The fashion history behind Taylor Swift’s latest outfit

What might look like an inconspicuous choice from Swift actually renders her a low-key historian. 

What might look like an inconspicuous choice from Swift actually renders her a low-key historian.

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Leave it to Taylor Swift to bring an element of fashion history to her latest widely-seen outing.

In recent weeks, the performer has found herself at the centre of another publicity storm, since she and Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce subtly announced their romance; after Kelce publicly courted Swift, the performer began to attend a handful of his games. While the status of their relationship was at first uncertain, the duo was photographed holding hands several times over the weekend, all but confirming rumours they’re seeing each other. 

Outside of Swift’s on-stage garb for the Eras tour, which involves everything from custom Versace to Oscar de la Renta, the performer’s brand of off-duty style is understated and modern; recent outfits have involved trench coats, blazers, and jeans, occasionally spruced up with a designer handbag from Louis Vuitton or Ralph Lauren Collection. Her latest ensemble, worn on date night with Kelce in New York and featuring a Jean Paul Gaultier top, shows the star is diving into new territory with style—in more ways than one.

For starters, the sheer green floral piece is a collector’s must-have, and though new, is steeped in fashion history. Gaultier, the game-changing French designer and industry disruptor, introduced his sheer printed tops in the ’90s—a decade dominated by minimalist style, which lay the groundwork for the ‘quiet luxury’ we’re all too familiar with today. See below, a look from Gaultier’s spring/summer 1997 collection, which mixed the eclectically printed diaphanous tops with trench coats and outerwear to resemble a futuristic rave. 

Swift and Kelce on October 15, 2023. Image credit: Getty Images

Jean Paul Gaultier spring/summer 1997. Image credit: GoRunway.com

It wasn’t until the late 2010s when Gaultier’s sheer tops became a collector’s item, prompted by celebrity wearers like Kendall Jenner and Cardi B, who racked up several in their own collections and started a widespread craze. Most remaining ones were quickly acquired by archivists, and while Gaultier retired from fashion in 2020, his label began to release brand-new versions of the tops in 2022 to satisfy the cravings of new customers, saving them from the arduous (and often expensive) process of securing an original. Now, Swift is Gaultier’s latest endorser, pairing the sheer look with a vinyl skirt, bag and pair of laced stompers, for date night with Kelce in the city. As the performer herself put best, some things never go out of style. 

SHOP NOW: Jean Paul Gaultier fleurs petit grand mesh top, $747 from Farfetch

Originally published as The fashion history behind Taylor Swift’s latest outfit