An exhibition celebrating the style and influence of Taylor Swift is coming to the V&A Museum this summer. The temporary show will feature 16 looks previously worn by the Grammy-winning artist, who is currently performing her sell-out Eras tour across Europe.
Entitled ‘Taylor Swift / Songbook Trail’, the display will mark the success of the UK leg of her tour and celebrate the creativity of her costumes, lyrics and music videos, while also exploring the global phenomena of the singer-songwriter and her “Swifties” fans. The costumes featured – many of which are from Swift’s personal collection – will sit alongside instruments, awards and moodboards, alongside some previously unseen archival items relating to her childhood and recording process.
The ‘trail’ will consist of 13 stops, each celebrating a chapter – or era, if you will – of Swift’s career. Key looks include a pair of customised cowboy boots worn during the early years of her career as a country-music star in 2007, and the black ruffled dress worn in the music video for her recent single Fortnight, taken from her 2024 album, The Tortured Poet’s Department.
“We are delighted to be able to display a range of iconic looks worn by Taylor Swift at the V&A this summer – each celebrating a chapter in the artist’s musical journey,” said Kate Bailey, senior curator of Theatre & Performance. “Taylor Swift’s songs, like objects, tell stories, often drawing from art, history and literature. We hope this theatrical trail across the museum will inspire curious visitors to discover more about the performer, her creativity and V&A objects.”
‘Taylor Swift / Songbook Trail’, which has been conceived by the award-winning designer Tom Piper (who was responsible for the V&A’s 2021 Alice in Wonderland exhibition), will be staged in the South Kensington museum’s permanent galleries and run from 27 July to 8 September 2024.
