If we were playing a game of word association with Taylor Swift as our subject, red lipstick would likely be one of the top identifiers tossed around (see also: cats, cryptic Instagram posts, and sparkly everything). Through her rise from newbie country crossover singer to chart-topping, record-breaking pop star, Swift and her favorite makeup look have become nearly inseparable. In fact, since around 2009, Swift has rarely been spotted without a crimson pout, whether she’s hitting the red carpet, cruising around New York City, or strutting across the Eras Tour stage.
It was recently revealed in Elle Australia that Swift’s first foray into red lips was in 2009 at an Allure cover shoot, when the shoot’s makeup artist, Gucci Westman, had to get Swift’s mom’s permission to use the shade on the singer. Swift apparently loved the shade so much that she asked if she could take the tube home. Later that year, the Fearless Tour kicked off and Swift wore a pinkish strawberry red lip each night — the rest was history.
Of course, just because the songstress loves red lipstick doesn’t mean she won’t switch up shades and textures. But to celebrate the icon at the peak of her power (so far), we took an in-depth look at the best ways Swift has sported her signature lip color over the years and throughout her musical eras, from romantic Speak Now to rebellious Reputation, and all way through to her bejeweled Midnights era.
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And thus begins her love story with a red lip. This shade worn during the Fearless Tour borders on pink, but we’re going to count it. Just as Swift is growing into becoming a country-pop sensation, she’s also growing into the lipstick color. During this era we also see Swift begin to sport a crimson pout on red carpets, from the fateful 2009 MTV Video Music Awards night to her second Met Gala appearance in 2010.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Lost Cherry, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Theo Wargo/WireImage/New York Post.
Pictured here at the debut of her perfume, Wonderstruck, this whimsical, romantic era is when Swift solidifies her commitment to a red lip. Her third and fully self-written album, Speak Now, arrives in October 2010, and it’s her first album cover where she’s wearing red lipstick — though certainly not her last.
COVERGIRL Exhibitionist Lipstick – Cream, Hot, $, available at TargetPhoto: Royce DeGrie/Getty Images.
Arguably her most apt era for a crimson pout, Red gave us a brooding, heartbroken Swift like we’d never seen before. And her red lip was in the middle of it all, seemingly at every performance, red carpet, and smack dab in the middle of the album cover. It’s also in this era that Swift becomes so inseparable from matte red lipstick that she even begins putting references to it in her lyrics. See: the Red (Deluxe Edition) track, “The Moment I Knew.” In red lipstick with no one to impress.
MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, $, available at NordstromPhoto: Brian Killian/WireImage.
She’s on top of the pop star world and red lipstick is right there with her. As if we needed a reminder of this love affair, Swift gave us not one, but three references to her makeup staple on 1989. Cherry lips, crystal skies (“Blank Space”). I’ve got that red lip classic thing that you like (“Style”). Red lips and rosy cheeks (“Wildest Dreams”).
NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil in Dragon Girl, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Yes, Bleachella gets its own era — even if it’s not a musical era, per say (I guess we can count “This Is What You Came For”). This was the era of bold choices, à la her futuristic 2016 Met Gala look, so naturally she paired her bleached bob with bold red, almost purple lipstick. In her style evolution, this period was definitely a precursor to her next, even bolder era.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Trust Issues, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.
The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now…why? Oh, cause she’s wearing dark lipstick! In this shadowy rebirth era for her, Swift commits to an edgy version of her iconic makeup look with this oxblood hue for the Reputation Stadium Tour. We also got some shoutouts in her lyrics: So here’s the truth from my red lips (“End Game”). Crimson red paint on my lips (“I Did Something Bad”).
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick in Strengthen, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Gareth Cattermole/TAS18/Getty Images/TAS.
We see Swift wear a lot of non-red shades in this very pink Lover era, but she certainly didn’t shy away from her go-to shade, especially when it came to performances and many red carpet appearances. In this era, we see her try on some poppy-colored shades and bright orange reds. Unfortunately, we’ll never know what lip color the songstress would’ve worn on tour for this album (RIP Lover Fest).
PAT McGRATH LABS MatteTrance™ Lipstick in Obsessed!, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images/iHeartMedia.
In these folk-leaning, pared down pandemic era albums, Swift leans into forest aesthetics and sepia tones. And yet, the red lip still makes an appearance in the very little we actually see of her. In this case, Swift dons a glossy true red lip in the witchy music video for “Willow.”
Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Shine On Lipstick in 184 Free Rosewood, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Courtesy of UMG/Republic.
In the album timeline, this is where we skip Fearless (Taylor’s Version), but that’s okay because the red lip returns in full force with the rollout of Red (Taylor’s Version) in the fall of 2021. From the album rerecord artwork and talk show appearances to her “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” performance on SNL and “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version)” music video, Swift gives us the color red in all of its fiery, passionate, heartbreaking glory. And there’s something older and more mature about the red she’s chosen for the second coming of the album. Where as Red (2012) Swift wore a preppy blue-red color, Red TV gives us a slightly aged scarlet tone.
Gucci Velvet Matte Lipstick in 502 Eadie Scarlet, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Mike Coppola/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images.
From the moment the Midnights era was officially ushered in at the 2022 MTV VMAs, Swift was sporting a classic red pout. In her triumphant return to chart-topping, record-breaking pop of course she’s been flaunting her classic beauty look. She makes yet another lyrical reference to red lips in the Midnights track, “Maroon,” though this time surprisingly not in reference to her own: The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was maroon.
PAT McGRATH LABS PermaGel Ultra Lip Pencil in Blood Lust, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Gotham/WireImage.
This whole tour is a celebratory homage to the musical eras throughout Swift’s career thus far, so it only makes sense that the performing powerhouse dons a classic red lip as she struts across the massive Eras Tour stage each weekend. And her vivid red pout is literally unmovable — even through several rain storms her lipstick has stayed put. Kind of symbolic, no?
PAT McGRATH LABS LiquiLUST™: Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick, $, available at SephoraPhoto: Kevin Winter/Getty Images/TAS Rights Management.
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