It’s rebellion. And if you read up on its history, tartan was once co-opted by Vivienne Westwood and the Sex Pistols as a finger to the establishment. It was designed to be loud. Seen. Heard. Sound familiar?
From snakeskin boots at Chiefs games to jet-black corset dresses and stacks of silver hardware, the visual cues are unmistakable. Recently, Taylor’s style has been moodier, more armored, more Reputation. Even off-duty, she’s been spotted in silhouettes and gothic accessories that wouldn’t look out of place on the original Reputation Tour.
So is all this Rep-coded energy a misdirection? Or is Reputation (Taylor’s Version) slithering its way toward us next? But what if it’s both?
Swifties have been speculating about “Debutation” for months—a double album drop of Debut (TV) and Reputation (TV). And Taylor, being Taylor, might be telling us in twos.
Tartan is made with a “two over two” twill weave. She’s been photographed flashing peace signs. Her 2024 Golden Globes look, a sparkling green gown, only deepened the mystery. Was it a reference to Debut, to Reputation, or a fusion of the two? She’s never clarified, and maybe that ambiguity is intentional. Her 2025 iHeartRadio look is perhaps the most obvious easter egg yet: a plaid skirt and a snake necklace. Debut and Reputation stitched together, just like the weave of the tartan.
But what if we’re focused on the wrong thing entirely?
Taylor has been hinting at a new era: the ever-elusive TS12. There’s no confirmed title, no formal announcement, just whispers, color theories, and ruby red glimmers.
Courtesy of Vogue
First, the rubies. She’s been spotted numerous times wearing ruby rings, earrings, and, on occasion, thigh chains. Fans believe this is a nod to Dorothy’s iconic ruby slippers, especially after the “Karma” music video, where she walks a literal yellow brick road in sparkling red heels.
Could TS12 be her journey back to Kansas? A metaphorical homecoming? One where she peels back every version of herself and lands, finally, in her most authentic skin?
Courtesy of Taylor Swift Style
Then there’s her recent color palette of choice: orange and purple. And let’s be honest, no one accidentally pairs orange and purple. On the Eras Tour, she donned a sparkling Lover bodysuit and a 1989 two-piece, both in the bold duo. The palette carries over to the “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” music video, where she is shown in her lilac short skirt, surrounded by orange feathers. Could this be the official color scheme of TS12? One thing’s for sure; it’s not just coordinated, it’s calculated.
So what does it all mean? Is plaid pointing us toward Debut? Are the snake motifs leading us to Reputation? Is the ruby red breadcrumb trail guiding us to TS12?
Taylor’s left us all the clues. Now we just have to read between the seams.
Featured Image Courtesy of Taylor Swift Style