This summer, if you visit London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, you might see Swifties in Eras tour outfits and friendship bracelets hurrying through the halls. They’re there for “Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail,” a free exhibit featuring 16 of Taylor Swift’s iconic looks from music videos, tours, album covers, and red carpets, along with instruments, awards, and storyboards from her personal archive, many on display for the first time.
Stop 1: Lover
The first stop on the tour highlights the Lover era. You’ll see the silk Versace shirt and loafers Taylor wore in her 2020 self-directed music video for “The Man,” along with the wig and facial hair that transformed her into a millionaire playboy, her director’s chair, her Best Director VMA, and a loop of the video itself. Swift’s look in the video plays with gender stereotypes.
Stop 2: reputation
This costume from Taylor Swift’s first stadium tour features a snake motif, emblematic of the reputation era. The album, marked by darker themes and combative lyrics, reflects Swift’s reaction to fame and media pressures, which she described as ‘a goth-punk moment of female rage.’
Stop 3: Speak Now
The hidden details here are charming: gilded panels, mirrors, and ceilings feature paintbrushes, canvases, easels, and musical instruments, including one resembling Taylor Swift’s. Speak Now is Taylor’s first fully self-written album, reflecting her transition to adulthood with raw honesty. As the sole creator, she was songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and singer. This ukulele was used on the Speak Now World Tour.
Stop 4: Red
This fisherman’s cap appears on the cover of Taylor Swift’s 2021 album Red (Taylor’s Version), which blends rock and pop with her country roots. The gown was worn in the video for “I Bet You Think About Me,” a ‘From The Vault’ track.
Stop 5: Fearless
This theatrical costume from Taylor Swift’s Fearless Tour, worn during performances of “Love Story,” reflects her love for fairytales and storytelling. Swift marked ’13’ on her hand each night, a number she considers lucky and an early example of her unique ways of connecting with fans. The Fearless album, which includes hits like “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me,” earned her first ‘Album of the Year’ Grammy.
Stop 6: 1989
The 1989 album marked Taylor Swift’s shift from country to pop, featuring assertive lyrics about life in the public eye and earning her a second ‘Album of the Year’ Grammy, a first for a female artist. The 1989 World Tour, the highest-grossing tour of 2015, showcased a sleek new look for “Out of the Woods” and highlighted Swift’s advocacy for fair artist compensation and the value of albums.
Stop 7: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s debut album, released at 16, combined traditional country with pop, reflecting adolescent experiences and sparking new interest in country music. This stage look includes designer cowboy boots.
Stop 8: evermore
Released in 2020 and continuing the themes of folklore, evermore is represented by the ethereal Zimmerman dress Taylor Swift wears in the “Willow” music video. Swirling around it are pages from the original storyboard, created by Taylor before she took on the role of director once again.
Stop 9: folklore
folklore was a surprise album released by Taylor Swift during the pandemic, recorded in isolation and exploring dreamy narratives of introspection and escapism. This cardigan, featured in her “Cardigan” music video, became a fan favourite and sparked a tradition of new cardigans for each era. The installation includes a moss and fern-covered piano, candles, and the cardigan left on a stool, evoking the quiet, introspective mood of the album.
Stop 10: Midnights
Midnights, inspired by sleepless nights, delves into nocturnal themes with experimental electronic and synth-pop sounds. It broke streaming records, was the best selling album of 2022, and earned Swift her fourth ‘Album of the Year’ Grammy.
This ornate costume and necklace were worn by Swift as a Cinderella-like character in the “Bejeweled” video, which features cameos from Laura Dern and Dita Von Teese. In a twist on the classic tale, Swift’s character rejects Prince Charming, played by Jack Antonoff.
Stop 11: Records and re-records
In 2021, Taylor Swift began re-recording her first six albums to regain control of her catalogue, with each edition titled Taylor’s Version and including both reworked tracks and additional “From The Vault” material. This shirt dress, featuring previous album titles, was worn when Swift received the ‘Artist of the Decade’ award at the 2019 American Music Awards.
You can see highlights from Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour film, now the highest-grossing concert film of all time, showcasing the elaborate staging, costumes, and choreography of the show. The film captures the cultural and economic impact of the tour. Featured items include the silk Ulla Johnson smock from the Fearless (Taylor’s Version) cover, the Oscar de la Renta dress from the 2022 VMAs where she announced *Midnights*, and various iconic magazine covers. Also on display are the powder blue Oscar de la Renta gown from the 2023 The Eras Tour film premiere and a stack of friendship bracelets, each representing a different album.
Stop 12: The Tortured Poets Department
In February 2024, Taylor Swift announced her upcoming album The Tortured Poets Department while receiving the ‘Best Pop Vocal Album of the Year’ Grammy for Midnights. This double album, showcasing her extraordinary creativity, features 31 tracks with an eclectic mix of poetic and emotional songs, referencing a range of influential female artists including Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, and Clara Bow.
The outfit on display in this room is from the music video for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone, highlighting Swift’s distinct style and the creative evolution evident in this new album.
Stop 13: Childhood
Born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1989, Taylor Swift started writing songs at a young age. This display shows the little girl with big dreams alongside “The Best Day” music video, reflecting her early songwriting talent and the beginnings of her journey to international fame.
There are numerous hidden details for visitors to find, as well as countless personal connections to explore, including subtle elements that might be unique to each person’s perspective.
Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail will be on display in the V&A’s permanent galleries until September 8, 2024. Admission is free, and a digital map of the trail will be available for visitors.
