30 Times Taylor Swift Ruled The Red Carpet With Her Effortless Sense Of Style

“When I’m getting dressed, it’s always based on what my friends will think” — Taylor Swift

This principle uttered by none other than Swifty herself is a hard-and-fast rule that has served the ultra-talented songstress very well indeed. Just take a look at any one of her red carpet appearances, and you'll see it — no matter what she picks out to wear, she always looks immaculate. Tay Tay has showcased almost every look in the book — thigh-high boots to match her sky-high legs, daring slits, disco-ball mini dresses. you name it — she's aced it! And, of course, each of her most dazzling ensembles has been pulled off with her signature elegance and grace. We think it's safe to assume that her friends would approve of each and every one of these iconic outfits. 

Back to black

When: November 2006

Where: Country Music Association Awards


In one of Swift's first handful of red-carpet events, fans were no doubt in awe of her sophisticated demeanor. Especially given that she was just coming up to her seventeenth birthday at the time! A slight difference from the cowboy boots she'd sported just a few months back, she dazzled in a floor-length black gown with matching satin gloves. The fishtail finish is mermaid-chic at its very best.

All that glitters

When: November 2008

Where: Country Music Association Awards


Taylor’s music has evolved so much that you’d be forgiven for forgetting that she was once a country singer. And the same goes for her style – each year we're treated to a whole new era of T-Swift to admire, and it just keeps getting better and better. But even in the early days, she had a sense of what looked good on her. In 2008, for example, she bedazzled the CMAs with a silver KaufmanFranco dress.

That moment

When: September 2009

Where: MTV Music Video Awards


Taylor’s dress at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards — another KaufmanFranco creation — became famous in a way that neither wearer nor creator could ever have anticipated. That’s because when Swift was interrupted live on stage by Kanye West as she accepted her award, her glittering gown was front and center in all the major newspapers the next day.

Short but sweet

When: January 2010

Where: People’s Choice Awards


By 2010, Tay’s skirts were getting shorter. She wore a spectacular Jenny Packham mini dress to the People’s Choice Awards that year — one that included some sparkle but still looked sophisticated and mature. In fact, the understated mini dress went far from unnoticed. Headlines the next day were filled with appreciation for her get-up, and many even labeled her one of the event’s best dressed.

Pretty as a princess

When: April 2011

Where: Academy of Country Music Awards


Even as Swift slowly adopted a more adult look, she wasn’t quite done with the princess dresses of her earlier days. When she attended the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards, she sported a flowing, pale yellow gown created by Elie Saab. And the stunning outfit became quite the talking point on Twitter. The number of tweets that included the #TaylorSwiftACMS hashtag during the evening was a true feat!

Savage beauty

When: May 2011

Where: Met Gala


The annual Met Gala is a great excuse for celebrities to really flex their fashion muscles, and Swift definitely didn’t disappoint. The theme for 2011's gala was savage beauty, but there was nothing savage about Tay's stunning ensemble. What’s more, her asymmetric, lace-detailed J. Mendel dress, coupled with a sleek updo and bold red lips, proved that the 21-year-old star was fast becoming a style force to be reckoned with.

Golden girl

When: February 2012

Where: Grammy Awards


Swift won two awards for her music at the 2012 Grammys, but her look for the night was worthy of an honor all by itself. And perhaps because the golden gown from Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad looked so amazing on her, one Huffington Post writer was understandably quite disappointed when she changed into something altogether duller to perform her song “Mean” at the ceremony.

Classy cut-outs

When: April 2012

Where: Academy of Country Music Awards


When Taylor Swift was a country music star rather than an international pop icon, she wore this stunning but simple custom J. Mendel gown to the 2012 ACM Awards. And not only did she look great, but she also went home with an Entertainer of the Year trophy — her second one in a row.

Red red red

When: November 2012

Where: Country Music Association Awards


The pop queen had an album called Red to promote at the 2012 Country Music Association Awards, so what else could she wear but, well... red? In fact, she wore two outfits that showcased the color, but the best one was her first fit: a gorgeously feminine embroidered dress from Jenny Packham.

The revenge dress

When: January 2013

Where: NRJ Music Awards


The world may never know for sure who Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” is about — John Mayer, perhaps, or Jake Gyllenhaal? But whoever the target is, they were at the wrong end of both a breakup song and a spectacular, sexy Elie Saab revenge dress at the 2013 NRJ Music Awards.

Dressed to empress

When: April 2013

Where: Academy of Country Music Awards


Taylor Swift arrived at the 2013 awards wearing a stunning sleeveless gold dress from Dolce & Gabbana. And it seems embellished gowns were the 'in' thing that year, as a whole host of other guests turned up in similar looks. But Taylor needn't have been deterred by a bit of fashion competition because the pop sensation swooped in to steal the “best dressed” crown.

Bold in blue

When: May 2013

Where: Billboard Music Awards


Swift brought out another short, shimmering dress for the 2013 Billboard Music Awards and became one of at least three celebs to sport a design by Zuhair Murad at the event. Perhaps that outfit was something of a lucky charm, too, as she went home that night with a staggering eight awards.

Sleek and chic

When: August 2013

Where: MTV Video Music Awards


Swift doesn’t often choose dark colors, but when she does she really rocks them. For the 2013 MTV Music Video Awards, for example, she wowed the crowds with a navy blue Hervé Léger by Max Azria dress — complete with a bit of sparkle, of course. And The Huffington Post paid the piece quite the compliment by labeling it as something that seemed “straight out of a vintage Hollywood movie.”

Red again

When: November 2013

Where: Country Music Association Awards


Taylor donned red yet again for the 2013 CMA Awards. And her elegantly draped, embroidered gown was from one of her tried-and-trusted designer go-to's: Elie Saab. However, while the musician’s choice of ensemble wasn’t much of a departure from her previous red-carpet looks, half of the business of fashion is knowing what works for you. And this definitely worked for her.

Flirty florals

When: November 2013

Where: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show


Just a week after the 2013 CMAs, Tay showcased another Zuhair Murad piece — this time at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. And in the long-sleeved sequinned floral dress — one of many outfits that she wore for the event — the star pulled off the enviable feat of appearing both classy and sexy.

Over to the dark side

When: March 2014

Where: Vanity Fair Oscar Party


2014 was the year Taylor Swift proved once and for all that she could pull off an elegant black number. And if there’s any event at which to shine in a glitter-strewn Julien Macdonald gown, it surely must be Vanity Fair’s legendary Oscar Party. Don't be fooled by the dress's understated glam, though — there are some daring sheer panels in there, too!

Ravishing romper

When: August 2014

Where: MTV Video Music Awards


Swift took a fashion leap for the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards by rocking up in a baby blue jumpsuit rather than a more classic dress. And she nailed it — the Mary Katrantzou outfit looked amazing on her super-lean frame. Heaven only knows what those letters spell out, though.

Thighing high

When: December 2014

Where: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show afterparty


Swift picked something almost as daring as her romper look for the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show afterparty. Rather appropriately for a celebration of an event where a lot of flesh is usually flashed, her white Zuhair Murad dress featured a semi-sheer bodice and a thigh-length slit to show off her enviable legs.

Dragon fierceness

When: February 2015

Where: BRIT Awards


For the 2015 BRIT Awards, Swift pulled out a real showstopper. What’s more, her red-and-black embroidered dragon dress — a clingy Roberto Cavalli Atelier creation — looked even more spectacular from the back. The Huffington Post termed it “a fierce new look” — and we couldn’t agree more.

Peplum perfection

When: February 2015

Where: Grammy Awards


While Taylor didn’t actually perform at the 2015 Grammys, she naturally ended up being one of the red carpet’s main attractions anyway. That was all down to one mesmerizing, teal blue Elie Saab dress — yet another one that showed off her legs to die for. She perfected the look with a splash of contrasting pink in her sky-scraper stilettos.

J'adore jumpsuits

When: May 2015

Where: Billboard Music Awards


“This is such a good night!” Taylor Swift announced with glee at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. And she was absolutely correct. Why? Well, not only did she claim eight awards at the show, but she totally conquered the red carpet with her sexy, cut-out Balmain jumpsuit. A force to be reckoned with, that's for sure.

Top-to-toe two piece

When: August 2015

Where: MTV Video Music Awards


By the time of the 2015 VMAs, it seemed as if the princess dresses had been long relegated to the back of Tay’s closet. Instead, she wore a sequinned Ashish two-piece, and its outrageousness awed everybody. “Is this the most genius outfit Taylor Swift’s ever worn on the red carpet?” PopSugar pondered after the event.

Contrasted to perfection

When: February 2016

Where: Grammy Awards


For the 2016 Grammy Awards, Taylor kept up her new edgy-but-feminine style makeover. And while her Atelier Versace ensemble — an orange-red bandeau top and a slit-to-the-thigh pink skirt — may have been a bit unusual, the bold pops of color contrasted to perfection. It's safe to say the look was a massive hit.

Blonder than blonde

When: May 2016

Where: Met Gala


Although the main change in Tay's look for the 2016 Met Gala was her shocking pop of peroxide blonde hair, her frill and cut-out detail mini dress held its own, too. The theme that year was Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology, and Taylor smashed it out of the park with a custom-made Louis Vuitton metallic snakeskin number. The black lipstick and knee-high boots were the cherries on her fashion cake.

Walking glitter ball

When: October 2018

Where: American Music Awards


Sticking with the metallic theme but ditching her bold blonde locks, Taylor still managed to make an impact at the American Music Awards. The intricate square sequins that covered the Balmain outfit from head to toe gave a clear lesson in futuristic chic. Elle even went as far as saying that "Taylor Swift looks like a space princess." She does, and we're here for it! 

Light bright

When: August 2019

Where: MTV Video Music Awards


Taylor Swift tends to change her style with every new album she releases. So, when Lover came out in August 2019, she ditched her Reputation-era serpents and dark hues for a lighter, softer style. Brighter, too, if the sequin-covered Versace look she sported at the 2019 VMAs is anything to go by.

Gorgeous in green

When: November 2019

Where: American Music Awards


After Taylor showcased yet another jaw-dropping look, Us Weekly declared that "She’ll never go out of style!" And we can see why! The A-symmetrical Julien Macdonald gown had everything — glitter, spaghetti straps, a dramatic train, Grecian-style draped material, and a cinched-in waist. That might sound like a lot, but the final look was nothing short of forest-green perfection.

All hail the houndstooth

When: January 2020

Where: Sundance Film Festival 


We'll let you take a minute to appreciate this one... Wow! In a swerve from her cheekier styles, Taylor opted for a more composed but no less breathtaking look at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The Carmen March ensemble gives new meaning to the phrase 'matchy matchy' — even her boots were kitted out in houndstooth plaid. What's more, it worked! Like, really worked! She was featured on multiple best-dressed lists with this classy creation. 

In bloom

When: March 2021

Where: Grammy Awards


Taylor Swift looked picture-perfect at 2021's Grammy awards. To pick up her award for Album of the Year for Folklore, Swift wore a suitably dreamy ensemble. The nude mesh dress was adorned with a garden of flowers and actually featured 3D embroidery to make the blooms really stand out. The singer completed the ensemble with some delicate pink heels that ensured all eyes remained on the springtime look.

Razzle dazzle ’em

When: August 2022

Where: MTV Video Music Awards


It wasn’t just Taylor Swift’s record-breaking multiple wins that turned heads at the 2022 VMAs. Her dazzling Oscar de la Renta chandelier mini dress covered just enough with its barely-there design, but it wasn’t the revealing style that got her loyal legion of Swifties all of a fluster. Eagle-eyed fans have pieced together a set of theories about the dress’ hidden meanings. Supposedly, her latest bead and jewel outfit was a nod to a similar metallic dress she wore at the ’09 VMAs. She also wore a bejeweled dress in the music video for, ‘Look What You Made Me Do.’ The fact that both the video and 2009 looks have links to her infamous feud with Kanye West, well... you do the math.

Denim for the win

When: September 2023

Where: MTV Video Music Awards


Taylor Swift made history at the 2023 VMAs. She became the first artist to ever win four Video of the Year awards — this time for her self-directed video "Anti-Hero." She made a "swift" exit after the event to celebrate at the Ned NoMad afterparty wearing this head-turning EB Denim "polka dress" and silver glitter platform heels. Like the look of it? You can buy the dress from EB Denim for $480.