If you listen to the stans, you'd think that Taylor Swift is the best-dressed musician on the planet. Personally, I've always found her outfits relatively tame but, finally, I'm pleased to report that Swift has begun to kick her style up a notch. "Bam," as Emeril Lagasse once said.
On October 1, out in New York, Swift wore a leather shirt over a black T-shirt, denim shorts, and matching knee-high boots. Not exactly a showstopper but, especially for Swift, a solid night-out look.
She also changed into a li'l black dress later in the night. It was also good.
The day prior, Swift offered another appreciably decent look, wearing an oversized sweater over tartan plaid skirt, and black boots.
Now, can't say I care for the boots much — Swift's taste in shoes typically leans a little outdated, evidenced by the extraneous buckles on these things — but, again, every above-average Swift look is worth a minor celebration, so this too gets a pass.
I can't help but wonder if this recent development in Swift's wardrobe is due to her new, rumored relationship with Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end previously unknown to anyone who doesn't pay attention to football. (Just being honest...)
Kelce loves to dress in all the ways that Swift doesn't. She's never been one for edgy clothes or fancy statement pieces — the headline-dominating outfit Swift wore when she first showed up for Kelce in late September included the world's most basic sneakers.
Meanwhile, Kelce has never not worn flex-worthy garms. His most recent duds include a Kidsuper suit and that one Vetements T-shirt that all the celebrities like.
If Swift and Kelce actually are dating — they haven't confirmed or denied, though they were seen holding hands — he may be rubbing off on her already. Could just be the cooling weather, which makes everyone dress better (by way of layering), or could be Swift stepping things up to mirror Kelce's predilection for puttin' it on.
Now, Taylor Swift obviously does not care what I have to say (nor should she) and whatever anyone says about her style doesn't change the fact that she's a living phenomenon with the agency to wear whatever she likes.
That's just the thing that always gets me, though: for someone with such immense international impact, she always dressed disappointingly normal.
I've argued previously that part of Swift's mass appeal is that, songwriting gifts aside, she appears quite ordinary. I mean that as a positive, like she's uncharacteristically approachable in a way that most celebs aren't. Most famous folks lose that appeal as they become multimillionaires, whereas Swift just looks relatable.
Her approach to fashion has always mirrored that unpretentiousness.
But, at the same time, Taylor Swift is a big deal, in case you weren't aware. It's about time she started dressing the part.
