From Keir Starmer to Prince George, it seems that literally everyone – on your feed, in your friend group, on the tube and on TV – is going to the Eras Tour. It’s not just the concert to be at but the concert to be seen at. So, what you wear to this three-hour emotional rollercoaster of a gig matters more than ever.
While, for most concerts, you might wear your comfiest shoes and a breathable T-shirt in preparation for dancing all night, you’d be wrong to prioritise function over form at the Eras Tour. Swifties have turned the gigs into an opportunity, not just for Taylor to flaunt a dizzying array of outfits, but for fans to display their favourite era, song or lyric through their clothing choices (often resulting in outfits with backstories as convoluted as Taylor’s Easter eggs).
“It’s not just the concert to be at but the concert to be seen at”
The iconic friendship bracelet, inspired by the ‘You’re On Your Own Kid’ lyric, is an Eras Tour essential. The tradition of exchanging bracelets with Swifties you meet on the train, in the crowd and the queue for the loo means the real curation of your outfit is hardly complete after choosing your clothes; not only you, but your accessories, will be transformed by the time you leave that arena!
The friendship bracelet trend not only provides an opportunity for a pre-concert craft session that will transport you back to breaktime at primary school, but liberates you to indulge in a kitsch, early-2000s aesthetic of glittery beads and bright colours. Shoving bracelets up to our elbows was a much-needed regression to the simple joys of childhood, as my friends and I finally embodied the pink plastic fantasy fuelling every kid’s dreams in the days of Loom Bands and Scooby Doos.
“Shoving bracelets up to our elbows was a much-needed regression to the simple joys of childhood”
Friendship bracelets might seem to be the only thing uniting the variety of styles present in a stadium populated by every era of Taylor’s 18-year career. However, another element bringing fans’ fits together was the need to be bejewelled; sequins, glittery eyeliner and shimmering beads are Eras essentials.
Sparkly dresses were a popular choice at Wembley. Esther donned a mini dress adorned with giant disc sequins, chosen in a charity shop for its resemblance to Taylor’s outfit during her surprise appearance at The 1975’s concert in January. While that era in Swift’s life may not have lasted long, Esther’s commitment to Taylor means she’s already planned her outfit for a second concert in August. A charity shop find, the gold number is inspired by the shimmery, tasselled octopus dress Taylor has occasionally worn for the Fearless era.
Inspired by the album containing most of my top 10 Taylor songs (and to mourn its upsettingly sparse presence on the setlist), I embraced a Speak Now-adjacent look, with a purple dress from Nobody’s Child and a smudge of gold eyeliner. I topped this off with the classic “13” scrawled on my hand with sharpie and purple nail varnish, ensuring my vocal chords and emotional stability wouldn’t be the only things permanently marked by this experience. I completed the look with white Reeboks (a less fashionable choice but, after May Week, my feet rejected anything else).
Others, however, were more adventurous with their footwear – Izzy, despite the right heel giving up on her the day before, did some swift DIY to ensure she could wear some iconically Debut-era cowboy boots. Alongside an insole and the superglue holding her Vinted purchase together (and reliant on the excitement of Taylor’s presence diverting attention from her achy feet), she paired a Topshop dress found on Depop with earrings from Etsy, completed by gems from Claire’s, for a dazzling mirrorball-inspired fit.
“A rush of silver and gold never fails a Swftie in need”
While a rush of silver and gold never fails a Swftie in need, some more complex colour coordination was spotted among the crowds. Katie (left) and Amelia (right) demonstrated the benefits of coordinating with your friends, arriving in joint Lover-inspired outfits. While Amelia’s appliqué jacket and pink top were charity shop and Vinted finds, Katie’s outfit was custom-made by an Etsy dressmaker to emulate Taylor’s ‘ME! ’ music video, with red heart-shaped sunglasses to match. The girls completed their looks with the essential face glitter, recalling Taylor’s iconic pastel album cover.
Maddy (centre) picked Taylor’s more toned-down folklore era, sporting a subtle, dusky-pink dress with a ruched front, echoing the classy elegance of Rebekah Harkness, the inspiration behind ‘the last great american dynasty’.
Perhaps due to its celebration of sequins, glitter and summery colours, the Lover era was extremely popular among fans. While some might say this style borders on childish, this aspect was – quite literally – embraced by others. Shreya’s holographic, pastel T-shirt dress (that Taylor could easily have worn onto the ‘YNTCD’ music video set), was found on an age-12 hanger in Next. With face gems complementing a pink cat eye and bow of Siwa proportions, this outfit perfectly captures the era’s carefree quality. So, if you’re planning a Lover-inspired fit for your Eras Tour trip, maybe it’s time to save yourself the effort (and money) of searching the adult section and look elsewhere. Taylor did say to ‘Never Grow Up’…
Not everyone saw the blazing June sun and thought pastels were the way to avoid being cooked in the open air of Wembley – arguably Taylor’s most difficult to recreate but certainly one of her standout eras, the darker shades of Reputation featured in many outfits. Alex, Varsity’s own Vulture Editor, couldn’t resist choosing a newspaper-covered top, paired with sparkly black shorts and snake jewellery, all found on Vinted. Also featuring many French headlines, the HML student’s top showcases how easy it is to pay homage to your favourite Taylor album while bringing your own interests into the mix!
Representing the other end of the Swfitie spectrum, Irisa chose a yellow dress – brought to Cambridge with hopes of a sunny Easter term that failed to materialise but perfect for the Fearless era. Gifted by the costume designer of a play they acted in at age 16, Irisa’s dress – and the many second-hand steals in these looks – prove you don’t need to break the bank to create a gorgeous Eras outfit.
Carefully curated outfits are just one part of the social media swarm of surprise song theories, rerecording rumours and secret guest speculation that makes the Eras Tour such a thrilling experience. While the pressure to pull off the most iconic Taylor-inspired look can be daunting, the way to have the best day (if you’re lucky enough to have acquired tickets) is simply to get dressed for dancing: those 3.5 hours are no joke. Happy Eras Touring!
