NEED TO KNOW
Leave it to Taylor Swift fans to leave no stone unturned.
Since the singer rolled out new details of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, Swifties have been locked in finding what fashion breadcrumbs Swift left leading up to the big announcement. Now that art for TS12 has been revealed, there’s been a lot more to dive into.
The Grammy winner’s 12-track record is accompanied by images of Swift in “Viva Las Vegas” mode. The outfits are camp, glam and what you’d expect to see if a showgirl’s wardrobe busted at the seams — and, most of all, point to a brand new aesthetic for Swift. But has it been in front of our eyes this whole time?
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
When Sarah Chapelle, the fan behind the popular Instagram account @taylorswiftstyled, began rolling out the details on the clothes worn for the shoot, her followers began pointing out similarities between Swift’s current fashion choices and her recent red carpet looks, alluding to the pop star channeling her Life of a Showgirl era before it was announced.
For one of the shoots, stylist Joseph Cassell Falconer outfitted Swift in a bejeweled ruby red bodysuit with an exaggerated scooped neckline. The design was pulled from The Blonds’ Fall 2024 collection and was styled with equally glitzed-up gloves and fishnet tights, very much like how it was on the runway. It drew comparisons to the Vivienne Westwood mini she wore to the 2025 Grammys, especially with the mirrored necklines.
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When she opened up about the album on Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, Swift revealed that she was working on it last spring and summer when she was on the Eras Tour. So between then and now, it’s completely possible that Swift drew inspiration from her very own photos for her big red carpet moment.
Fans also pointed out that that night, Swift wore Lorraine Schwartz earrings with 12 rubies on each, possibly planting another Easter egg.
After all, she did leave fans in mystery when she attended the 2024 Grammys in an academia-coded Schiaparelli gown and custom Lorraine Schwartz watch necklace that alluded to The Tortured Poets Department, which she announced that night.
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Her stylist also dressed Swift in a skin-baring crystal chainmail look from the Area 2022 collection, a costume that jogged our memories of Swift’s 2022 MTV VMAs equally sexy entrance.
That year, the Miss Americana star wore an Oscar de la Renta dress with draped crystal beading akin to the former outfit. She then changed into a starry and very performer-esque Moschino romper to celebrate her wins. Yes, the awards show may have been a month out from Swift releasing Midnights, however we can’t help but hope that Swift was always channeling her inner showgirl.
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If you’re wondering if someone as busy as the global superstar has the time to map out clues this detailed, she said in her New Heights interview that’s it’s actually something she really enjoys to get fans involved with.
“There’s dos and don’ts. Right? Like, I’m never gonna plant an Easter egg that ties back to my personal life. It’s always gonna be towards music or a musical something I’m coming up with.” She added that she loves scheming ideas that will leave those who are following to “be like, oh my god.”