She’s Got ‘Style’: Taylor Swift’s Style Evolution

Although she signed with Big Machine Records in 2004 as a country music artist, it wasn’t until 2006 that the world began to get their first glimpses of the next great music icon, a fresh-faced 16-year-old Taylor Swift. Rocking the bouncy blonde curls and natural beauty that would become her signature, Taylor stepped out in a floaty halter dress and cowboy boots for the annual Academy of Country Music Awards in 2006.

From the start, Taylor has always been a fan of ball gowns and glitter. This strapless pink gown, worn to the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards, flattered the singer’s petite frame beautifully.

Rocking a silver sequin mini to the AMA’s in 2008, Taylor shows she isn’t afraid to make a statement on the red carpet.

With more than a few red carpets under her belt, the rising star proves she isn’t afraid of the spotlight — stepping out for the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards in a show-stopping bold red gown.

Shifting gears from her signature curls, Taylor opted for sleek locks at the 2010 American Music Awards. Sporting a sequin, body-con mini dress, Swift looked like a star determined to branch out beyond her country music roots and dive into the pop realm full-force.

With strapless and sequined details becoming a signature style for Taylor, the chart-topping singer didn’t disappoint at the 2011 American Music Awards.

Showing some serious leg at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013, Taylor says 'so long' to the bouncy blonde curls and cowboy boots of the past and steps out in sky-high strappy heels and a chic mini dress, rocking a sleek ponytail and long fringe bang.

With her chart-topping music evolving to reflect a more mature sound, and with her fanbase growing so large that the singer was now a household name, Taylor also began to experiment with her looks, seemingly taking on a new persona with every album drop. And while 2014 was the year of 1989, the superstar’s fifth album, it represented a musical mosaic of styles. So in true form, this was the year of a mix of fashion — and there was no end to the killer looks Swift served up at every opportunity.

Donning a blush pink ball gown with her signature red lip, Taylor gives us princess-with-an-edge vibes at the 2014 Met Gala. Sticking to what she likes — but making it all her own — Swift knows how to rework a classic and make it feel fresh. The front of this gown showcased a beautiful classic shape and cut, giving way to a dramatic back bow-tie detail, with Swift’s sweeping train stealing the show on the red carpet.

You just can’t talk about Taylor's 2014 style without giving this gown, worn to the Golden Globes that year, it’s proper due. Strapless, with a pink and black colour-block and sweetheart neckline, this was (and remains) a dress of dreams.

Stop the presses because Taylor is wearing pants! For the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, the usually dress-clad Swift decided to forgo her red carpet fashion staple and step out in a killer matching sequin set. We loved the unexpected departure from her usual go-to dress and the severe crop and funky sequins were fun, fresh and totally worked for the occasion. Also, those shoes? *drool*

While the superstar seemed to spend most of 2015 on stage, we had to give her props for maintaining her too-cool off-duty style. Rocking a cropped long-sleeve top, mini skirt, booties and dark shades, Swift nails the “effortlessly perfect” look while strutting through LAX that year.

We... are... not... worthy. Looking like an absolute goddess, Taylor stepped out in a down-to-there low-cut black gown, strappy gold heels (with a matching statement collar necklace) and a severely sleek bob hairstyle for the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

With another nod to her killer off-duty style, Taylor rocked a pleated mini with a striped top and platform pumps while walking around in NYC in 2016. The look is playful and classic, with just enough detail to make it funky, and of course, no Swift style moment is complete without a bold red lip!

In a rare style miss, Taylor's pink jewel-detail gown for the 2018 Billboard Music Awards landed her on several “worst-dressed” lists following the event. From the ill-fit to the bizarre placement of jewel and feather accents, this look just didn’t live up to the level of red carpet fashion fans have come to expect from the superstar.

Victorian-era lady or figure skater? Between the heavy ruffles and figure-skater skirt, we can’t be entirely sure, but either way Taylor stepped out in an unexpected style for the 2019 BMA’s and killed it with this one.

Off-the-shoulder sleeves, pleats galore, a funky colour-block and even a dainty head-piece made Swift the hippie belle of the ball at the 2019 Time 100 event.

So Cats may not have been a box office (or critical) smash — but Taylor’s strapless gown, worn to the world premiere in 2019 — was a definite hit.

The face you make when you know you’ve nailed it. Taylor stunned in a sunflower-print floor-length gown with cut-out details and a dramatic low back for the 2020 Golden Globe Awards. With a pretty up-do and muted beauty look, Swift let her killer gown take center stage, and it was an instant classic.

In a sexy silver top and skirt set, sleek locks and a blunt bang, Taylor collected more hardware — and cemented her style icon status — at the Brit Awards in 2021. If this is a taste of what’s the come for the fashion-savvy super star, we can’t wait!