By Megan Riedlinger
7:21am PST, Dec 13, 2020
The girl's got style! To celebrate the Taylor Swift's 31st birthday on Dec. 13, 2020, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at some of the pop star's best performance outfits through the years… starting with this wild ensemble. Taylor Swift wore a rainbow-hued tie-dyed extravaganza featuring a dramatically fringed jean jacket and corseted hot pants by designer Jessica Jones paired with Stella McCartney's Eclypse rainbow sneakers when she took the stage at the iHeartRadio Wango Tango concert in Los Angeles on June 1, 2019. Keep reading for more of Taylor's best stage looks…
RELATED: Taylor Swift's biggest career moments
Taylor Swift hit the stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2012 rocking a circus ringleader-inspired costume, which was a Marina Toybina custom ensemble. Complete with a black top hat embellished with red sparkles, Taylor performed "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" to close the show. Despite this being Taylor's first appearance at the EMAs, she still managed to take home three trophies that night — for best female, best look and best live act.
RELATED: Taylor Swift's best red carpet fashion moments
Ringing in her 25th birthday, Taylor Swift headlined Z100's 2014 Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Rocking a Jessica Jones custom plaid crop top and pant set, Taylor paired the adorable outfit with Jimmy Choo boots for the extra-special performance. Taylor ushered in her birthday with 18,000 fans when the clock struck midnight and added a new lyric while performing her hit "Shake It Off" by interjecting "it's my birthday!" into the chorus.
Taylor Swift and Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie both donned custom ensembles created by designer Jessica Jones and Taylor's stylist, Joseph Cassell — a rainbow sequined-and-fringed one-shoulder minidress and rhinestone-studded baby blue Stuart Weitzman booties for her, a metallic pastel-splash three-piece suit for him — to open the 2019 Billboard Music Awards with their hit song "ME!" in May 2019.
Summer 2009 found Taylor Swift on the North American leg of her "Fearless" tour. The show featured multiple costume changes, but one of the best was the adorable marching band uniform Taylor sported while singing "You Belong With Me."
Taylor Swift looked fierce and strong in a sparkling sequined purple-and-black romper with vertical stripes as she performed at the Prime Day concert presented by Amazon Music at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on July 10, 2019.
This look from the 2014 American Music Awards was major. Taylor Swift opened the show and committed to recreating her crazy "Blank Space" music video character in a gorgeous gold-beaded custom creation by Yousef Aljasmi. She started the song with a long skirt, but halfway through the performance, she ripped it off to reveal an amazing fringed mini. The dramatic performance included Taylor poisoning a suitor, holding fire and throwing another one of her conquests off the stage.
Taylor Swift helped design the pale pink and lemon yellow hand-pleated floral-embroidered gown by J. Mendel that she wore when she performed at the TIME 100 Gala in April 2019. She removed a custom bolero with voluminous sleeves when it came time to take the stage for a short set.
Another great "Reputation" tour look? This black sequined bodysuit with a tearaway arm and shoulder cut-out paired with over-the-knee boots that Taylor Swift wore on opening night in Glendale, Arizona, in May 2018.
Taylor Swift made her first appearance on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show stage in 2013, opening the show with Fall Out Boy. Taylor hit the runway to help the rockers sing their song "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" in a custom British flag-emblazoned top hat and minidress, complete with a flowing train made just for her by Victoria's Secret. Nicholas Kirkwood, who designs custom heels for all the models on the runway, also created Taylor's matching open-toe Union Jack lace-up booties.
Fans loved this look from Taylor Swift's "Reputation" tour kickoff show in Glendale, Arizona, in May 2018. The pop star looked bold and beautiful in a striped, fringed minidress in a rainbow palette when she brought tour openers Charli XCX and Camila Cabello out to join her for a song at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
In 2009, Taylor Swift joined John Mayer on stage during his Z100 Jingle Ball set to sing their duet "Half of My Heart." She sparkled in a spangled slinky silver Jenny Packham dress. The next year, she released her album "Speak Now," which included a song called "Dear John," allegedly penned about their one-time secret and toxic romantic relationship.
Armed with a red guitar while wearing a red ensemble and rocking out on a red stage, Taylor Swift made sure everything went with the theme when she performed "Red" at the 2013 CMT Awards. Wearing a flowing frock over tiny black shorts (all custom designed by Joseph Cassell) with heeled black LaDuca boots, Taylor flipped her hair back and forth as she sang her heart out.
At the CMA Awards in 2008, Taylor Swift performed her hit "Love Story." On a set designed to look like a castle, Taylor wore a purple gown fit for a princess paired with a glittery headband while belting out the fairy-tale tune. She was joined on-stage by another familiar face, Justin Gaston, who was then dating Miley Cyrus! Justin played her love interest in the "Love Story" music video and helped her recreate the romance at the award ceremony.
When opening the Grammys in 2013, Taylor Swift decided to switch up her circus ringleader look by donning an all-white version for her performance of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." She kicked it off wearing a white top hat and full-length coat, but by the end of the song, she'd ditched the costume pieces to better move around the stage. Many speculated that Taylor blatantly called out ex Harry Styles during the performance when she used an exaggerated British accent while saying the track's infamous ex-boyfriend line. The two had broken up just a month earlier.
The "1989" world tour gave us some great style moments — but one of the most unexpected had to be this jumpsuit! While we're used to seeing Taylor in crop tops and miniskirts, cut-outs and leather aren't typically words used to describe her wardrobe. But Taylor showed off a brand-new style on this tour in 2015, including when she wore this sleeveless black leather one-piece, seen here as she rocked out alongside special guest Keith Urban during her Toronto stop.
For her second performance at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Taylor Swift worked the runway in a short, sparkly, jewel-encrusted custom Victoria's Secret number. Complete with Nicholas Kirkwood heels, Taylor's amazing legs rivaled all the runway models' stems. While performing her hit "I Knew You Were Trouble," she shared a sweet moment with close friend Lily Aldridge, holding hands with the Victoria's Secret Angel as she walked down the runway. That night was the first time Taylor met another one of her famous BFFs: model Karlie Kloss.
Hitting the stage hand-in-hand with best friend Karlie Kloss, Taylor Swift ruled the runway with her performance of "Style" at the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The blonde performed her Harry Styles-inspired single for the first time on television in a sheer black lace look that included a flowing train. She finished it off with her signature red lips and a pair of sky-high black heels. For the second year in a row, Taylor gave the Angels a run for their money — all she was missing was a pair of wings!
Rocking a bright blue unicorn-emblazoned tee and high-waisted black shorts, Taylor Swift performed her hit song "22" at the Billboard Music Awards in 2013. Taylor's performance was considered the most spirited of the night, and she ended up taking home eight awards. Maybe that graphic tee, which read "Haters Gonna Hate," inspired her to later write that line in "Shake It Off"?
Taylor Swift dazzled the crowd at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards with her 1920s-themed performance of "Shake It Off." Her sparkly silver flapper-inspired crop top ensemble was custom designed by Lorena Sarbu and featured hand-beaded Swarovski crystals and fringe. This marked the first time Taylor sang the hit single live, and she made sure to make it memorable with her gorgeous throwback look.
For her triumphant return to the stage in 2017 during Super Bowl weekend, Taylor Swift tapped Versace for the perfect performance ensemble. The fashion house didn't disappoint: The singer stunned in this black beaded bodysuit paired with a matching fringe skirt. She finished the look off with matching sparkling black ankle boots.
While Taylor Swift's 2009 MTV Video Music Awards appearance might best be remembered for the infamous Kanye West storming-the-stage moment during her acceptance speech for best female video for "You Belong With Me," she also gave a memorable performance that night. Singing atop a New York City cab right outside of Radio City Music Hall, Taylor rocked a short, bright red dress. She stayed in the red number for the rest of the award ceremony, including the moment Beyonce invited her on-stage to give the acceptance speech she was denied earlier.
Pretty in pink! Taylor Swift's love affair with crop tops continued at the iHeartRadio Musical Festival in 2014. This time, Taylor picked a bejeweled bubblegum-pink Jessica Jones long-sleeved crop top and skirt look, completing it with matching pink lace-up heels. Taylor performed a medley of some of her biggest hits at the music festival at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, ending with "Shake It Off" accompanied by a four-piece brass section.
Taylor Swift debuted her single "Innocent" at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards one year after Kanye West memorably embarrassed himself by storming the stage to usurp Taylor's best female video speech. Many speculated that Taylor might have written the ballad about Kanye (sample lyric: "32 and still growing up now" — the rapper was 32 during the debacle). For the dramatic performance, Taylor opted to go barefoot, wearing a simple, strapless Dolce & Gabbana dress with throwback curls and red lipstick.
At the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards, a then 16-year-old Taylor Swift made her awards debut singing her hit "Tim McGraw" in a simple, strapless white gown complete with beading and feathers. She paired the dress with cowboy boots in true vintage Taylor fashion. While performing, Taylor famously approached Tim McGraw in the audience and after she finished singing, introduced herself to her song's namesake by shaking his hand and saying, "Hi, I'm Taylor."
For a performance in Shanghai, China, to kick off the Alibaba 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in November 2019, Taylor wore a graphic gray-and-white jacket over matching shorts paired with slouchy over-the-knee boots in the same fabric, all custom made by stylist Joseph Cassell Falconer.
Performing "I Knew You Were Trouble," Taylor Swift decided to show off her bad-girl side at the 2013 BRIT Awards. Taylor started the performance with her hair up and wearing a high-necked, long and flowing white gown, reminiscent of many of her typical stage outfits. But halfway through the song, Taylor's male dancers stripped the conservative gown off her to reveal a skimpy black ensemble underneath, which was custom designed for the singer by Marina Toybina. Taylor dramatically let her hair down and danced seductively to the tune, all while her ex Harry Styles, who was rumored to have inspired it, watched by the side of the stage.
On a Parisian cafe-themed set, Taylor Swift performed her single "Begin Again" at the 2012 CMAs. The single's music video takes place in Paris and Taylor went with a sweet and simple look to match, donning a knee-length red dress and flowered Oscar de la Renta peep-toe heels. The former country crooner didn't go home with any awards that night, but she did receive a standing ovation for her performance.
At the 2010 American Music Awards, Taylor Swift went with a sleek, sophisticated look, debuting new bangs and super-straight hair. When it came time to perform, Taylor belted out "Back to December" from behind a piano in an all-black, menswear-inspired outfit. She paired a black Helmut Lang blazer with super skinny black Citizens of Humanity pants, and styled her blonde hair in a ponytail.
Taylor Swift closed out the MTV Video Music Awards in 2012 with her hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." Flanked by furry friends, Taylor rocked short black hot pants, a red-and-white striped shirt and bright red shoes. At one point she slid on some black Wayfarer sunglasses, and when the performance was finished, she stage-dived into the crowd.
In 2012, Taylor Swift looked adorable during a "Good Morning America" appearance to promote her album "Red." The singer paired an Alice + Olivia black sweater adorned with rhinestones with a black skirt and glittery black Prada oxfords. Performing the title track off of the album, Taylor accessorized her all-black ensemble with red lips, a red guitar and a red microphone while singing for a crowd in the middle of Times Square.
The "1989" world tour had Taylor Swift wearing plenty of fabulous fashion — but one of our favorite looks had to be this multicolored two-piece, seen here during a stop in Toronto in October 2015. It was a classic throwback to her love of matching separates, and the short shorts paired with the crop top proved to be one of the cutest looks she debuted during that tour.
Taylor Swift donned a black Wolford bodysuit under a sheer pink Helmut Lang button-down shirt and sequined high-waisted shorts by Jessica Jones plus black Rene Caovilla booties to perform her hits "You Need to Calm Down," "ME!" and "Shake It Off" on "Good Morning America" on the SummerStage at Rumsey Playfield in New York City's Central Park in August 2019.
Seated behind a piano, Taylor Swift delivered an emotional rendition of "All Too Well" at the 2014 Grammys. Taylor chose an elegant gray chiffon Alberta Ferretti gown with sparkling embellishments for the performance. During the stripped-down piano version of the ballad, Taylor let her blonde hair fly as she added a little head banging during an interlude.
Taylor Swift took the stage with Stevie Nicks at the 2010 Grammys wearing a cool and casual look. Taylor paired a white, ruffled and beaded Rebecca Taylor tunic with black pants and knee-high black boots and kept her hair down and curly. She brought out Stevie to sing the Fleetwood Mac superstar's hit "Rhiannon," and then Stevie stuck around to sing background vocals and play the tambourine for Taylor's "You Belong With Me."
Taylor Swift took the stage at the 2016 Grammys to sing her hit "Out of the Woods." The set had a woodsy vibe, and the singer's ensemble — a sparkly black jumpsuit complete with built-in boots — fit the dark mood. The sheer paneling on the side gave the catsuit a little edge, but the red lip and sleek bob kept things classically Taylor.
Taylor Swift opened the 2018 American Music Awards with "I Did Something Bad" rocking this sleek black sparkling bodysuit. She completed the edgy look with over-the-knee boots, flesh-colored fishnets and a chunky black belt.
