Chiefs vs Buccaneers in Kansas City
Worn On: 11/4/24 // Kansas city, MO
the commentary
Let’s firstly address the 'debutation’ in the room with us. The combination of a black colour palette rendered in a western silhouette or a 'horse girl’ nod courtesy of her boots and bag feels as comedically obvious as mashing up “Our Song” with “Call It What You Want” on the Eras Tour stage. I like to imagine that she’s smiling about the tease on the inside.
Here, Taylor takes a western style boot for a spin in her Chiefs ‘fit for the day, paired with another Horse Girl chic accessory - a new matte black version of the gold hardware Dior ‘Saddle’ bag she carried from an outing in NYC last month. I personally love both!
When Taylor first made waves at Arrowhead Stadium last fall she spent her first season as a sports spectator developing a recognizable game day uniform. Like any uniform, it was one that centered on crafting style pillars that were identifiable, easily repeatable, and that underscored her overall brand as a relatable public figure while also feeling distinctly separate enough from her other style ‘genres’. This approach is not easy to pull off. It’s intentional and carefully thought out! As all good styling is. But it’s one she exceled at.
To my eye, her three pillars of choice were sentimental accessories, women/locally-owned businesses, and vintage.
Pulling on sentimental accessories like ’87’ rings or a gifted ‘TNT’ bracelet anchored the reason why she was there (to play a loving, supportive role). Highlighting local and woman-owned businesses diffused her gigantic spotlight onto deserving vendors that could use a lift. Lastly, incorporating vintage Chiefs merchandise allowed her to be a loud and proud fan without funnelling funds into bankable NFL wares and gives a +1 to the trend of shopping sustainably by giving love to pieces that already exist in the world.
Here, we see that third pillar of vintage on display in a very covetable oversized jacket. Assessing things on the surface, I think this is one of her best NFL showings. The slouchy jacket looks cohesive with her all black ensemble but the styling with more streamlined pieces proportionally balances out the jacket’s volume. The red lip pulls on the Chiefs colours in the paneling and keeps the eye moving consistently throughout the outfit. Meanwhile the belt ties into both the vintage element of her jacket and the black/gold elements of the rest of her outfit by a more ‘quiet luxury’ brand that she’s worn many times and is thus a recognized, existing designer in her fashion directory. Well played accessorizing!
In the last year or so, Taylor’s approach to jewelry has been: “Yes and”. Since she added three piercings to her lobes in the summer of 2023, she’s been comfortable opting for an earring stack and experimenting with upper cartilage cuffs, multiple piercing threaders, and more. That experimentation has also extended to necklace stacks and “fun” pieces like hand jewelry and bodychains.
Even more recently, her jewelry approach has favoured the big, the statement, and the noticeably monogrammed. Take her repeat LV monogram earrings which we saw at the US Open in September. They’re paired for a double down luxury moment with a statement Chanel necklace.
One of Taylor’s key brand signatures has always been her relatability. Whether that be in her emotionally resonant lyrics or in her easily coppable style. Stylishly, she’s executed this most often through her clothes in the form of the fashionable high/low (pairing high end designer pieces with more ‘accessible’ high street options from lower priced brands). But as of late we’ve seen an uptick in layered luxe. That is, monogrammed designer on designer looks.
Some might find it ostentatious, perhaps even tacky. Particularly given the rise of the “quiet luxury” trend which prizes a “demure” take on spendy fashion. Looks that revel unassumingly in expensive taste. In this moment, to me the logo-mania evokes her increasing confidence and ease in leaning in to bigger, bolder, luxe fashion. And perhaps there’s also something there in confidently and loudly reclaiming your identity with fabulously obvious “self named” pieces.
However! I know holistically the increase of monogrammed luxury during this season of NFL styling has given many pause. Does a heavy dose of monogrammed luxury brands paired with a sustainable vintage piece provide balance … or does it cancel the other out?* I’m curious to hear your thoughts!
the clothes
* Not available for purchaseFeature Photo by Jamie Squire via Getty Images