She’s head over (high) heels. Since stirring up dating rumors with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift has reignited her love for heels, stepping out in some of her tallest pairs yet. In her song lyrics, Swift occasionally uses footwear to explain relationship dynamics, previously singing, “He didn’t like it when I wore high heels, but I do,” in the 2012 hit “Begin Again.” Now that she seems to be seeing a 6’5″ football player, Swift’s towering taste in shoes could be interpreted as a byproduct of her relationship — one that lets her stand tall.
Speculation about Swift’s new love interest started swirling in July, after Kelce said he hoped to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number at the Eras Tour. The two reportedly began “hanging out” in September — right around when we noticed Swift embracing taller heels. She started out with a bang, wearing 5.5-inch sparkling silver platforms to the VMAs afterparty. She later flexed her street style with velvet Aquazzura sandals in NYC and strappy black heels while out with Blake Lively. Heeled Louboutin boots also made an appearance at Kelce’s Oct. 1 game, plus Prada combat boots for her Arrowhead Stadium outfit.
The few times she’s gone out publicly with Kelce, Swift brought her heels along, opting for yet another pair of chunky lace-up boots for dinner on Oct. 15. Following a surprise appearance on “SNL,” she attended the afterparty in metallic sandals with similarly impressive heels from Italian brand Greymer. Commenters noted that because Swift is tall herself (standing at around 5’11”), her new partner may be the driving force behind this revamped shoe game. Leaning into this theory, Swift’s footwear does tend to evolve with her relationships, ranging from romantic ballet flats with Joe Jonas to sensible oxfords with Harry Styles.
High heels have a complicated past, but these days, they tend to convey power and confidence. Shoes certainly aren’t everything, but for someone as thoughtful as Swift, it’s exciting to witness her reclaiming the heels she loves, no matter the reason. See some of the best moments from Swift’s revived high heel era below.
