The memories of stadium gigs in the 2020s will be defined by one thing above all else: the humble bodysuit. From Harry Styles’ sequined Bianca Saunders jumpsuits, to Beyoncé’s hand-adorned Loewe look, to Dua Lipa in panelled Thierry Mugler, the bodysuit has been doing a lot of the tourdrobe’s heavy lifting as of late.
But perhaps the most defining tourdrobe item of the past four years is Taylor Swift’s bedazzled Versace bodysuit. Sleeveless, bottomless, as optimised for movement as it is for differentiation, the bodysuit has taken on many forms across her dates on the Eras tour. And last night, she got a brand new one.
For her first show of the European leg of the Eras tour, Swift wore not one but two custom-made Atelier Versace looks.
The first, a fully crystal embroidered bodysuit with bustier boning structure and degradé of dangling sequins, was a fresh tone of iridescent orange.
The second, a double-breasted burnt orange blazer embellished with crystals, was accented by Versace’s trademark gold Medusa buttons and paired with matching orange boots, which descended into tones of fuchsia.
“Taylor is taking over the world with joy, love, and female power in Versace,” Donatella Versace told Vogue. “I love her talent, her hard work, and dedication to her fans. She is a superstar!”
Versace’s excessive, embellishment-heavy approach to high fashion has made it a popular choice for attention-grabbing tourdrobes, having also provided outfits for Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour (but then again, who didn’t?), as well as dressing her in one of the houses legendary chain mail gowns for the premiere of the Renaissance film.
And even outside of Versace, the desire for glittering tour outfits persists. Harry Styles’ sequinned Bianca Saunders jumpsuits may be resigned to storage for now, but Olivia Rodrigo is keeping the sparkle alive in Swarovski hot pants, which the singer is pairing with various slogan white vests (a favourite: “Every guy I like is Gaelic”, while on tour in Ireland).
But it is Swift’s collaboration with Versace that remains supreme. We’ll be surprised if one of them doesn’t make it into a museum someday soon.
