Feather boas and heart motifs at Harry Styles, silver latex and cowboy hats at Beyoncé and now sequins and slogan tees at Taylor Swift. These juggernauts of the pop world have inspired a whole generation to go Maria von Trapp on their curtains. Gone are the days of just wearing jeans and a nice top to a concert. All you need to do is open TikTok to see that lucky ticket holders have been hand-sewing and hot-gluing their outfits for months.
Artist James Mollison has been photographing fans at concerts around the world, from Madonna to Oasis, since 2005 for his project The Disciples, with a fascination for the different tribes of people who attend, the way they emulate celebrity to form their identity and how typologies emerge when photographing a group. If you’re suffering from PTSD — Post Taylor Swift Depression — here is a line-up of ES Magazine’s favourite fan outfits. And remember, she’s back in August — so get down to Hobbycraft, asap!
Maggie 31, New York
What is the inspiration behind your outfit?
Taylor’s Reputation-era stage bodysuit.
Favourite Taylor era?
Evermore.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
‘Champagne Problems’.
Sophie, 29, Manchester
What is the inspiration behind your outfit?
Taylor’s 1989 era.
Favourite Taylor era?
1989 because it was her first pop era and the songs are so catchy and fun.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
‘Clean’ because everyone’s had their heart broken at some point and I think the lyric, ‘Just because you’re clean, don’t mean you don’t miss it’, is so true.
Elsie, 13, Whitchurch
What is the inspiration behind your outfit?
Taylor’s Red era and her ‘22’ music video look.
Favourite Taylor era?
Reputation as all the songs are 11/10.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
‘Sparks Fly’.
Alice, 23, London
What is the inspiration behind your outfit?
Taylor’s ‘Shake it Off’ music video cheerleader look.
Favourite Taylor era?
Lover — I just love the vibes.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?’
Evie and Matilda, both 13, London
What is the inspiration behind your outfits?
Taylor’s ‘You Belong With Me’ music video outfit mixed with cowboy summer vibes and Taylor’s lyrics.
Favourite Taylor era?
Lover and Fearless.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
‘So Long, London’ and ‘London Boy’.
Hilary, 63, Nottinghamshire
What is the inspiration behind your outfit?
Taylor’s ‘Anti-Hero’ Eras Tour dress.
Favourite Taylor era?
Lover or 1989. Lover is so uplifting, great music to have on while driving — I only learnt to drive five years ago! Late starter. And ‘You Need to Calm Down’ is a lesson so many people need to learn. 1989 gives all the stages we go through — from independent woman to sneaking out to meet a man.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
It’s got to be ‘London Boy’.
Alexandra, 30, South Africa
What is the inspiration behind your outfit?
Taylor’s Lover era.
Favourite Taylor era?
I am a Lover era fangirl — the Lover album got me through some hard times.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’.
Thomas, 18, Brighton
What is the inspiration behind your outfit?
The ringmaster outfit she wore on her Red tour.
Favourite Taylor era?
Speak Now just because of the songs — I adore them all.
What Taylor song would you recommend Londoners listen to?
‘Dear John’ because it’s one of her most underrated songs and the lyrics are so powerful.
