Folklore & Evermore: Taylor Swift's Cottagecore Dreams in Dress Form

There's a specific kind of melancholy that sets in on a late summer afternoon. The sun, still high, casts long shadows, a prelude to the approaching chill. You find yourself drawn to worn denim, the comfort of a cable-knit sweater. This feeling, this aesthetic, is where we find Taylor Swift in her Folklore and Evermore eras. It's a departure, a retreat into a world of romanticized rural life, and her wardrobe follows suit.

Gone are the sequins and thigh-high boots, the pop-princess pronouncements of her Reputation days. In their place: flowing cardigans, prairie dresses, and a palette of soft neutrals. It's an aesthetic that resonated deeply, particularly in the midst of a global pandemic that forced many to find solace in simpler pleasures. Suddenly, everyone wanted to bake sourdough bread in a flowy linen dress.

But let's be clear, this isn't about practicality. This is about crafting an image, a persona. And Swift, a master storyteller, understands the power of clothing to do just that. Remember the white Oscar de la Renta gown she wore in the "Lover" music video? A confection of tulle and whimsy, it perfectly encapsulated the album's romantic themes. Similarly, the cottagecore aesthetic of Folklore and Evermore is a deliberate choice, one that speaks volumes about the music within.

Take, for instance, the "Cardigan" music video. The titular garment, a cream-colored knit, becomes a symbol of lost love, of memories held close. It's a far cry from the bold, body-con outfits of her earlier work. Here, the focus is on texture, on a sense of lived-in comfort. It's an aesthetic that feels both personal and relatable, inviting listeners to curl up and lose themselves in the music.

And then there's the album artwork. Folklore, with its black and white photograph of Swift standing in a misty forest, evokes a sense of timeless mystery. It's a stark contrast to the bright colors and sharp lines of her previous album covers. Evermore continues this theme, featuring Swift in a plaid coat and a flower crown, her hair in a loose braid. It's a look that's both romantic and slightly melancholic, perfectly capturing the album's autumnal mood.

Of course, Swift is not the first artist to embrace a more rustic aesthetic. Remember when Sienna Miller single-handedly sparked the boho-chic trend in the early 2000s? Suddenly, everyone was wearing tiered skirts and floppy hats. But Swift's take on cottagecore feels different. It's less about following a trend and more about tapping into a specific emotion, a yearning for a simpler time.

It's important to note that this shift in Swift's style isn't just limited to her music videos and album art. Her red carpet appearances during this era also reflected this newfound aesthetic. Remember the ethereal Stella McCartney dress she wore to the 2021 Grammy Awards? The flowing silhouette and delicate floral embroidery were a far cry from the sparkly bodysuits of her past. It was a subtle but significant shift, signaling a new chapter in her style evolution.

Ultimately, Swift's foray into cottagecore is a testament to her ability to evolve and adapt. She understands that fashion is a powerful tool, one that can be used to tell stories, evoke emotions, and connect with her audience on a deeper level. And in a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, there's something undeniably appealing about the romantic simplicity of a hand-knitted cardigan and a walk in the woods.

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