Many may have noticed a recent accessory addition to the Tortured Poets costuming on the Eras Tour: a sleek pair of triple dart leather gloves. The addition comes as a functional fix to combat chilly temperatures on this particular stretch of dates in the United Kingdom.

Taylor first debuted the Tortured Poets section when she kicked off the European leg of the Eras Tour in Paris. I had wondered aloud when/if we would see alternate versions of this dress with other TTPD lyrics scrawled across it.

Now on the European leg of Eras, I had been wondering when we’d see her pop in London. The days ahead of her U.K. dates seemed like a fitting time as any. And oh is she saying things with this ensemble. 

In between Eras Tour stops in Europe, Taylor opted for some vacation time at this very romantic and popular lakeside tourist destination in Italy.

Among many of Taylor's new costumes introduced during the European leg of the Eras Tour, she also added a few new options of her sequinned Ashish shirt during the RED set.

For her final number in the TTPD set, Taylor gives a rousing theatrical performance of “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart”. It’s thoroughly entertaining. It’s sardonically meta. It’s theatrical sarcasm.

Among many of Taylor's new costumes introduced during the European leg of the Eras Tour, she also added a few new options of her sequinned Ashish shirt during the RED set.

To me, this is really giving that we were both young when I first saw you. The transportive magic of fashion (and the Eras Tour).

For my own predictions post guessing at tour designers for The Tortured Poets Department set on the Eras Tour I noted: “When it comes to designers, I feel Vivienne Westwood would excel at this assignment.” The theatricality, the dramatics, the corsetry, the Britishness of it all.

During the RED set I wasn’t just confused because it was the first set to have moved from its original spot in the setlist, but Taylor’s new shirt saying took me aback.

I’m not quite sure what outing Taylor wore this LBD for while out in Las Vegas (after party, out to dinner, another event) but what I do know is this is a very important designer.

I’m sure somewhere locked inside my brain are smarter words to say about this dress but the only one I can summon up is greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen.

To my ears (and still overwhelmed brain feeling like I’ve absorbed an encyclopedia of words across these 31 songs) this is an album for ‘Swiftie scholars’ who have the time, space, and devotion to wade through the heaviness of an album this dense and complicated.

It’s been fascinating to observe Taylor’s game day fashion evolve from September to now and even more so to see her wear something so utterly non-descript during such a key match like the AFC Championship - a Super Bowl decider game.

Many people have wondered when Taylor would wear an 87 jersey at a game and I’m delighted that the moment has come in such a fashionably fun way courtesy of #KristinJuszczyk - wife of 49ers player Kyle Juszczyk - who has taken to repurposing old jerseys into fabulous custom coats like this one.

For her final Chiefs game of 2023, after a slew of outfits supported by mini skirts and tall boots Taylor instead opted for what I’ll call a personal copy + paste outfit for me with a belted pair of pants and heeled boots.

What a blast from the past with this sweater which I’m tentatively calling based on Taylor owning and wearing this particular knit in six different colours over twelve years.

So to see her here now, effectively bookending Midnights fashion in a look that’s dark and ruminating and moonlit and celestial and mysterious yet sparkly and glam and alluring … it feels all the more appropriate on her birthday of all days.

Once again Taylor’s streak for a short skirt and a tall boot continues and I am loving the proportions on her.

It’s very fun as we progress deeper into football season that, by extension, we get to see Taylor’s game day fashion change to reflect the actual seasons of the time as well.