She’s too good.
Taylor Swift may be the queen of Easter eggs, but still, The Tortured Poets Department has been a complete surprise to Swifties since it was first announced at the 2024 Grammys. With everyone guessing Reputation (Taylor’s Version) was on the way, no one predicted TTPD — but there have been clues since early 2023.
Swift has said before that she likes to hint at things years in advance. On The Tonight Show in 2021, she said, “Can I hint at something three years in advance? Can I even plan things out that far? I think I'm gonna try to do it.” During her Lover era, Swift also revealed one of her favorite kinds of Easter eggs is clothing and jewelry.
We’ve seen this with Swift wearing blue, a color most associated with her 1989 album, leading up to its Taylor’s Version release in 2023. And while many people thought her black outfits during this time were hinting at Rep (TV), they were actually in line with The Tortured Poets Department.
The black and white color scheme wasn’t the only style-related Easter egg Swift was dropping; she was also wearing accessories named after tracks on the album and hinting at themes for the record. Sarah Chapelle, who runs the @taylorswiftstyled Instagram account, has since pointed out a few of these Easter eggs, but below is a list of nine TTPD clothing hints you may have missed.
For the 2023 Grammys, Swift wore a Roberto Cavalli two-piece dress that perfectly represented her Midnights era, but she was also wearing a subtle Easter egg to another one of her albums. Her shoes (which were hard to see!) were custom Giuseppe Zanotti Betty Platform Sandals. Most fans thought this was a nod to folklore, but it could have also been hinting at TTPD.
At the center of folklore is a fictional love triangle between Betty, James, and Augustine. The song “Cardigan” is told through Betty’s perspective, looking back at her relationship with James and knowing that he would “come back” to her. Following the release of Tortured Poets, fans have theorized that “Cardigan” is actually about Matty Healy. Swift even seemed to say, “This one’s about you, you know who you are. I love you,” to Healy while performing “Cardigan” in front of him at the Eras Tour in May 2023.
“Cardigan” and “Peter” on TTPD also both reference Peter Pan, so Swift wearing Betty shoes in Jan. 2023 could have been an early Easter egg to Healy and returning themes on the new album.
When Swift and Healy were reportedly seeing each other in May 2023, the two went on a date to Casa Cipriani in NYC. While the club is members-only, a stealthy pic of the two showed that Swift was wearing a Sofia Dress from Dôen. Track 19 on The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology is titled “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus.”
The return of Y2K style has made claw clips trendy once again, so no one really thought twice about Swift wearing one in Oct. 2023 when she went out to dinner with Selena Gomez, Zoë Kravitz, and Keleigh Teller in Los Angeles. Chapelle on @taylorswiftstyled did note at the time that the claw clip was named Aimee from Anthropologie. Now, it’s obvious this specific hair accessory was an Easter egg to the TTPD song “thanK you aIMee,” which many believe is about Swift’s feud with Kim Kardashian.
The Aimee Claw Hair Clip Set made a second cameo in Swift’s “Fortnight” challenge video, which she posted after the music video was released on Apr. 19.
One of the bonus songs from The Tortured Poets Department variants is “The Albatross.” Swift announced the special edition track at her Sydney show on Feb. 22, but she had already hinted at it in October 2023 when she wore a bird earring while out in NYC. According to Chapelle, the Marquise Center Flying Thunderbird Drop Stud she wore retails for $4,550. That’s a very expensive Easter egg.
This one might be a bit of a stretch — or at least a happy coincidence — but Swift was spotted with an M Frame Box Bag in Nov. 2023. The last time she was seen with this bag was in May 2023, when she was linked to Healy. It’s possible the “M” stands for Matty.
Also in November, Swift was spotted with another purse clue. While out in NYC with Gracie Abrams, she sported a YSL Cassandra Medium Shoulder Bag. Track 27 on The Tortured Poets Department is named “Cassandra” after the Greek prophetess.
The 30th track on The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology is titled “Robin,” which Swift hinted at back in January. To go along with her winter, cozy ‘fit in NYC, the Grammy winner wore Robin Leather Chelsea Boots from The Row. The quiet luxury footwear was almost too quiet for Swifties to notice.
That same week in New York, Swift was seen wearing a black Flared Hem Belted Cotton Mini Dress from ALAÏA while getting dinner with Brittany Mahomes, Cara Delevingne, and Ashley Avignone. No one could have guessed this was a callback to the Victorian dress Swift wears in the “Fortnight” music video.
Swift’s Grammys 2024 look was another “Fortnight” outfit that Swifties had no idea was one. The custom Maison Schiaparelli gown was an Easter egg for the Candescence Gown she wears in the video. Even the clock choker, which fans assumed was for Midnights, was actually a reference to the vintage brooch in “Fortnight.”
As Swift once sang on Midnights, “none of it was accidental,” and that continues to be true.
