Since 1989

Taylor Swift

    Who's Taylor Swift anyway?

    Taylor Swift is one of the most loved pop stars in the nation. Her fan base has been growing steadily since her debut album dropped in 2006. Her fandom is full of some of the most creative and committed people. "Swifties" is the name that's been given to her fans and they are all proud to say it. From clothing to jewelry, fanart, and more, Taylor Swift's fans do it best. 

Fan Art

The internet has been flooded with Taylor Swift fans preparing for their turn to see her in concert. Fans have been customizing very creative outfits to wear to her concerts. Since her tour will include songs from all of her eras, fans are basing their outfits on their favorite album, and for some, it's them all! 

One fan recently made a portrait of Taylor using lavender buds. Artist Nathan Wyburn spent hours on the project and his video was even shared on the official Taylor Nation TikTok account! This portrait was inspired by her song titled Lavender Haze. 

It has become very popular on TikTok for fans to share their Eras Tour outfits. These outfits have included custom hats, jackets, shoes, dresses, and so much more. Taylor Swift fans go to great lengths to create flamboyant outfits inspired by her music. Many of these outfits include thousands of hand-placed rhinestones. Fans are putting hours of work into making sure their outfit is perfect for Taylor. 

One TikTok influencer has been working on a custom pair of pants that includes symbols relating to all of Swift's albums. She has been working on drawing symbols and printing them onto a pair of white pants. She has been working on this project for around a week now and has shared all steps of the process with her followers. She has also started selling things like tote bags and cups with symbols relating to specific albums. Below is a link to her website as well as her Tik Tok account. 

Website: https://webofwonder.co/collections/shirts

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laursini?_t=8c2jIcK64eU&_r=1

Here is a video of some Swifties waiting to see Taylor in Houston. Fans talk about how they love seeing everyone's outfits and their interpretations of Taylor's albums. Many concert-goers have put months of planning into this one night.

Tattoos!

Many tattoo artists like sharing their Taylor Swift-inspired tattoo ideas online. On sites like Tik Tok, Instagram, and Pinterest, you'll see lots of Swifties getting ink with some of their favorite lyrics or symbols representing Taylor. I would say that this is the most permanent way that Taylor's fans show their love for her. Getting a tattoo inspired by Taylor is such a creative way of showing commitment to her as an artist.

Merchandise

At all of her concerts, Taylor is known for having really beautiful and high-quality merch. Fans were very pleased with the merch designs at her eras tour, but the quality... not so much. Many fans are heartbroken that their brand new Eras Tour t-shirt started to fade after just one wash (1). "While many fans say they don't regret their purchase, they are disappointed in the quality at such a high price point for a cotton T-shirt" (Nesvig). Each t-shirt is priced at 45 dollars and sweatshirts are 75. Swifties are wondering if it's even worth buying a shirt that you can't wash. One fan stated, "I've been a fan for my whole life. I'll probably never get to go to a Taylor Swift concert again" (Nesvig).

Fans have been sharing tricks online for how to keep the merchandise looking new. The issue only occurred with one specific design (above), so fans that bought this shirt are trying their best to make it last. One fan said if you iron the shirt before washing it the first time the colors won't bleed as bad. Some fans heard this news a little too late and are now left with faded and warped merch. Taylor's team did comment on the topic by saying that the clothes are supposed to have a distressed and vintage look, but they are free to contact the store for a possible replacement.

Taylor even opened a website to sell her merch, but some items are exclusively sold at concerts. Here is the link to the merchandise website:

https://store.taylorswift.com/collections/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-collection

Friendship Bracelets

One thing Taylor Swift fans are well known for is giving each other friendship bracelets at concerts. Swifties are known to make tons of friendship bracelets and trade them with other fans at concerts. This is just one way her fans show love for not only Taylor but each other. Some fans were working on friendship bracelets for months before their concert date. One fan said she made over 65 bracelets (3)!

Fans make these bracelets using colorful beads to spell out quotes or song titles. Fans began doing this at concerts because of her song titled "You're On Your Own, Kid" where she said "Make the friendship bracelets" and that is exactly what they do! Some fans say that they find making the bracelets therapeutic and one even said she felt like she was healing her inner child (3). 

Conclusion

Taylor Swift has one of the most devoted fanbases in the music industry. Her fans are known for their unwavering loyalty, creativity, and passion for her music. Whether through social media, concerts, or other events, they come together to support Taylor and each other. The bond between Taylor and her fans is extraordinary, and it's no surprise that she continues to dominate the charts and inspire people worldwide. 

References

(1) Nesvig, Kara. “What's Going on with Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Merch?” Teen Vogue, Teen Vogue, 30 Mar. 2023, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-eras-tour-merch-fading.

(2) TodayShow. “Taylor Swift Fans Are Going Viral for the DIY Costumes They're Wearing to Her Tour.” TODAY.com, TODAY, 27 Mar. 2023, https://www.today.com/popculture/taylor-swift-eras-tour-fan-concert-outfits-rcna76011.

(3) Homer, Author: Michelle. “'Taylor-Gating': Swifties Get to Houston Concert Hours Early to Trade Friendship Bracelets.” Khou.com, 21 Apr. 2023, https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/taylor-swift-concert-friendship-bracelets/285-1972e41a-1f47-4b38-a6a7-edeab9ecc515.

(4) “Houston Swifties Get Creative for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour.” YouTube, 21 Apr. 2023, https://youtu.be/2U4zjXM7O2Q.