Taylor Swift Experienced ‘Panic’ Amidst 20 Rapid Costume Changes on the Eras Tour
Taylor Swift’s rapid costume changes on the Eras Tour weren’t always as effortless as they appeared.
In episode 3 of her End of an Era docuseries, which debuted on Disney+ on Friday, December 19, Swift, 36, shared the reality of her quick changes. “There were times when I thought, I don’t know if these costume changes are going to happen on time,” she admitted. “I’m only off stage for a maximum of two minutes.”
The musician expressed, “You have no idea how panicked I felt, worrying that I wouldn’t be dressed in time for the song to start.”
Swift reminisced about a painful wardrobe incident while transitioning from her long Evermore gown into her Reputation catsuit, where she tripped over the hem of the Marco de Vincenzo for Etro dress, injuring her knee and “skimming the palm” of her hand. Bleeding, she swiftly donned the Roberto Cavalli outfit and didn’t miss a beat. “Wasn’t late!” she proudly stated.
Her mother, Andrea Swift, likened Taylor’s quick changes to “watching a NASCAR race.” Throughout the performance, Taylor managed 20 wardrobe changes.
According to one of her dressers, Jestina O’Dell, all of Taylor’s outfit changes are completed in under two minutes. “Every outfit change takes about a minute and 15 seconds or less,” she revealed. “Our fastest quick change, though, is 39 seconds.”
In a different segment of the episode, her longtime stylist Joseph Cassell discussed designing her costumes, emphasizing the importance of “nostalgia” in their choices.
“The Eras Tour is all about the fans, you know? My ability to do my job well is because I’m a fan too,” he enthused. “For the tour, we wanted to be a bit reflective and sentimental, incorporating designers who have been with Taylor since the beginning.”
Taylor noted that feeling confident in her costumes helped her push through the show while dealing with illnesses and physical discomfort. Reflecting on her sparkling Versace bodysuit that opened the show during her Lover era, Swift remarked, “It somehow, like, heals me from having the stomach flu.”
She went on, “It can elevate me from total exhaustion. I’m just like nope, if I’m wearing this, I have to step up my game.”
While performing in Miami in October 2024, she surprised her audience with a gold version of her red Reputation catsuit, featuring one long sleeve, one long pant, and sequin snakes winding around her body. After trying on the new outfit, Swift praised its design: “It’s now my favorite. I didn’t see this coming. I’m shocked.”
If you’re curious whether the star’s feet hurt from dancing in heels during the three-hour show, the answer is yes. “I mean dancing all night, yeah my feet ache,” Swift candidly shared. Despite the pain, her red-soled shoes made it all worthwhile. “I’m wearing Louboutins. Like, it is a privilege for these feet to ache like this.”
