Recent Fashion: Medusa, Horse-Related Items, and Corsets
We've all been talking about the uptick in Taylor's "I'm working" attire at her football game appearances but I was curious if there's more to the shift in clothing. So... I spent way too long scrolling through TSS.
Not only did I find a trend in Taylor's increase in corsets but also her increase in wearing items from the Versace Medusa line and horse-related items.
First, Medusa.
Taylor has worn an item from the Medusa line 12 identified times: 3 times in 2016, 1 time in 2019, 1 time in 2020, 2 times in 2023, and 5 times in 2024.
- 2/24/16 - Picking up some items from Isabel Marant: Versace Medusa Flap Bag Purse
- 3/20/16 - Leaving Reese Witherspoon's Birthday Party: Versace Medusa Flap Bag Purse
- Tidbit: “The whole room shifted to the stage to watch Keith’s [Urban] set,” explained the guest. “About an hour into the performance, Taylor Swift got up and played ‘Shake It Off,’ which basically kicked off a dance party for the rest of the night.”
- 4/16/16 - Attending 2016 Coachella where CH became the first DJ to headline: Versace Gold Medusa Star Necklace
Versace Medusa in 2019 and 2020
- 8/26/19 - VMA's performance of You Need to Calm Down and Lover: Versace Crystallite Medusa Necklace
- 1/27/20 - The Man Music Video: Versace Medusa Loafers
Versace Medusa in Karma MV 2023
Versace Medusa in First Non-Football TK Outing in 2023
- 5/26 - Karma Music Video (and during the Lover set on the Tour): Versace Medusa Chain Link Necklace
- 10/14 - "First Non-Football Outing with TK" Dinner, SNL, SNL After Party: Versace Medusa Detail Corset
Versace Medusa at Mahomes Charity Gala
Versace Medusa on Vacation with TK in Lake Como
Versace Medusa at First 2024 KC Football Game
Versace Medusa a 5th 2024 KC Football Game
- 4/27 - Attending the Mahomes Charity Gala: Versace La Medusa Embellished Satin Sandals
- 5/17 - Vacation with TK: Versace Medusa 95 Small Tote Bag
- 9/5 - First 2024 KC Football Game: Versace Medusa Bustier
- 11/10 - 5th 2024 KC Football Game: Versace Medusa 95 High Boots and the Versace Medusa 95 Small Tote Bag
Next, horse-related items.
This was harder but I tried to find all items related to 'Saddle bags' or 'horsebits'. I'm sure I missed jewelry.
- 2023
- 4/17 - Dinner in NYC after Tampa shows (the first shows since the news broke about her and Joe's split): Rebecca Minkoff Saddle bag
- 6/28 - Unclear NYC location: Elizabeth and James 'Zoe Perforated Saddle Bag'
- Note: last seen exactly 7 years ago on 6/28/16 when Hiddleswift landed in Rome
- 9/8 - Unclear NYC Location: Gucci 'Half Horsebit Almond Toe Boots'
- Note: She wore an opal necklace this day which is TK's birthstone. Some swifties were calling this the "first egg" of TK after the 7/26 New Heights podcast release of TK's missed opportunity with the friendship bracelet.
- 2024
- 1/9 - Unclear NYC location: Gucci 'Half Horsebit Almond Toe Boots'
- 6/23 - Dinner with TK: Paired with that lesbian knit dress, Taylor wore the Gucci 'Horsebit Slide Sandals' for the first time since the YNTCD Music Video
- 9/8 - US Open with TK: Gucci 'Horsebit Detailed Platform Leather Sandals'
- 9/8 - Dinner with TK: Gucci 'Horsebit Detailed Platform Leather Sandals' and Gucci 'Horsebit Should Bag'
- 10/11 - Dinner with TK: Dior 'Saddle Bag'
- 11/4 - 4th 2024 KC Football Game: Dior 'Saddle Bag'
Finally, corsets.
Taylor wore corsets or bustier styled tops 14 times before 2024. So far in 2024 she's doubled that.
2010 - 2018 Corsets / Bustiers
- 2010: I'm hard pressed to call the two sundresses in 2010 corsets, they look more like sundresses to me.
- 2015: A corset worn over a lace dress that was intentionally destroyed for the iHeartRadio Music Awards performance; and a lunch with friends in a "bustier-esque crop top"
- 2017: TSS calls out the necklace worn in the I Don't Wanna Live Forever Music Video with "A great way to nicely accentuate a plunging neckline (check that lace corset!)." So this is more the style of necklace than the style of attire (bra).
- 2018: A Black Zip Up Corset Tee (it's a t-shirt that had the added fabric that you'd cinch), and the corset detail in her stage outfit for the 2018 BBC Radio 1 Performance
2019: MTV VMAs performing YNTCD and Lover, and photoshoot for Lover on April 26, 2019 (US Lesbian Visibility Day), she's photographed in a Blumarine corset
2022: Bejeweled Music Video in a custom Catherine D'lish corset
2023
- 6/29 - Heading to Electric Lady Studios: Free People 'Melanie Tank'
- 8/19 - Jack Antoff's wedding: Erdem 'Melora Ruffled Lace Corset Dress'
- 9/12/23 - MTV VMAs After Party; EB Denim 'Polka Dress' * Note: this is the day of the first press drop outside of TK’s podcast where it’s mentioned that TK and TS are hanging out.
- 10/12 - TS's 3rd KC Football Game: Balenciaga 'Zipped Spandex Corset Top'
- Daily Mail releases pictures the next day of TS security vehicles outside TK's house the following morning; Us Weekly also dropped a source that day saying "It's still so new but they really like each other".
- 10/14 - "First Non-Football Outing with TK" Dinner, SNL, SNL After Party: Versace Medusa Detail Corset
10/15 - Dinner with TK: Balenciaga 'Strapless Corset Top'
- Note: Taylor wore 'Star Trail Boots'. Their previous wear was 5/1/16, the night before her 2016 appearance at the Met.
- 2024
- Note: Taylor wore 'Star Trail Boots'. Their previous wear was 5/1/16, the night before her 2016 appearance at the Met.
2/11 - 2024 Super Bowl: Dion Lee 'Crochet Corset Top'
7/6 - Double Date Night with TK and Mahomes: Vivienne Westwood 'Tartan Wool Corset' underneath the VW 'Sunday Dress'
6/11 - Star Studded London Dinner (and week MH's engagement is announced): Stella McCartney 'Lace Up Jacquard Bustier Top'
- Note: Stella McCartney was at the dinner
8/20 - I Can Do It With A Broken Heart Music Video: Wiskii 'Beyond Denim Dress' and Popflex 'Corset Bra'
- Denim - as she practices dying during TSMWEL
- Corset bra - with the orange fans
9/5 - First 2024 KC Football Game: Versace Medusa Bustier
9/6 - Dinner with TK: Undress Code 'No Promises Bodysuit'
9/11 - MTV Music Video Awards: Custom Dior Resort dress with bustier styled top
9/11 - VMAs After Party: Monse 'Harness Tapestry Bustier Top'
10/7 - 3rd 2024 KC Football Game: Vivienne Westwood 'Sunday Checked Draped Corset'
10/11 - Dinner with TK: Gucci 'GG Net Corset Top'
10/12 - Dinner with friends and TK: Annie's Ibiza 'Ivy Corset'
11/9 - Dinner with Zoe Kravitz, Jerrod Carmichael, Ronan Farrow: Vivienne Westwood 'Sunday Striped Cotton Dress'
11/10 - 5th 2024 KC Football Game: Victoria's Secret 'Classic Silk Corset'
First 2024 KC Football Game and Next Day
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So, not all corsets, Medusa line, or horse-related items were worn when she was also seen with TK.
But, since 2023:
If she wore something from Versace's Medusa collection, 83% of the time it somehow corresponded to a TK outing or appearance.
If she wore something related to horses, there's an argument between 67% and 89% of time time (depending on if you count 4/17 and 6/28).
If she wore a corset, it's 61% of the time.
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I tagged this as peformance-artlor because I'm not sure how to conclude it. This could definitely be simply an indicator of her TTPD style but... what has she told us in TTPD? She's miserable and no one even knows.
What does Medusa represent to her? Is it as TSS says "to underline a story of feminine reclamation, strength, and power"? Or is it a call out to "classical Greek art, where the depiction of Medusa shifted from hideous beast to an attractive young woman, both aggressor and victim, a tragic figure in her death" (wiki).
What's with all the horsebits? u/materialtangelo9856 says it better than I could here
And the corsets? Is it the aesthetic? Or is it a call out of being 'held and trained into the desired shape and posture' (wiki). Seems very.. I am what I am ’cause you trained me.
Edit: Formatting
Edit 2: Pictures