Taylor Swift and The 1975: Are They Bringing Back Tumblr-Era Fashion?
Graphic Designer: Clara Kim
The other day while scrolling through TikTok, I caught a glimpse of something that I hadn’t seen since middle school: a girl dressed in a denim jacket, black skinny jeans, and a wide-brim black hat. The TikTok’s caption attributed this look to two well known artists: Taylor Swift’s and The 1975. It seems these artists' new albums (Midnights and Being Funny in a Foreign Language, respectively) are bringing back the retro look, as seen in their striped knitted sweaters and use of old telephones. Could this mean that the 2014 fashion era is making a comeback?
It’s true that fashion trends are recycled throughout the ages, but it is pretty alarming to think that it might already be time to revive elements from the mid 2010s. I was honestly a bit surprised to see this TikTok, and hurried to verify the source. Upon browsing Taylor Swift’s Instagram, I found myself agreeing with this unknown TikTok-er.
At first glance, it was not hard to tell that Taylor Swift was curating a new fashion sense to make the vibe of her new album. Her social media posts leading up to the release of Midnights feature lots of neutrals, blues, reds, and even yellows. There are a ton of stripes, collared shirts, and high waisted pants. It is a very nostalgic, ‘70s aesthetic with a mix of popular elements from the mid 2010s. For instance, the brown corduroy skirt she wears in one of her posts immediately reminded me of a skirt I often saw while window shopping at my local mall in 2015. This combination of 70s and early 2000’s shouldn’t have surprised me, however, since many fashion trends from the 1970s — such as pattern mixing and jumpsuits — were also very prevalent in the mid 2010s.
Though it may be difficult to get an exact number on how much sway Taylor Swift or The 1975 have on fashion, it’s clear they have an impact. At the very least, perhaps they simply reflect that some elements from past eras of fashion were destined to be brought back now. For example, the female pantsuit is certainly a current fixture in fashion, and was also a large defining trend in the 1970s and mid 2010s.
Either way, it might be worth digging out some of your striped shirts or any of the other cuter clothing items you saved from your Tumblr phase. They might be coming in handy soon!
These recent posts from Taylor Swift’s Instagram show off her new and clearly distinct style.
This 2014 pic of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Balmain is a great example of ‘70s fashion elements being incorporated into modern fashion. The use of stripes and the color palette are somewhat reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s Midnight aesthetic.
Strike Out,
St. Louis
Author: Natalie Chen
Graphic Designer: Clara Kim