What to Wear Based on My Top Five Faves from “The Tortured Poets Department”
This morning (for us here in Spain), Taylor Swift dropped her long-awaited album “The Tortured Poets Department. Two hours later, she released an anthology with an extra 15 songs. The entire body of work was 31 songs in total. I think when I heard that news, I temporarily stopped breathing. How she managed to write so many songs while touring is beyond me. I was not expecting a double album, but I had a long train ride from Barcelona to Zaragoza that was totally instrumental in allowing me to get you this commentary today. Buckle up, because this is going to be a deep dive as we talk not only about the album but knowing Miss Taylor tends to impact a lot of different aspects of pop culture, we anticipate the release of Tortured Poets Department will spur a few different fashion trends (more cottagecore anyone??). Naturally, as a fashion enthusiast, I was thinking of what I would wear if I were to star in a music video for each of these songs, so I present to you my top five favorite songs from the anthology, and what to wear based on each one!
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this album is the movie The Dead Poets Society. Swift’s use of metaphor, as always, paints vivid imagery around themes of love, loss, and exploration of the self. The songs are melancholic and whimsical, carrying your mind to a place far away from reality. I could not have picked a better album to listen to while staring wistfully out the window of a train and pondering seriously about my whole entire life.
And with that, let’s dive into our favorite songs!
“IMGONNAGETYOUBACK”
This song was my favorite song on the album because it gave such strong Reputation vibes sonically. It’s indecisive, it’s raw, and it’s a little bit toxic as Swift describes the pain of the lows in her relationship of ex, the ways that she makes him feel her power, and the craziness that might shine through as she tries to decide how to deal with her residual feelings from her heartbreak. For this song, I would wear the dress below from Staud, probably with Taylor’s signature red lipstick from Pat McGrath, and So Kate heels from Christian Louboutin because nothing says revenge like red bottoms.
MY BOY ONLY BREAKS HIS FAVORITE TOYS
For a song whose production is very upbeat and fun, the lyrics are incredibly tragic. Our girl dives once again into discussing a toxic relationship with an avoidantly attached man. It’s clear he ran away because things were probably going to well (as bad boys typically do), and the metaphors Taylor uses to describe him (toys, sand castles, puzzle pieces) encourage the idea that he’s really being a child through all their interactions, but leaving her broken and bruised at the end of all. Positioning her as the queen of a castle with little power, I would wear this Italian ballgown from Giambattista Valli. It’s whimsical with all the bows and perfect for running out of a castle from the guy of your nightmares with the high-low silhouette. I will be dreaming of this gown instead of my past relationships as I’m falling asleep tonight!
DOWN BAD
Talk about building someone up just to break them apart! As a recurring theme in this album, “Down Bad” showcases the pain of betrayal, but more importantly, it showcases the aftermath. Taylor explores the hurting, the healing, and the loving in this song as she reflects on the damage done to her after allowing herself to be so vulnerable. With every heartbreak comes growth, but first, a little retribution might be in order. If I were her, I would prepare to start dressing for revenge in this stunner by Alexandra Pijut. With the placement of sequins for a flair of feminity, this dress is the perfect one to feel a little moody in as you ponder the sorrows of heartbreak. There is no other way to rebound from being “down bad” than putting on your best dress and heels, going out with your best friends, and dancing the heartbreak away (preferably with a martini in hand).
LOML
This song might very well be the most tortured of them all. As I was listening, I felt a lot of funeral imagery. The death in question? The relationship between Taylor and Joe. The cause of death? Cowardice? More avoidance? The feeling you get when you’re so love in with someone that you feel like if you go on again and off again and just keep trying, you can fix the things that tear you apart? Self-sabotage? Whatever the reason, it’s clear that things might never fully repair themselves, and our girl is very sad about this notion. To mourn the loss of a relationship like this one, I would wear this archival vintage Dior piece from Aralda Vintage, worn by Bella Hadid to the Princess Trust Gala in 2022. Being in mourning is not an excuse to not serve looks, so put on your favorite black dress and grab your rosary.
I CAN DO IT WITH A BROKEN HEART
Taylor is the queen of depressing lyrics that have a fun beat to help you avoid how sad the situation she’s singing about actually is, and honestly, I appreciate her for it. Perfectionists around the world can relate to this, and listening to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” felt like an anthem for my very type-A personality. Forever trying to overachieve while dealing with the things life throws at you is nothing new for Miss Swift, as this song is an honest confession about how she felt going through two breakups, writing a new album, touring around the world, and finding love again, all at the same time. Just thinking about it, I will need a vacation for at least the next five years. To pay homage to her incredible outfits on tour, I would wear the famous Gradient Mini Dress by Clio Peppiatt.
All in all, after listening to the album three times, I look forward to nursing any springtime sorrows and spending contemplative moments at the beach with these songs. All’s fair in love and poetry and as spring blends into summer, and I’m excited to hear your favorite songs too. Let us know on Instagram @itgrlarchive_ what you think of this new album!