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This post will teach you everything you need to know about Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ fashion, with outfits inspired by the new album.

About The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD)

The Tortured Poets Department. An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time – one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure. This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up. There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted. This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.

And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.

Taylor Swift

Oh boy, do we have things to go through!

The Tortured Poets Department (shortened TTPD) is Taylor Swift’s eleventh studio album. It was released on April 19^th, just last Friday.

And what a week it was!

First of all, the album came out at the struck of midnight. Two hours later, Taylor revealed it was actually a *double album* and 15 more songs were released (The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology).

The double-album-truther Swifties have finally been redeemed!

This anthology includes all the bonus tracks of each of the physical variants: ‘The Black Dog,’ ‘The Manuscript,’ ‘The Albatross’, and ‘The Bolter.’ So, if you didn’t get one of them or any variant, you can still hear the bonus tracks by streaming the Anthology version of the album.

The new album’s lead single is ‘Fortnight,’ a collaboration between Taylor and Post Malone. The accompanying music video was also released on April 19^th.

I’ve been listening to the album almost non-stop since it came out, and I’ve had certain lyrics and melodies stuck in my head for days. As expected, Taylor delivered a heart-wrenching tale.

The way I interpret it, the album is not about a single man or ex; it’s about finding your way back to yourself after a whirlwind of pain.

The album deals with extreme feelings of loneliness and isolation, of gilded cages, and still having to present yourself as being fine. And in the midst of all that, it’s about finding the wisdom to move on and let it all go.

The Fashion of TTPD

As I mentioned in my I Dressed Like Taylor Swift post last week, Taylor has adopted the vintage, academia-inspired theme into her street style.

In the months leading up to the album’s release, Taylor has worn lots of prep school-inspired items, including pleated skirts, blazers, letterman jackets, loafers, and button-up shirts.

In true Taylor fashion, these combine with more sultry and trendier elements to balance the look. Things like corsets, mesh, cutouts, mini skirts, and dresses bring a fresh look to her outfits.

The album visuals include many vintage elements and looks, as seen in the ‘Fortnight’ video. High-neck blouses, balloon sleeves, ruffled long dresses and skirts, and ribbon chokers feature heavily.

For the album shoot, there are more sultry-type items. Lace, silk, mesh, and cotton are the fabrics for this one. All of them are in service of flowy, sensual loungewear items, which, in contrast, are paired with vintage-inspired corsets, ruffled skirts, and long dresses.

In general, the album and its promo have a very clear academia-inspired theme. Bookmarks, typewriters, quills, library cards (libraries in general, really), stationery, stamps, dry flowers, and letterman patches are all important visual items that are used in promotional material.

The Tortured Poets Department Fashion Guide

Outfit 1: Fortnight (Black Look)

Who else is obsessed with this music video?

I loved the Dead Poets Society cameos, Post Malone’s black-and-white imagery, and Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography.

And while Taylor wears a good number of outfits through it, enough that I could write an article dedicated to just the video looks, about half of them aren’t really Spring/Summer friendly.

So, I focused on the two most iconic outfits in the video. The first is the black mourning dress:

This look is very Victorian, fitting in with the whole vintage theme of the album visuals.

To create a modern/wearable version of this, start with a shimmery black blouse with a high neck and ruffles. Then, for the bottoms, go for a ruffled black skirt with an A-line fit.

For accessories, I love this black velvet purse to add another vintage-inspired fabric. Finally, for shoes, black lace-up heeled booties are the way to go to complete the Victorian outfit.

If you want to recreate this outfit, look for ruffles, dramatic sleeves, and A-line skirts. The shimmery fabric of the blouse kind of calls back to other outfits in the same music video, and it’s also breathable if you want to wear it during hot weather.

Outfit 2: Fortnight (White Look)

Now, the second Fortnight look I chose is this white, maybe wedding-ish, ripped dress.

To create a similar look, start with a white corset top and pair it with a white tiered skirt in a midi length. (These skirts are trending like crazy this season!)

To accessorize, a black velvet choker with a jewel in the center brings in the luxe, gothic feel from other outfits in the music video.

Finally, for shoes, some white Mary Jane flats are the perfect balance of trendy, vintage-inspired, and practical.

This look draws from the Fortnight music video and other elements Taylor has been using for the album.

The corset has lace details, which were seen frequently in The Grove’s Spotify TTPD installation. These details tie into the wedding themes in some of the songs. The tiered skirt also has ruffles, although they are less dramatic than the ones on the black outfit.

Finally, the choker is very prominently featured throughout the music video. But I wanted it to be black instead of full-on white because I feel these outfits are two sides of the same coin, and bringing in the black ties them together.

Outfit 3: But Daddy I Love Him

‘But Daddy I Love Him’ is a scathing call-out to people who are judging a woman for a budding relationship with, at least in the eyes of those around her, an unsavory man.

In this song, Taylor literally reclaims the right to live her life and make her own decisions. It calls out anyone who uses the guise of “concern” to judge her relationship choices.

In the chorus of ‘But Daddy I Love Him,’ Taylor mentions ‘an open dress,’ so my mind immediately went to a beautiful summer dress.

To start, I decided on a midi cotton dress as a base. It is in a really beautiful (and trendy) buttery yellow color with a lilac flower print all over.

Then, for shoes, I love these off-white Mary Janes. Finally, a straw crossbody bag is both neutral and summery, and big sunglasses are perfect for hiding from the judgy ‘wine moms.’

The dress’s vintage-inspired cut and flowers bring elements of the album visuals to the forefront. The dress also has a tie-up detail, which calls back to the ‘open dress’ lyric. The Mary Janes are very vintage-preppy, keeping Taylor’s street style in mind.

Outfit 4: I Can Do It with a Broken Heart

The only way to describe ‘I Can Do It with a Broken Heart’ is sad bop. You’ll dance to it, but it has some of the saddest lyrics on the album.

In the song, Taylor talks about the dichotomy of putting on this energetic, careless, smiling mask while working (performing a concert) while being heartbroken and wanting to break down.

This outfit is very much inspired by one of Taylor’s most iconic The Eras Tour costumes. It’s also the most outwardly happy era during the concert: her Fearless golden dress. I was also reminded of her outfit at the concert’s end, namely the Midnights t-shirt dress and combat boots.

First, I chose a golden mini-dress that has some tassels.

Then, for shoes, I included two options: gold cowboy boots to reference the ‘working’ portion of the lyrics or black combat boots, AKA leaving work.

Finally, I added an oversized denim jacket to emulate a big comfort blanket for breaking down after the show.

Sincerely, The Chairman of the TTPD – Outfit #5

Finally, let’s talk about the Chairman herself, Taylor Swift. She posted this video for the Target-exclusive Clear Phantom variant promo.

In it, she’s wearing a pleated skirt, a sweater, tights, and loafers. Very Season 6 Rory Gilmore, if you ask me.

For this look, I chose a dark grey pleated mini-skirt and a navy blue crewneck sweater with a relaxed fit. These sheer black tights are very Taylor. I finished the look with chunky black loafers.

This outfit screams street-style, preppy Taylor. This is her current take on preppy, which can be seen in various variations throughout TTPD.

Bonus Outfit: Green Velvet Night-Out Look

Now, I made you a promise in last week’s Taylor Swift street style post: When the crushed velvet dress arrived, I’d include it in my next article.

And guess what? It arrived the day before TTPD was released!

After being stuck in transit for almost a week for no particular reason, Tayvoodoo struck again, and it arrived exactly for that weekend.

To recreate Taylor’s crushed velvet dress look, I managed to get my hands on this beautiful green crushed velvet dress that looks just like Taylor’s.

Then I added a pair of slouchy, cognac over-the-knee boots. Taylor’s are leather and have a snake drawn on them, but I already had these suede ones that matched both the fit and color.

For my accessories, I added my gold rings and a layered coin necklace; then, I grabbed a black structured bag to finish the look.

Let me just say that this dress was worth the wait! It is so beautiful, it’s olive green, but it has this sort of goldish hue when you move. It’s soft and so comfortable.

In general, this look is very much for Fall/Winter. I wore it the day after the dress arrived, and it was so warm out that I had to switch the boots midday for a pair of loafers. The dress is breathable enough that you could get away with wearing it in Spring but not in Summer.

Final Thoughts

How much did I cry when I first heard loml? I can understand perfectly the sentiment of someone being ‘the loss of your life’ and feeling like you were just used and discarded while being promised a lifetime.

And the incredibly cathartic I Can Do It with a Broken Heart? That took me right back to being 23, completely heartbroken, and still showing up the next day to the office and school, crying in the bathroom whenever I could.

Listening to The Prophecy, I was 25 and screaming at the sky for someone I could share my life with, without knowing that I would meet him just in a few months.

And even now, listening to The Alchemy and So High School while I’m in an amazing relationship with the best guy I’ve ever known… how could I think of anyone else but him while interpreting that song?

I’m just incredibly grateful that Taylor has found the words to describe those feelings and has given me a new arsenal of songs that can help me heal, process, and let go of my own experiences.

Personally, I don’t want to dissect the songs through the lens of who inspired them and try to reframe her past albums to fit this narrative. As she said in the very last song, The Manuscript, ‘the story isn’t mine anymore.’

The songs are now out there for us to reinterpret through our own lives. Because that’s what art is for.

Yes, there are Easter eggs. But, during the album, she also tells us, almost screaming, that we need to let go of reinterpreting, picking apart, and hyper-analyzing her life. Reinterpret the songs for yourself, to enrich your inner world, to find a lifeline, to connect with others, but leave Taylor’s life to her. She already closed that chapter.

I also appreciate Taylor’s attention to detail, giving us hints about the songs’ titles through her accessories and clothes, the music videos, and the tiny details that give Swifties special messages or announcements.

So, take the fashion, the fun, the lyrics, and the music. Feel them, cry and laugh with them, and find the literary references and the bars.

Make it your own. Just like you would the outfits.

What Do You Think?

P.S. For my past Taylor Swift posts, see my other guides:

Would you wear any of the outfits? What’s your favorite look? What’s your favorite Taylor era? Have you heard the new album? Which song is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Who else is counting down the minutes until the release of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department?

This week, in honor of the album’s release, I copied Taylor Swift’s most recent 2024 street style outfits.

Read on to see how it went!

About The Tortured Poets Department

The Tortured Poets Department (shortened TTPD) is Taylor Swift’s eleventh studio album. It will be released on April 19th (AKA in a few hours, as of this publishing date).

This new album was announced in true Taylor fashion… while receiving a Grammy for her previous album, Midnights (2022).

We know nothing about the album’s sound since no singles have been released.

What we do know is, Taylor described TTPD as a lifeline album during The Eras Tour. It is rumored to be a mix of reputation (2017) and Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021).

The album’s concept is the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Taylor even created playlists for Apple Music based on this concept, using her previous (self-owned) albums.

And, in keeping with this theme, there are five variations of the album.

TTPD will consist of sixteen songs, two of which feature other artists, plus a bonus track.

Fortnight, the opening track, features Post Malone. The song Florida! is Taylor’s long-awaited collaboration with Florence and the Machine.

Finally, there are four possible bonus tracks: The Manuscript, The Bolter, The Albatross, and The Black Dog. Each album variation is named after one of these tracks and includes just that one bonus song.

Taylor’s TTPD Style

As is her tradition, Taylor’s street style gives little clues as to the aesthetic of her next era.

Now that we know she was entering her ‘Tortured Poet’ era, all her preppy but sultry items from late 2023 and early 2024 start to make sense.

In contrast to the Midnights 70s glam and boho theme, TTPD has toned down the color palette with lots of neutrals, especially white, navy blue, and shades of brown.

Taylor has worn a ton of preppy items before, but unlike her Red-hipster take and 1989’s 50s aesthetic, her TTPD clothing seems a lot more casual.

During this era, Taylor has worn a lot of oversized blazers, loose-fitting shirts and jackets, maxi-length coats, and dresses. Think The Row, which has become her go-to brand for basics.

All this is combined with sexy items like corset tops, mesh and cutouts in strategic places, and mini-skirts, especially if they are pleated.

And, best believe she’s still bejeweled. Glitter, rhinestones, and jewelry are regularly featured in her recent looks.

Taylor Swift’s TTPD Street Style Outfits Guide

Outfit 1: Monday, Laid-back at the Studio

We’ve been seeing pictures of Taylor going to the studio throughout The Eras Tour, and we now know that she was recording TTPD.

Most of her recent looks for recording follow the same formula: simple, comfortable, low-key.

I chose to copy this navy blue and black studio look first.

For my version of this outfit, I started with a similar base: a black cotton tank top and navy-blue cargo pants. I borrowed both from my sister.

Then, I added black platform Chelsea boots for some edge.

Finally, I accessorized with a black and red baseball cap. Taylor’s is beige, but I had this black one on hand, and I thought the red accent tied into *other* outfits she’s been wearing lately.

At first, I thought I wouldn’t like this look. It is not my style, to say the least.

But, after putting it on and going through my day with it, I actually like it a lot.

It is so comfortable, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting down (which I do), but it is put-together enough that you can go out in it and not look like you just rolled out of bed.

And I love the pants! So much! I will either get a pair or keep stealing my sister’s.

Outfit 2: Tuesday, Preppy Neutral

For the past year, Taylor has been rocking cool preppy items at night, giving us all a lesson on wearing polished pieces. Especially blazers and loafers.

For my Tuesday movie night look, I chose Taylor’s navy and white take on neutrals.

To create this outfit, I started with a white cotton dress. It is a bit busier in details than Taylor’s, but it has an A-line skirt like hers, plus the right color and length.

Then, I threw on a vintage navy blue blazer. The blazer is my mom’s, but it hasn’t returned to her closet for several months now. It has the perfect length and fit for this look.

For tights, I went with a pair of sheer brown ones.

Now, the shoes are where I let you down. I don’t have a pair of loafer heels, so instead, I went with a pair of brown lace-up booties to use the same color palette.

The verdict? I can’t get enough of how cute this outfit is!

It is simple and comfortable, perfect for the A/C inside a movie theater. The dress and the blazer are the perfect length to work together. With the tights and layers, it wasn’t the *best* look for a warm spring day, but I got away with it.

My only regret now is that I don’t have the right pair of shoes, which I’ve been looking for since last year. I just haven’t found the right pair for me.

Outfit 3: Wednesday, Preppy Date Night

As I mentioned above, Taylor loves her mini-skirts and loafers. It seems that every two out of three street-style outfits, she’s wearing a mini-skirt.

I have to say, I’m loving this, especially for Spring/Summer.

One of her latest is this blue and beige ensemble, which I copied next:

First, I wore a sky-blue sweater. I borrowed it from my sister. The sweater is a little cropped, but it works in my favor for this look.

Then, I went with this brown, pleated mini-skirt. You might remember I got this one for my last Taylor Swift post. Taylor’s skirt is just beige, but I already had this one, and I thought it worked.

For shoes, I wore cognac loafers, which kind of matched the brown on hers. For accessories, I chose a cognac crossbody purse and black sunglasses.

This is a confusing look but a cute one.

It’s confusing because the sweater is more for Fall, and the mini-skirt is really not. But they look cute together, and I love wearing blue and brown in general.

One less-ideal note: This skirt is really short, and it isn’t very comfortable to wear when you’re sitting down to work all day. I spent a lot of time readjusting it and trying to keep it from riding up. This is a standing-up skirt, through and through.

If I wore this again, I would add a white or beige shirt and tie the sweater around my shoulders. But I’m thankful Taylor inspired me to try new looks with this combo.

Outfit 4: Thursday, Karma is the Guy on the Chiefs

Oh, how things have changed in just a couple of months.

Back in October, we knew Taylor was going out with Travis, so we started to get invested. And then, she had us all watching the Super Bowl for the actual game and rooting for the Chiefs.

The moment I saw Taylor’s Super Bowl look, I knew I had to include it in my next Taylor post.

Getting this look together was easier than I thought.

First, I wore a black corset top with a pair of black mom jeans with cutouts and rhinestones. Then, I added a red velvet oversized jacket.

For shoes, I put on a pair of sleek, black sock booties.

For this one, accessories and hair are really important. So, I did my hair in a ponytail and added tiny braids.

For accessories, I used my gold rings, gold diamond necklace, and a pair of ladybug earrings to tie in the red. The earrings were courtesy of my boyfriend as an anniversary gift.

Is this my favorite look? Yes, by a mile.

I think it looks amazing, it’s surprisingly comfortable, and I love how hot I look. It’s an amazing date night outfit.

Bonus points: I sourced all the items from local stores. This means they’re all Mexican brands or stores, except the booties, which I’ve had for years.

For the jeans, I found a store that makes personalized items, some of them bejeweled denim. So, I ordered my jeans from them in my exact size and specifications.

The jacket is from a Mexican vintage and second-hand shop.

The corset was the last item I got. It is from a small boutique that’s not in my city, but they sent it in just days, and it’s so comfortable.

Outfit 5: Friday, The Tortured Poets Department

We got to the last day. For this one, I wanted to emulate the album itself, namely the variations, the color palette, and the overall look and feel.

I created the following outfit based on the different colors Taylor used for the variants and the photos in them.

First, I created a base from black (The Black Dog) and charcoal (The Albatross). I wore a black tank top and a pair of charcoal loose fit jeans.

Then, I threw on an oversized white shirt, which brings in both a color variant (The Manuscript) and a direct reference to The Albatross’ photoshoot.

For shoes, I followed Taylor’s lead and went with a pair of black chunky loafers. Finally, I kept my gold jewelry on to reference The Bolter variant.

Out of all the outfits, I would say this is both the trendiest and the most wearable for most people. And I really love it! It is also the only one I have re-worn since.

It is comfortable, it is literally made up of basic neutral items, and it’s perfect to go from Winter to Spring. I wore it all day to work from home and then had a chill date night with my boyfriend.

Final Thoughts

Taylor Swift’s street style is a great mix of high-street and high-end.

In any given outfit, she’s probably wearing some things you can find at any mall, right up next to her exclusive designer pieces. And she makes it look effortless.

She also wears a lot of indie brands for jewelry, clothing, and bags. So, if you’re looking for new brands or exciting new designers, Taylor is the right celebrity to keep your eye on.

I must confess, she influences my style a lot, and I’ve bought some *exact* items of hers. Like the green velvet dress she wore back in January.

(Fun fact: I got it and was planning to wear it for this post. It hasn’t arrived yet. I will include it in a future post, though. It’s a promise!)

However, just because Taylor wears high-street or indie brands doesn’t mean everything is affordable for everyone. Her style is still on the expensive side.

Please be smart with your money, and don’t get discouraged if someone says that something Taylor is wearing is available online. Because obtainable isn’t the same as affordable!

Thankfully, a lot of what she wears is a bit simpler to find a good version of somewhere else, or you probably have something in your closet.

Finally, I’m beyond excited for TTPD! The theme is so heartbreaking yet encouraging, the track list is exciting, and I can’t wait to see how this album changes or affects the tour.

If it does, I might have to get tickets for a third time!

Rest assured, I will be back with a deep dive into the album (and fashion guide) after the release. So, be on the lookout 😉.

What Do You Think of Taylor Swift’s TTPD style?

P.S. For my past Taylor Swift posts, see my other guides:

Would you wear any of the outfits? What’s your favorite Taylor look? What’s your favorite era? Are you excited for the new album? Which song are you the most excited about?

Let us know in the comments below!