Eras Outfits: folklore

For the eighth era, folklore, we take our inspiration solely from the album itself since it was released in the midst of 2020. It is the second album to be shot in black & white and the looks we get are very subdued, gloomy, and demur. We see floor length vintage dresses as well as other vintage silhouettes. In the album’s forward Taylor says “in isolation my imagination has run wild”. This is referring to the fact that this album is the least autobiographical of all, and so we will also take inspiration from the imagined characters in the songs themselves. Our color scheme could be described as mostly black & white, however, since the majority of the album’s photoshoot was done outside in open fields and wooded areas, I’ve included earth tones as well. As always, the outfits will be listed from least to most expensive.

Taylor Swift//Fearless//Speak Now//Red//1989/
/Reputation//Lover//folklore//evermore//Midnights

1

For our first folklore look we’re collectively taking inspiration from the many long vintage dresses in the album’s photoshoot as well as the vintage nightgown Taylor wears in the “cardigan” music video. I’ve kept the styling simple and dressed down the look with some basic flats.

Waterfall Dress//Leather Flat Sandals

2

A few of the looks worn in the album’s photoshoot are meant to represent the love triangle characters brought up in the songs “cardigan”, “august”, and “betty”, with that in mind let’s start with Betty. Taylor’s “Betty” outfit is an embroidered, long, flow-y dress with short sleeves, so I found a similarly described dress. With it, I paired some woven leather sandals that I think fits the outdoors-y, cottagecore aesthetic that is this album.

Embroidered Maxi Dress//Leather Woven Sandals

3

The second girl in our folklore love triangle is Augustine, and the look Taylor wear’s to represent this character is a simple short sleeved button down with an asymmetric button through skirt. I found similar items and with this look I’ve paired some simple tan loafers to keep the look vintage inspired.

Short Sleeve Button Down//Tailored Suit Skirt//Tan Chain Loafers

4

James is the male protagonists in folklore’s love triangle, and Taylor’s “James” outfit in the photoshoot is a striped long sleeve polo paired with plaid dress pants. Here I was able to find a similar cropped version of the shirt paired with similar grid patterned dress pants, and black loafers for that vintage vibe again.

Striped Polo//Grid Print Tailored Pants//Black Chain Loafers

5

Of course we have to have a look inspired by the cardigan merch Taylor sold and wore in her music video for the song “cardigan”. Here I found a similar cream cable knit cardigan and paired it with these silver star stud earrings to invoke the stars embroidered on the original merch. Layered under it I have this plaid button down that looks similar to the plaid shirt dress Taylor wore in the folklore long pond studio sessions doc. To complete this look, I’ve paired some basic black denim shorts and these tan loafers from earlier.

Star Constellation Studs//Petite Cable Knit Cardigan//Plaid Button Down//Roll Up Denim Shorts//Tan Chain Loafers

6

The main look Taylor wear’s for the album’s photoshoot is a long grid check jacket with a long gingham dress layered under it. For a more wearable concert look, I found a similar grid check blazer and paired it with a cute little gingham mini dress, and these black loafers from earlier.

Grid Check Blazer//Monochrome Gingham Mini Dress//Black Chain Loafers

7

Going back to the long vintage dresses as inspiration, I found this lace midi dress that really encapsulates most of folklore’s aesthetic. Just like with the first look, I’m using these leather flats again to keep the look demur.

Lace Button Down Dress//Leather Flat Sandals

8

Referencing “cardigan” once more, let’s take inspiration from the line “you drew stars around my scars”. Something Taylor herself said she felt was a theme of the album in the folklore long pond studio sessions doc. I found this petite star & moon embroidered dress and layered star motif on top of star motif by pairing it with a star charm necklace and star drop earrings. Complete this “star” studded look with some gold heels and you’re all set.

Star Earrings//Star Charm Necklace//Petite Star & Moon Embroidered Mini Dress//Block Heeled Sandals

9

For this next look, let’s go back to the album shoot’s main look, this time in an earthier color pallet. Using this brown check blazer (that I think looks even more similar to Taylor’s jacket than the previous) as our main piece of clothing we will layer it over a simple olive toned gingham dress and wear with these tan loafers again.

Brown Check Tailored Blazer//Gingham Mini Dress//Tan Chain Loafers

10

For our final show-stopping look what better to take inspiration from than the song “mirror ball”. A song Taylor wrote at the start of lockdown where she compares herself to a disco ball. I found the perfect dress to represent this song! It’s a dress with an all over mosaic of reflective silver embellishments. With it, I’ve continued the star motif by added these dramatic star tassel earrings and star statement ring. Complete your “Mirror Ball” look with some equally shiny silver heels so you can be “on [your] tallest tip toes, spinning in [your] highest heels”.

Star Tassel Earrings//Star Statement Ring//Metallic Mosaic Embellished Mini Dress//Block Heeled Sandals