By Larisha Paul
Thirteen separate installations mapping out Taylor Swift‘s life and legacy will open on display at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum later this month. The temporary exhibit, titled Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail, highlights archival material from throughout the musician’s career, including clothing, awards, instruments, and more from her personal collection.
The black ruffled dress that became the unofficial uniform of The Tortured Poets Department in the music video for “Fortnight” is among the selection of more than a dozen fashion items featured in the exhibit. Among the other 15 pieces included are the cowboy boots Swift wore while on tour with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in 2007.
“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,” Kate Bailey, Senior Curator, Theatre & Performance, shared in a statement. “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.”
Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail will open on Saturday, July 27, and remain on display through Sunday, Sept. 8. Designed by Tom Piper, the free exhibit “will be theatrically staged, bringing to life a different era of the pop icon’s musical career through set dressing, music video and sound,” according to a release from the museum. The selections will also be put in conversation with the surrounding materials at the location, from the building architecture to the museum’s permanent galleries.
Swift recently performed three sold-out shows at London’s Wembley Stadium on the Eras tour. While the exhibit missed the run date of these shows, it will be open when the musician returns in August for a five-show run beginning Aug. 15 and concluding Aug. 20.
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