Pop icon Taylor Swift wore nearly 100 different costumes over the course of the 149-show Eras Tour. Each had a special link to one of her 12 studio albums recorded over the past two decades via Page Six.
And while she continues to be admired for being a prolific singer-songwriter, fans haven’t been able to figure out how she was able to pack so many outfit changes into each three-hour performance.
In the latest episodes of her Disney+ documentary, Swift pulls back the curtain to reveal some of the time-saving and speed-enhancing tricks she used behind the scenes to keep the show running smoothly. This includes not only the length of time she had for each quick-change, but also exactly how she pulled it off.
“Every outfit change is about a minute-fifteen or less,” explains Jestina O’Dell, one of Swift’s two dressers. “Our fastest quick change, though, is 39 seconds with her in the room.”
“Those quick changes are like nothing you’ve ever seen before,” shared Swift’s mom, Andrea. “It is like watching a NASCAR race.”
Swift was only ever off stage for a maximum of 2 minutes at a time.
As per to Joseph Cassell Falconer, Swift’s longtime stylist, there are about 20 quick changes in the 3-hour set. These transformations are achieved with the help of two dedicated dressers and four dressing rooms located underneath the stage at various points.
“We don’t really have time for snags. It’s very choreographed. Every second counts. Every millisecond counts,” said O’Dell.
In an interview with Roberto Cavalli’s Fausto Puglisi, who created over 20 unique costumes for the Era’s Tour, the designer revealed that numerous details were taken into consideration for every single look.
“We have dictates, of course; the zipper must be one way, we have to be careful with crystal [placement]. There are so many secrets,” he says, adding that Swift’s stylist is “fantastic” at ensuring any snags or missing sequins are fixed in between shows.
“It’s literally the most complicated system, you have no idea the panic of worrying you’re not going to be dressed in time for the song to start. And it is that panic that drives me to never be late,” shared Swift.
