There are two types of ‘Swifties’ at the Eras Tour. Either you’ve been bedazzling your Lover-inspired bodysuit since tickets went on sale last year or you’re still scouring the internet for a glittering ready-made costume and putting all your trust in next-day delivery services. Either way, Taylor Swift has made her arrival in London prior to her five scheduled shows (15th-20th August) at Wembley Stadium, so it’s time to add the finishing touches to your ensemble. Top of the list? Make-up.
With many fans ranking the evening with the same gravity as their own wedding day, the pressure to perfect your beauty look is on. So, we did what ELLE UK does best: we looked to Fashion Week for ample make-up and hair inspiration (and we organised it by album). You can thank us later.
Debut
The dress code for Taylor Swift (Debut) is by far the simplest of the artist’s eras. If your hair has curls, waves or any natural movement, it’s time to embrace them. Depending on the thickness of your tresses, reach for a defining mousse, salt spray or gel to add shape and texture to your strands, or alternatively, pick up a corkscrew curler to cheat a full set of faux, voluminous ringlets. Pair with a youthful flushed cheek, a glittery 2000s lip gloss and some subtle inner corner sparkle and you’re ready to go.
Fearless
If you’ve been blasting ‘Love Story’ and ‘You Belong With Me’ non-stop in the run up to the Eras Tour, you’ll be well aware of the album’s gilded, glittering aesthetic. When it comes to fashion, you can think of shimmering tasseled dresses and golden cowgirl boots and the same works perfectly for beauty. Opt for a wash of golden eyeshadow for a simple yet chic touch of shine or invest in gold foil flakes to decal across your cheeks, hair and body.
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Speak Now
Unfortunately, bar ‘Enchanted’, the majority of the Speak Now album has been cut from the Eras setlist, but that won’t halt our make-up inspiration. Lilac, lavender and royal purples are the essential shades for this album; the rest is up to you. Whether you want a subtle violet wing or to send sparks flying with an embellished crystal lid, invest in an eyeshadow palette that gives you plenty of options. In Swift-land, it’s instantly recognisable, but you can also keep it on tap for party seasons down the line.
Red
When you think of Taylor Swift’s personal beauty routine, the first thing that springs to mind is a strong red lipstick. Her rumoured Eras Tour essential is the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4, but unsurprisingly the letterbox shade has been sold out for months. Luckily, the look (which is quintessential ’22’ Swift) is easy to dupe. Just apply a sharp, blue-toned ruby lipstick and add minimal accents if you want some extra sparkle.
Reputation
When it comes to Reputation, our ethos is go big or go home. Sweeping wings and bold black eyeliner looks have been rife on the runway from Jason Wu to Versace, so a rebellious liner is not only perfect for this album, it’s also bang-on trend for 2024. Plus, all you actually need is an opaque black eyeliner. If you’re particularly artsy, you could try working in wavy serpent strokes or if you’re feeling particularly extra, simply add a few green or red crystals for the finished pizzazz.
Lover
Arguably the most playful of Swift’s eras (and definitely the most feminine), Lover calls for all things pastel, hearts and clouds. That means lean into a trend that the ELLE UK beauty team knows all too well: heavy blush. Opt for a generous creamy formula all over your cheeks if you want to keep things simple, or try out Swift’s iconic glitter heart eyeshadow from the album’s cover if you want to be really prescriptive. Haute Couture Fashion Week also lent itself to this era; just look at Giambattista Valli’s petal embellished flush.
Folklore
Of all Taylor Swift’s albums, Folklore and Evermore could be perceived as the most safe beauty-wise, but this needn’t be the case. From reflective ‘Mirrorball’ make-up to moody grey hues, there are a spectrum of cool tone looks you can channel for this soft and poetic era. Much like Debut, natural hair textures and lived-in pared back lips are welcome here.
Evermore
When it comes to Evermore, the first thing that springs to mind is ‘November flush’. Think an undone, wintery yet romantic iteration of the Red make-up; a similarly strong lip but soft and diffused, complete with a healthy, cold weather cheek. Alternatively, you could opt for a bronzier take on the Folklore make-up. What isn’t up for debate is hair; no look from this album would be complete without Swift’s wispy, worn-in braid from its cover.
Midnights
If you’re looking to channel the Midnights era, you need only think of one song: ‘Bejewelled’. It’s time to dial up the drama and start meticulously placing diamantés and rhinestones for the ultimate maximalist make-up look. Vivetta and Homolog both debuted extreme versions of the look on their AW24 runways this year, however slightly more subtle takes can be found at the likes of Christian Cowan. Get ready to make the whole room shimmer.
The Tortured Poets Department
Enter Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. From Swift’s theatrical red carpet attires to the replication of Post Malone’s tattoos in the ‘Fortnight’ music video, the options with this era are endless. Just make sure to stick to monochromatic make-up looks in white or black shades. Lace, veils and watches welcome.
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Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Assistant, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Julia Garner and Emily Ratajkowski. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.