She never missed a beat!
Over the course of the 149-show Eras Tour, Taylor Swift wore nearly 100 different costumes, each with a special link to one of her 12 studio albums recorded over the past two decades.
And while she continues to be revered for being a prolific singer-songwriter, fans haven’t been able to figure out how she was able to pack so many outfit changes into each three-hour performance.
In the latest episodes of her Disney+ documentary, released early this morning, Swift pulls back the curtain to reveal some of the time-saving and speed-enhancing tricks she used behind the scenes to keep the show running smoothly.
This includes not only the length of time she had for each quick-change, but also exactly how she pulled it off.
“Every outfit change is about a minute-fifteen or less,” explains Jestina O’Dell, one of Swift’s two dressers. “Our fastest quick change, though, is 39 seconds with her in the room.”
“Those quick changes are like nothing you’ve ever seen before,” shared Swift’s mom, Andrea. “It is like watching a NASCAR race.”
Swift was only ever off stage for a maximum of 2 minutes at a time.
According to Joseph Cassell Falconer, Swift’s longtime stylist, there are about 20 quick changes in the 3-hour set. These transformations are achieved with the help of two dedicated dressers and four dressing rooms located underneath the stage at various points.
“We don’t really have time for snags. It’s very choreographed. Every second counts. Every millisecond counts,” said O’Dell.
In an exclusive interview with Roberto Cavalli’s Fausto Puglisi, who created over 20 unique costumes for the Era’s Tour, the designer revealed that numerous details were taken into consideration for every single look.
“We have dictates, of course; the zipper must be one way, we have to be careful with crystal [placement]. There are so many secrets,” he says, adding that Swift’s stylist is “fantastic” at ensuring any snags or missing sequins are fixed in between shows.
“It’s literally the most complicated system, you have no idea the panic of worrying you’re not going to be dressed in time for the song to start. And it is that panic that drives me to never be late,” shared Swift.
In addition to the upkeep of each garment and the tailoring required for introducing new costumes, including the second black-and-gold “Reputation” catsuit revealed in Miami, Swift required the assistance of an entire dedicated wardrobe department.
Following the release of “The Tortured Poets Department” album in April 2024, she last added a brand new section of music and original outfits for her concert in Paris that May.
They included a Vivienne Westwood white corset gown with lyrics scrawled over the skirt, as well as a metallic two-piece set under a formal jacket for her “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” performance.
As for her favorite costume to wear during the tour’s nearly two-year run?
The crystal-covered Versace bodysuit.
It’s the first costume she appears in during the opening “Lover” segment, which was akin to body armor for the singer and made her feel like she could power through even the most challenging performance.
Now that deserves an encore.
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