After more time, money and stress than you care to recall, you’ve managed to get two tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
But if you thought that was the hard part, you’re swiftly (pardon the pun) realising that a far trickier obstacle must still be overcome.
The question of who to take with you is easy: your teenage daughter has been a fan for years. She has already chosen her outfit, and it’s predictably short, sparkly and pink.
Which brings you to your own thorny dilemma. Whisper it, but you’re not a 16-year-old girl any more.
In ‘era’ terms, you’re ‘mid-life’ all the way. How to shed your everyday uniform of jeans and sweatshirt and embrace the occasion, while simultaneously managing not to embarrass either your daughter or yourself?
Whether you’re going with your daughter, your son, your friends or simply by yourself, it’s also a glorious excuse to dress up and recapture your own youth. Although perhaps not piecemeal. The Tammy Girl ra-ra skirt you wore to your first gig (Wham, 1984, don’t judge) might not cut it now that you’re in your fifties. But what will?
Happily, Taylor Swift is far more than a prolific songwriter. She’s also (to borrow the language of her teenage fans) a prolific server of looks.
Granted, some may feel terrifying to those in their late forties or fifties, but while she may be known for her playsuits, cropped tops and micro-shorts, Tay also embraces a slew of styles that are less challenging for those past the first flush of youth.
Here are your options...
SEQUINS AND A FAUX FUR COAT
L-R:Taylor loves sequins and has experimented with myriad faux fur styles when it comes to jackets;Jacket £125, Nikita Karizma Dress £149, Phase Eight. Shoes £257, Russell & Bromley Necklace £295, Tilly Sveaas
Being reflective, sequins are surprisingly flattering on older skin, especially in warm, golden tones.
Taylor loves sequins, so you can be sure that a large percentage of the audience will be twinkling alongside you, a fact that should assuage any fears of looking overdressed.
Avowedly anti-fur as she is, that hasn’t stopped Taylor from experimenting with myriad faux fur styles.
The singer often adds a brightly coloured coat to her tourdrobe, and has recently sported shaggy fake fur in lavender, powder blue and pink, as well as black and white.
Hers might be by Oscar de la Renta or Stella McCartney, but yours could be picked up more economically from ASOS or eBay. Think of it as a fun addition to your coat repertoire, and tone it down with jeans and trainers if it feels OTT.
Given the recent vagaries of the British weather, you’ll probably be glad you wore it.
A SHARP TROUSER SUIT
L-R:Taylor's a fan of sharp tailoring;Blazer £95 and trousers £69, Sosandar Shoes £99, Never Fully Dressed Pendant £55, Ottoman Hands Necklace £125, Hot Diamond
Bianca Jagger and the Princess of Wales aren’t the only women to harness the power and elegance of a white trouser suit: Taylor’s also a fan.
This would be a perfect concert night look for those who balk at wearing anything short, sparkly or bright. If all-white scares you then opt for a soft pastel.
For a flattering, classic look choose a cropped or tapered leg. Team with heels as high as you can dance in.
A BRETON TOP
L-R:Stripy Bretons are a staple of Taylor's tourdrobe;Jacket £375, Serena Bute Top £39, Baukjen Jeans £46.99, New Look Pearl necklace £125, Hot Diamonds T-bar necklace £295, Tilly Sveaas
During her Red tour circa 2015, Taylor was synonymous with stripy Bretons, which she liked to team with red jeans or shorts. If you’ve reached midlife without acquiring a Breton top or three, you’re doing better than most women.
Now might be the perfect time to dig yours out in homage, worn with silver, white or red jeans. Avoid neckerchiefs and gold-buttonned blazers: too Cap’n Birdseye.
RED LIPSTICK
If you lack the confidence or means to dress up like Taylor in even the mildest way, there’s one failsafe make-up trick that will pay lip service to her look. A daub of red lipstick will have you looking concert-ready in a trice. Mac’s Ruby Woo is her trademark shade (£22), but Maybelline’s Made For All lipstick in shade 382 (£3.99) is a more affordable dupe.
A BANDEAU TOP
Jacket £65, River Island Top £35, Sosandar Shorts £15, Nutmeg at Morrisons
If there’s one top style synonymous with Taylor, it’s the bandeau.
While hers are often cropped to show a slice of midriff, don’t be put off: with the right support (hello, strapless bra) and in a length that reaches your waistband, a bandeau style can be flattering at any age.
If you don’t want to bare your upper arms, add a light wash denim jacket.
GO COWGIRL
L-R:Taylor loves the country and western look;Waistcoat £27.99 and hat £27, River Island Skirt £218, Mother Denim Boots £185, Aspiga Necklace £295, Tilly Sveaas
Thanks to Taylor and Beyonce, country and western styleishaving a moment this summer.
Even if you haven’t worn cowboy boots since you were a teen, now is a good time to revisit the look.
Avoid calf-length boots in favour of knee-length ones (Zara has a black pair, £49.99), as they’re more flattering, while a cuban or block heel will lengthen the leg even more.
They’ll look great with a denim skirt of any length. Don’t be afraid to try double denim — a chic denim waistcoat can elevate your western look.
Too ‘where’syour horse?’ Try pairing a red checked gingham shirt with jeans.
PLATFORM SANDALS
Shoes £65, monsoon.co.uk
Tay has worn a dizzying array of these on tour, usually with vertiginous heels that most of us would struggle to walk in, never mind perform a three-hour set. Choose a pair with a lower heel and a stacked sole, and you’ll find they’re surprisingly comfy.
Add a good ankle strap, and they’ll be more stable than you think. Esska’s velvet Clara sandals (£160) offer a sophisticated take, and are sure to come in handy long after the last chords of Midnight Rain have faded.
