It’s hard to believe we’ve been in the RED (Taylor’s Version) era for almost 10 months. You would think I would have been way more proactive about posting these KimberKopy’s, but here I am (and still eagerly waiting to see what album she’s going to drop next). I am classifying these outfits as part of Taylor’s ~summer~ style for the RED era (because her fall/winter looks are equally as iconic and deserve their own time to shine). When I tell you that this era of Taylor Swift outfits changed my personal style forever, I mean it. To this day, I still take cues from these outfits. I am so proud I actually found a few #TSSexact pieces as well! So please enjoy this analysis of Taylor’s RED era style and a few recreations that were super fun to do.
I’ve always admired how Taylor switches up her look for ever era. The RED era was so pivotal for Taylor’s career. It was during RED that she cut her bangs and started wearing high waisted shorts during her performances (edgy, I know). What a cultural reset! Taylor’s personal style also aided the “Tweed Tumblr” girl trend I witnessed (and even embraced) as a teenager. I tried so hard to embody this style when I was in high school and college. My friends always made fun of me and my large collection of striped sweaters and polka dot dresses. I still go for this style to this day, to the point where I would probably wear any of these outfits out and about (maybe not one in particular).
Words To Describe Taylor’s 2012 Style:
- Retro
- Preppy
- Vintage
- Girlie
We saw a lot of stripes, ballet flats, 50s style dresses, retro sunglasses, and red lipstick during this era of Taylor’s life, which I think we still see later on in other eras. Isn’t the SNL joke something like “Taylor Swift, she’s always in like a 1950s swimsuit”? That is pretty much the RED era in a nutshell. And while we have seen other elements of these in other eras and varying styles mixed into this formula as well (I love how in every era, Boho Taylor comes out to play). These recreations truly take me back to high school and all the turbulent emotions of that time. It was definitely a golden age in of itself and a very remarkable time for Taylor’s career. I still think Taylor has a hard time shaking this image and this style, but I’m definitely not complaining. These outfits were a lot easier to recreate then others I’ve done, because they match up to my own style more than other eras. So if you’re like me and love a vintage-y, classic look (coastal grandma’s… where you at??), then I hope you love these outfits as much as I do.
Quick Disclaimer: I know some of these outfits happened before RED was announced. But as far as I’m concerned, the RED era started when Taylor got bangs.
Outfit #1:
I’m kicking off these photos with the OG RED outfit – the one she wore to announce the release of RED over a Youtube live stream. I think that was technically the first “Secret Session”. We should have guessed from all of the red Easter eggs she was dropping that this album would have to do with the color. I thrifted this dress on Poshmark and wore it in this Tiktok to celebrate the rerelease of RED (Taylor’s Version) in November. I am normally a huge scallops + stripes person, and this dress is definitely iconic to the start of the RED era, but it’s not really my style these days. I am selling it on my Poshmark if you are interested! I linked some similar items below, but I also recommend you doing some hunting on thredUP or Poshmark for something more exact.
Outfit #2:
If I remember correctly, Taylor wore this outfit in May 2012 to lunch with Mark Foster of Foster the People. I remember seeing this outfit for the first time and thinking “omg there is a lot going on”. But I do love my Boho Taylor and I love it when she takes fashion risks. And because there is a lot going on, it was relatively easy to recreate. I thrifted the FP slip from Mercari and thrifted the skirt from thredUP. I already had the belt, flats and hat in my closet. We all know Taylor loves Free People, which makes it much easier to copy her style. I don’t think I would wear this look outside of my house, but good for Taylor that she did in 2012. I linked some similar items below, but I also recommend you doing some hunting on thredUP or Poshmark for something more exact. The Trapeze slip is very easy to thrift!
Outfit 3:
I can’t think of any other outfit Taylor wore during this time that could so easily sum up her style than this. The high ponytail, the Ray Bans, the striped dress, the red heels and the coordinating bag. So effortlessly vintage and classy. She looks like she jumped out of a 50s magazine and I am here for it. She wore this outfit while shopping in LA with her friend Ashley. I searched high and low for the exact dress, but was only able to find this similar striped dress on thredUP. I linked some similar items below, but I also recommend you doing some hunting on thredUP or Poshmark for something more exact.
Outfit # 4
I was so happy to find this exact dress on Poshmark! It is so gorgeous and so flattering. Taylor looks like a classy grandma in her prime and I am all for that! Taylor wore this dress while out and about in Beverly Hills in April 2012. I remember seeing these candids and thinking “omg I need that dress”. Glad to see that idea materialized years later. Taylor certainly loved dresses from Anthropologie, and wore several dresses like this one in the RED era. I linked some similar items below, but I also recommend you doing some hunting on thredUP or Poshmark for something more exact. The exact brand of the dress is “Girls of Savoy”.
Outfit # 5:
Did I mention headbands were a huge part of the RED era? Because they definitely are. Taylor wore this outfit in July 2013 while out to lunch with Selena Gomez. This outfit feels very vintage and girlie. Leave it to Taylor to always throw an unnecessary belt on something. I also wore this dress in another recreation series. I am not a huge headband person but I do think this outfit is very cute for summer. I linked some similar items below, but I also recommend you doing some hunting on thredUP or Poshmark for something more exact.
Outfit #6:
This is definitely my favorite outfit in this entire post. I would absolutely wear this outfit in my everyday life. It’s so classic and retro! I believe she wore this while out for coffee with her friend Claire in May 2012. I am especially obsessed with the sunglasses in this and her bold red lip. Years from now, kids will look at this photo and think “wow! young Taylor Swift was so classy”! I already had everything for this outfit in my closet, so I figured this was the best post to wrap this blog up with. I linked some similar items below, but I also recommend you doing some hunting on thredUP or Poshmark for something more exact.
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Which look is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading! xx