Attending the 2025 Grammys
Worn On: 2/2/25 // Los Angeles, CA
the commentary
The Dress: In my Grammys predictions post, via my newsletter, I had pulled a glittery, one-shoulder corseted gown from the Vivienne Westwood Spring 2025 collection. I reasoned that we were “overdue” for “the unofficial designer of the era” to have an official red carpet appearance. My selection shared many elements with Taylor’s dress so I’ll take this as a big win!
In this look, it felt like Taylor was taking a glitter gel pen to the final pages of the Tortured Poet manuscript, adding a coda to her story that confirmed the colour had come back to her face at last. If it is indeed the end, it feels like an appropriate way to bookend the era at the same event where it all began just a year ago. While there are also other ‘Chief-ly’ interpretations of the colour, in its rich, red draping I personally see the curtains coming down at a play’s conclusion - marking the end of having to do it all with a broken heart. Last year, Taylor announced the forthcoming release of The Tortured Poets Department on the 2024 Grammys stage wearing custom white Schiaparelli. As a united era front, the two dresses share the distinct Tortured aesthetic of draping and corsetry and a synthesis of the album’s entire narrative. First, in the stark, colourless world of the asylum that birthed her temporary insanity to the saturated, vibrant, glittering light she finally stepped into.
Taylor has worn a short dress to the Grammys only once before back in 2021. While I thought the length worked then (it had a charming wood nymph folklorian vibe) and also appropriate for the pared back pandemic ceremony, my first instinct was that I missed a full-length silhouette. Though I admit that I think this was intentionally designed to be a “show up to have fun” party frock with the (correct) assumption that Taylor would be locked out of all her nominated categories. Mission accomplished as Taylor made the most of dancing the night away.
The Jewelry: No surprises that Taylor’s jewels for the night are by her go-to Lorraine Schwartz. Taylor has worn Lorraine’s jewels on dozens of red carpets dating as far back as 2008 according to the TSS archives.
Of course, the most eye-catching piece was that thigh chain which Taylor is credited as co-designing. To Vanity Fair, Lorraine described the process as truly collaborative. “She has ideas that she really wants to bring to life, and then we help her bring it to life in our jewels,” she said. Adding that Taylor had “a clear vision from the start for the chain to [peek] out from beneath the dress’s hem, letter charm and all.”
The piece comprises 15 carats of natural rubies studding a dainty, rose gold chain set off with a serif ‘T’ at the end. VF reported that “all involved have kept mum” on confirming what the ‘T’ stands for. Though, of course, there are guesses that can be made.
In my Grammys predictions post, I had written alongside my pick of a Vivienne Westwood dress the styling note: “... a body chain would underscore the era’s aesthetic from its tour costuming while also being appropriately sensual.” I’ll take the win in not only accurately predicting the dress designer but also this symbolic “written mine on my upper thigh” moment.
In the same way her custom dress does, this thoughtful accessory feels like putting a healthy stamp on the final pages of the TTPD era. While the song “Guilty As Sin?” centers on a forbidden and somewhat shameful internal fantasy, here Taylor interpolates the line to be cheeky, playful, and something she proudly wants to put on display. It’s no longer something she relegates to the deepest corners of her mind, buried under a mental dialogue that she is immoral and sinful. Rather, this is something she wants to confidently show off. It also isn’t lost on me that the chain resembles a rosary. Religious concepts permeate TTPD. Across the album Taylor toys with faith in herself and her perceived destiny, particularly when it comes to love. It also, of course, neatly circles back to many of the lyrics in “Guilty As Sin?”.
The Shoes: As a lover of the minimalist strappy heel this styling gets a big +1 from me. They coordinate wonderfully with the dress and were the perfect no-fuss finisher.
the clothes
* Not available for purchaseFeature Photo by Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images