What To Expect At The V&A’s Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail

5 months ago

This free exhibition opens on Saturday

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A new, temporary Taylor Swift exhibition is coming to London’s Victoria & Albert Museum this weekend. Called Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail, the collection will include an array of the world-famous singer’s personal items, from cowboy boots to music awards. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

A Swiftie’s Guide To London

The V&A (Getty Images)

Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail: Inside The V&A’s Upcoming Exhibition

Whether you were among one of the many celebrities in attendance at Taylor Swift’s first Wembley Stadium leg of The Eras Tour or you’re impatiently waiting for her return to London in August, you won’t want to miss this: a free-to-visit Swift collection at the V&A.

Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail will welcome fans to the storied museum to see an array of Swift’s personal items up close, exploring everything from her childhood to her recording legacy. It’s the first time many of these items have ever been on display, with 16 looks worn by the 14-time Grammy winner sitting alongside instruments, storyboards, music awards and archive material.

Grammy-award winning Swift recently made a splash in the UK on her blockbuster Eras Tour, performing for huge crowds in Edinburgh, Cardiff, London and Liverpool, with the latter renaming itself Taylor Town in honour of her arrival.

Taylor Swift | Songbook installation photography, 22nd July 2024

The free trail has been curated to celebrate the mammoth success of The Eras Tour, celebrating Swift’s ultra-creative costumes, lyrics and music videos. A pop icon and global phenomenon, Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail will also explore the artist’s ground-breaking impact and the phenomenon of the ‘Swiftie’ fandom.

The news follows the V&A advertising a job opening for a Swiftie expert earlier this year. Known as a ‘Superfan Advisor’, is the Songbook Trail the first fruits of whoever snagged the in-demand role?

‘We are delighted to be able to display a range of iconic looks worn by Taylor Swift at the V&A this summer – each celebrating a chapter in the artist’s musical journey,’ says Kate Bailey, the V&A’s senior curator across theatre and performance. ‘Taylor Swift’s songs – like objects – tell stories, often drawing from art, history and literature. We hope this theatrical trail across the museum will inspire curious visitors to discover more about the performer, her creativity and V&A objects.’

Bailey also told The Guardian the trail was conceived in quick reply to ‘this summer moment of Taylor Swift being in the UK’ on the Eras Tour. ‘It felt like something we could make happen across the museum because of the nature of the chapters of her career and the way Taylor works with curiosity and Easter eggs,’ Kate says, eager to champion Swift’s creativity to inspire a younger generation of fans. ‘I feel very passionate about bringing that in. She’s a songwriter. This is the guitar. This is all it takes – some imagination, some talent – and you can go wherever.’

Taylor Swift | Songbook installation photography, 22nd July 2024

What To Expect

Split into 13 stops (Taylor’s lucky number), Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail fittingly follows a winding trail of key ‘eras’ in Swift’s life through the V&A’s permanent galleries, showcasing the chapters of her music career and spotlighting key milestones. It’s the first time a V&A exhibition has been presented in this way: a trail scattered across the footprint of the museum, with guests tracing the trail using a digital map. Swift’s artefacts, then, are displayed alongside some of the world’s most treasured items, from pre-Raphaelite paintings to the Kensington Valhalla. The 13 stops are as follows:

The Early Days: An exploration of Swift’s youth through photographs and media, chronicling the transformation of her passion for music into songwriting and performance.
Self-titled: A documentation of Swift’s groundbreaking debut album, released when she was just 16. Here, find the cowboy boots Swift wore during 2007’s Soul2Soul II Tour where she opened for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, plus the Taylor Koa guitar.
Love Story: Swift’s theatrical reimagining of Romeo and Juliet introduced the world to her passion for literature and storytelling. This stop showcases the costume worn for ‘Love Story’ performances on the Fearless Tour.
Speak Now: Swift’s first completely self-written album, Speak Now, is incredibly personal. This stop showcases the art of her music as she transitions to adulthood, plus the Reem Acra-designed lavender tulle dress and Capezio ballet shoes worn by Swift on the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) album back cover, plus a ukulele played by Swift on the Speak Now World Tour.
Red: A showcase of Swift’s dramatic, experimental shift into rock and pop while still playing with country music. Here, find the fisherman cap worn on the Red (Taylor’s Version) album cover and the red Tadashi Shoji gown worn in the ‘I Bet You Think About Me’ video.
1989: Swift’s rise to icon status thanks to her Grammy-winning synth-pop album. Here, find two sparkling stage costumes (one designed by Jessica Jones, the other by Zuhair Murad), and a pair of Stuart Weitzman boots worn on the 1989 tour.
Reputation: Swift’s darker, more combative era is showcased at this stop on the Songbook Trail, with heavy snake imagery. Highlights include the Gucci boots worn by Taylor to the secret Reputation listening session in London and a dress designed by Jessica Jones coupled with a pair of Christian Louboutin boots worn by Swift on the Reputation Tour.
Lover: Exploring Swift’s self-directed music video for ‘The Man’, this stop showcases the Versace shirt, Tommy Bahama trousers, wig, and facial hair Swift donned for her metamorphosis into the ‘playboy millionaire’ character in the video.
Folklore: This surprise album written in isolation is notably introspective and emotional. The track ‘Cardigan’ is commemorated on this stop, featuring Swift’s signature piece of knitwear.
Evermore: Commemorating Folklore’s sister album, released later in the same year, this stop on the Songbook Trail considers Swift’s songwriting, featuring music storyboards from and the costume worn by Swift in the ‘willow’ music video.
Midnights: Another era of sonic experimentation, this stop showcases the bold Oscar de la Renta ensemble worn by Swift to announce Midnights at the MTV Music Video Awards in 2022, plus her Cinderella costume from the ‘Bejewelled’ music video.
The Tortured Poets Department: Swift’s current era, this stop along the trail spotlights Swift’s Victorian-inspired ensemble created by UNTTLD and Elena Velez for the ‘Fortnight’ music video, and celebrates Swift’s passion for literature and poetry.
Records & Re-Records: This chapter explores the ‘Taylor’s Version’ concept, and celebrates the star’s pioneering achievements in the industry. Highlights include the Joseph Cassell-designed shirt dress illustrating the names of her previous albums, worn by Swift at the American Music Awards when she was named ‘Artist of the Decade’ in 2019, plus the blue Oscar de la Renta gown she wore to the premiere of The Eras Tour concert film. Here, visitors will also find a site-specific sound experience created by award-winning sound designer Gareth Fry, showcasing a selection of Swift’s songs and videos.

Each installation has been designed by award-winning designer Tom Piper, best known for working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Tower of London, and on the previous V&A exhibition, Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser.