Taylor Swift’s New Reputation-Coded Look Marks the Return of 2013’s Most Divisive Shoe Trend

I had a visceral reaction to Taylor Swift’s latest outfit—and it had nothing to do with the Reputation easter eggs.

The 34-year-old pop star rarely misses an opportunity to remind her fans that she is, in fact, a millennial, and her latest outfit included a decisive trend our generation coveted in the early 2010s. But we’ll get back to that. On September 21, Swift stepped out in New York City for a girls night with Gigi Hadid in a yet another plaid ‘fit (which has to mean something at this point).

According to Page Six, Swift paired Ramy Brook’s Derrick Pleated Plaid Miniskirt with a long-sleeve black crop top, and several gold necklaces, including what appears to be an flipped initial choker (whether it’s upside-down on purpose will be the subject of another post). Everything else? Pure Reputation. From her croc-embossed Stella McCartney bag to her black nail polish and natural wavy bangs, this look feels like a sartorial nod to her sixth studio album—one of two projects Swift has left to re-release in her bid to reclaim her full body of work. You can see the photos here.

Then there’s the shoes. Page Six reports that Swift’s wearing Vivienne Westwood’s snakeskin Pleasure Boots inspired by “Victorian-era footwear” (which makes sense for the “Fortnight” singer). However, all I see is the inevitable return of Jeffrey Campbell’s Litas, which hit the market in 2010 and dominated fashion blogs through 2013.

Stylist and Blogger Olivia Akot wears Jeffrey Campbell boots during London Fashion Week on February 19, 2013.

Catherine Farrell

Fashion student and stylist Johanna Bryat wearing Jeffrey Campbell boots at Paris Fashion Week on March 6, 2012.

Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images

Shockingly comfortable and very divisive, the platform design with a five-inch heel had many millennials in a chokehold for the better part of three years, reportedly produced in 164 different colors and 65 different versions, per The Daily Beast’s 2013 article declaring them the “world’s ugliest shoe.”

“Every season, new materials or heel treatments were added,” former Jeffrey Campbell employee Sharon Blackburn told The Cut for an ode to the trend in 2023. “We had versions in lace, glitter, leopard, snake, clear vinyl, paint splattered, neon, glow-in-the-dark, fur, plaid, patchwork, laser-cut daisies, and punched-out stars.”

Jeffrey Campbell recently relaunched the iconic style (yes, even the spiked version) and, based on how many sizes of the suede variant are already sold out on their website, were already poised for a serious comeback. Taylor Swift is just the woman to get them there.