We take a deep dive into the style and aesthetics of each of Taylor Swift’s eras, and explore how you can use the style trends of each era in your own designs.
Whether you’re a devoted Swiftie or simply Swiftie-curious, there’s no escaping Taylor’s world domination. The cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour has brought Taylormania to concert goers, and now worldwide cinema audiences, too.
A celebration of her record-breaking career, spanning 10 albums, or eras, The Eras Tour also revisits the distinct aesthetics of each era to make the live show as much of a visual feast as a musical one.
Let’s take a look. . . .
What Are the Aesthetics of Taylor Swift’s Eras?
What are Taylor Swift’s ten eras? Each Taylor Swift album is described by the artist as an era, a period in her musical career and life defined by a specific mood and aesthetic.
From the early days of romantic country starlet to fully fledged pop princess, as well as the Joni Mitchell-esque mood curated by Swift during her lockdown album releases, folklore and evermore, Taylor is a master of chameleonic evolution, in both music and style.
Taylor Swift’s ten eras are:
- Taylor Swift (2006)
- Fearless (2008)
- Speak Now (2010)
- Red (2012)
- 1989 (2014)
- Reputation (2017)
- Lover (2019)
- Folklore (2020)
- Evermore (2020)
- Midnights (2022)
Each era has its own particular aesthetic, which is realized through album artwork, promotional imagery, fashion, and music videos.
If you want to tap into Taylor Swift trends in your own designs, you’ll need to brush up on the aesthetics of these ten eras.
Consider this your ultimate guide to the aesthetics of The Eras Tour, and Taylor Swift’s extraordinary two-decade career.
1. Taylor Swift (2006)
America’s ultimate pop princess began her career as the darling of country music, making Nashville her base and releasing a self-titled debut album.
The distinctive country twang in releases such as “Teardrops On My Guitar”’ and “Tim McGraw” spoke to Taylor’s country roots, and this era had a rustic aesthetic to match.
Cowboy boots, signature blonde curls, and a smattering of glitter made this Taylor Swift era distinctly girly and glam.
To tap into the original Taylor Swift aesthetic, look to all-American, wholesome imagery, such as worn wood backgrounds, cow-hide prints, and obligatory boots and stetsons.
Of course, Taylor wouldn’t be Taylor without a generous dusting of fashion sparkle, so liven up your rustic designs with glitter backgrounds and denim textures.
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2. Fearless (2008)
The crossover from country starlet to pop icon began with Taylor Swift’s follow-up album, Fearless.
Featuring chart-topping hits “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me,” Taylor brought romantic musings to the masses with a pop-infused musical style.
This era represented the start of Taylor Swift’s unstoppable path to pop domination, with the aesthetic bolder and more confident.
The Fearless era aesthetic had a richer color palette, with gold and crimson red creating a romantic Medieval look across music videos and album artwork.
The country roots were still visible in glittered guitars and sweet prom dresses, but the Fearless aesthetic felt more polished and grown-up, borrowing from the imagery and styles of fairytales, folk, and Baroque.
In your own designs, romantic Medieval images and Baroque wallpaper textures will help you recreate the Fearless style.
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3. Speak Now (2010)
The fairy tale for Taylor Swift continued with her third album release, Speak Now. The first album Taylor wrote on her own, this was an era of self-assertion.
Taylor’s concerts became more theatrical, with fireworks and choreography, and she leaned into a strong color palette of rich purple to build glamor and mystery into her narrative.
The aesthetic of the Speak Now era is still rooted in the romance and fairy tale foundations of Fearless, but Taylor’s fresh confidence was reinforced with an uber-glamorous aesthetic of purple flapper dresses and high heels on-stage, and preppy beanies and brogues off-duty.
Recreate the feminine glamor of the Speak Now era with mystical purple backgrounds, fairy tale castles, and elegant ballerina imagery.
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4. Red (2012)
A fan-favorite album, Red is remembered for its endless array of addictive tunes, including mega-hits such as “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “22,” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
The most color-coded of all Taylor’s ten eras, Red playfully uses this strong, dominant color to give this break-up album its kick-ass character.
To channel a Red era aesthetic in your designs, opt for a crimson red and black color palette, moody dark glitter backgrounds, and preppy, autumnal touches, like duffle coats and cozy red knitwear.
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5. 1989 (2014)
Perhaps Taylor’s most memorable era was 1989, which cemented her status as one of the biggest celebrities on the planet.
Now living in New York, and surrounded by her “squad” of glamorous model and performer pals, Taylor Swift swapped her girl-next-door duffle coats for an uptown girl aesthetic, rocking a new sleek bob, hipster sunglasses, and multi-colored outfits.
Taylor’s celebrity status—and the dramas played out in the media, including reported feuds with Katy Perry and Kanye West—threatened to eclipse her musical accomplishments.
However, in typical Taylor style, she breezed through awards season, taking home three Grammy awards, amid a wealth of others, for 1989.
The 1989 era aesthetic is a celebration of Taylor’s grown-up life in New York, as well as the release of her first pure pop album. Pastel, cloud-strewn backgrounds, polaroid photography, and an altogether cooler, more urban aesthetic make 1989 her most hipster era yet.
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6. Reputation (2017)
Following a high-profile feud with Kanye West, Taylor disappeared from the public eye, only to return with a blistering new album, Reputation.
A direct call-out to the press and performers who had threatened her public image, the Reputation era represented a complete change of direction for Taylor.
Using the snake motif to her advantage, Taylor crafted a serpentine identity around the album, with molten gold textures, bling diamonds, and newspaper collage textures combined to communicate a sense of power and strength.
To achieve a Reputation aesthetic, team Blackletter typography with metallic textures for an assertive, urban style in your designs.
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7. Lover (2019)
The most gloriously girly era of Taylor Swift must have been Lover, which was a sharp departure from the dark and moody aesthetic of Reputation.
Gone was the dark lipstick and leather jackets, and in burst a shower of rainbow-tinted sequins.
Lover was unashamedly romantic and optimistic, and was the first time Taylor waded into political issues, making known her support for the LGBTQ+ community with “You Need To Calm Down.”
The Lover era aesthetic is feminine and fabulous. Pastel tie-dye, showgirl sequins, and candyfloss colors made this into Taylor’s most pop era yet.
In your own projects, look to pink sequin backgrounds, unicorn images, and pastel backdrops to bring fabulousness to websites, social media posts, or stationery.
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8. folklore (2020)
After the Lover tour was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor retreated into isolation and created one of her most masterful albums as a result. Folklore was escapist and atmospheric, edging towards indie folk.
Brimming with nostalgia, narrative and an ode to Americana, the folklore era was one of Taylor’s best eras aesthetically, with accessible fashion and design taking inspiration from vintage prairie styling.
To recreate a folklore aesthetic in your projects, look to vintage wallpaper backgrounds, cozy hygge images, and cabin photography to conjure up a mood of splendid isolation.
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9. evermore (2020)
Only a few moths after folklore dropped, Taylor released a second related album, evermore. With a more wintery mood than its predecessor, the evermore era is ethereal and dreamlike, blending gentle country with the indie folk traits of folklore.
A similar aesthetic surrounded the evermore era, with the emphasis now on autumnal oranges and winter whites, cozy tartan textures and faded botanical prints.
In your own designs, combine snowy landscape photography with burnt earth colors and soft tactile textures, such as wool and velvet.
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10. Midnights (2022)
A reflection on 13 witching hours during her 32 years on earth, Taylor Swift’s Midnights album is a reflection on love, loss, and a voicing of Millennial anxiety.
In line with the introspective mood, the Midnights era aesthetic makes a nod to nostalgic nightlife style, lifting elements from ’70s disco and indie sleaze.
Deep, inky blue sets the color tone for the Midnights era, with burnt gold, copper, and metallic green providing glamorous accents.
Blue velvet and gold glitter are the textural backdrops to channel the moody aesthetic of this latest era in Taylor Swift’s repertoire.
Look to hazy retro photography, polaroid templates, and inky interiors to recreate the retro feel of Midnights.
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Taylor Swift’s Eras of Style
Aesthetics has always played a huge role in crafting a visual mood to uniquely suit Taylor’s music.
Each album, or era, borrows from historical design, current design trends, and Taylor’s own style phases, creating a potent mix of aesthetics and music that Swifties can’t get enough of.
We can’t wait to see what fresh styles Taylor’s future eras will bring!
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