Taylor Swift for Harper’s Bazaar Australia

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 in Fashion

Miss Tay gets put through her fashion paces.

Taylor Swift covers the April 2012 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Australia photographed by Benny Horne.

Gucci Spring 2012 Collection

Tom Ford Jacket [not pictured]/Proenza Schouler Spring 2012 Collection

Dries Van Noten Spring 2012 Collection

Because these aren’t her normal tween-princess good-girl looks. Not that they’re bad girl in any way; just that they’re a skosh edgier and harder to wear than her wardrobe tends to be. And that’s kind of a sad commentary on how blandly she dresses, because you can call Gucci many things, but “edgy” isn’t normally one of them. Anyway, in the hopes of making this post less than 100 percent negative, we will say that she looks pretty amazing here and that when you give this gal access to world class fashion, makeup, and hair, she’s as gorgeous and charismatic as any supermodel.

[Photo Credit: Benny Horne for harpersbazaar.com.au, elle.com]

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http://twitter.com/wednesdaydreams Natalie

These are great. Seriously, if they take away all the twee styling, she’s really got a look that’s perfect for all these photoshoots.
Anathema_Device

She does look good here. I think she (and her team) are doing a really great job of transforming her pretty princess persona into a more mature look that is youthful yet grown up, without going through the slutty phase (e.g., the Xtina dirty girl thing). As tired as I am of her music (my daughter is a huge fan), I do wish her well. I think she has the chops to make it in the long run.
- Mefein
  
  I do think her team is doing a great job, and it is very refreshing to see her make that transition without doing the slutty phase. But there is something about every picture I see of her lately that just shouts out that there IS a team involved. I mean, of course that’s true with all of them, but it’s like this time you’re getting a little glimpse backstage and can see the ropes and pulleys, or looking through the scrim like in “Unzipped” to see the busy bees. You can almost make out the focus group meeting! There is not much illusion that her choices or her personality are involved.
  - http://twitter.com/grooxcore Marie Ee
    
    I agree that she needs a team to help her along. With a career that big, who doesn’t? But if you’ve seen the girl in interviews and observed how she conducts herself, she’s clearly classy and mature enough for this direction to be hers, slow as it is (I’m crying out for her to wear edgier stuff as much as anyone else). Plus she does get a lot of exposure to fashion, and you can tell from the way she speaks about it. So yes, needs the team, but I’ve no doubt she’s the one choosing the way to go.
    - Celandine1
      
      She seems to be pretty smart about managing her career and business decisions from what I have read. Now if only Miley Cyrus could hire some of her team…
      - alyce1213
        
        That ship has sailed, I’m afraid.
  - calimon
    
    I agree, and I’m not quite sold yet on this high-style ‘persona’. She will always be ultra-sweet, white, mid-west country/pop princess.
Candigirl1968

The last shot is really great. Perhaps spending more time with these clothes will give Taylor some ideas about revamping her own wardrobe a little bit, or at least shaking things up more.
Katrina Mock

I have to say, I like her better in the cover dress than on anyone else I’ve seen wearing it.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4IM6TWHKNNTL2BAXHKFNEYR6CU Irene
  
  I agree; the golden honey color looks great with her hair color. I think they cropped the photo well though… I sort of doubt she’d be pulling it off as well if you could see the bottom of the fringey hem.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-TallGirl-Freeman/1043623567 Jessica TallGirl Freeman
    
    All I could think was Vagina Curtains.
  - Lilak
    
    Got to agree . . .
    And the other women we’ve seen in this didn’t have the benefit of perfect lighting, backdrop, wind machine – haha, along with the artful cropping.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4IM6TWHKNNTL2BAXHKFNEYR6CU Irene
  
  I agree; the golden honey color looks great with her hair color. I think they cropped the photo well though… I sort of doubt she’d be pulling it off as well if you could see the bottom of the fringey hem.
halleygee

Really? The cover shot is OK, but the two b/w are really not good. Especially the last one, what is that pose? And the hair… I’m not seeing it.
- oh_dear_oh_dear
  
  And her eyes get totally lost, which is a colossal modeling no-no.
  - Adriana_Paula
    
    I was thinking that the reason I like the cover so much is that you can actually see her eyes: she’s not all squinty like she usually is.
howdoilook

Gucci Spring 2012 may be my favorite collection I’ve seen.
http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd

Not a Taylor fan, usually, but girl is giving out Serious Face on that cover. Whoever styled her deserves praise.
MagsRagsVintage

I think she’s been practicing Blue Steel.
Laurie Bergman

Love the black leather jacket/skirt combo. She has the fashion build, so it’s nice to see her work some real fashion rather than her default generic sparkle.
Sobaika Mirza

She looks stunning when she dresses her age.
http://twitter.com/margo8461 Marguerite

I agree that she looks good in these photos. Although I don’t think she looks like a supermodel, I do think she looks gorgeous. She should stick with this more polished and mature look. It works on her.
P M

I wouldn’t go as far as supermodel….. but damn, that second shot is GOOD.
Qitkat

Girlfriend looks GREAT here! Luv the Gucci. If this isn’t her usual style [I have no idea], then it ought to be.
SpcilK

She looks beauiful! This poor girl gets so much flack for being true to who she is and that is a very sad commentary. Not everyone in entertaimnet has to be Avant Garde in their style of dress. All of it all becomes contrived after awhile anyway.
- http://profiles.google.com/ameliaheartsu Amelia Logan
  
  I think it’s more that everything she wears is so unoffensive that it seems overly thought out and organized and a little too youthful – because she’s an adult now.
- Laura Maki
  
  She gets flack for promoting the Madonna/Whore dichotomy explicitly, saying that her best friend gave up everything she had to a boy (did she cut out her brain and hand it to him? Nope! She offered up her precious, precious vag.) and of course being a poor singer who capitalized on her father’s Wall Street connections . Her image is one of classic white, southern femininity, in which other girls are considered sluts and devils and she and other good girls are the only ones worthy of their eternal soul mates who undoubtedly drive Chevy trucks. Most people who are older than me, like Swifty, are past that stage of their development.
  - SpcilK
    
    A performers music, writing and style are generally a statement of artistic impression, unless it’s manufactured. It’s an image and she appeals to a certain demographic she not changing the worlds economic status! She’ a cute young adult that sings corny songs, and wears sweet unoffensive outfits. How you derive that she is responsible for the Madonna/whore dichotomy is absurd. I had no idea she had so much power. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
- miwome
  
  I don’t think anybody’s asking her to go avant garde. Just to stop dressing literally like a Disney princess.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Josefina-Madariaga-Suárez/100002964685796 Josefina Madariaga Suárez

I still hate her, but that’s for sure a gorgeous cover that would make me stop and stare.
http://twitter.com/Kerry_McC Kerry McCombs

I think the hair looks kinda crappy. Otherwise, get your MATURE on, Taylor!
http://www.facebook.com/theAccidentalHousewife Leah Elzinga

Anyone else seeing Charlize Theron in that last pic?
mhlmh

Her face and body look amazing but I think her hair looks pretty bad.
Mariah J

That Gucci dress is FAB-YOU-LOUS. I think these are some of the best pics I’ve seen of her. She looks like an adult.
Mariah J

That Gucci dress is FAB-YOU-LOUS. I think these are some of the best pics I’ve seen of her. She looks like an adult.
Terence Ng

There’s a lot of Charlize Theron here, but not quite as good as Charlize herself.
Jasmine Moten

She looks so “blah”.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-TallGirl-Freeman/1043623567 Jessica TallGirl Freeman

I wished she’d go more edgy, she’s got the face for it. Give up the twee act hunny, you are too old for it now. I’d like to see her mature a bit, but not go over the top with it like she did with her dress at the Grammys. She is no model though, she looks a bit ridiculous.
- mountainFashionista
  
  Hi JTF! I almost always agree with your comments, but not this time
  
  It amazes me when people criticize Taylor Swift for dressing “too young.” She just turned 22, and she hardly dresses like a baby; more like a teenager, which seems understandable, considering she was just there…
  
  If you want to stamp out the twee-as-fuck phenomenon (which I’m all for) pick on Michelle Williams, and on Zooey Deschanel, both of whom are *32* years old.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cortney-Dean/100002491593625 Cortney Dean

I think this may be the best I’ve ever seen her look! She needs to hire whoever styled her for this shoot. PRONTO!
http://twitter.com/katshimmers Kat Wright

YAY for the Aussie mag!
butter nut

this is the first time that she’s looked older than 16.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2P2ANLRZ6YAVGONA36I2AQJYGI VicD
  
  Yeah, but when she opens her mouth, we’re right back to a dopey Jr. High girl. Even high school girls today are more sophisticated than Taylor Swift.
LesYeuxHiboux

Hopefully when she sees how great she looks, she will be inspired to mix it up in her personal fashion choices a little more.
http://twitter.com/jaythenerdkid Aaminah Khan

I LOVE that cover. Pretty much the best she’s looked in a long time, IMO.
Pants_are_a_must

She looks good. She will never ever actually wear these clothes in public, though. She is way too fond of her faux princess-y image to do that.
- http://eclectictsunami.blogspot.com/ Cassie
  
  It’s also her brand, which means it’s how she keeps her fanbase (and sells albums/concert tickets/merchandising.) I may not love it, but Country Disney Princess is her look and her image, and it’s more than served her well. If she wants to stick with it, I certainly can’t blame her. Stars have a lot more to consider with their clothing choices than just being stylish.
http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz

Disagree. I don’t think it works at all.
http://twitter.com/celeste_mel Celeste

Is it me or does she look a whole lot like Charlize Theron?
HengRu

In the second pic down, her face reminds me a lot of Patti Hansen. And she’s got a body made for modeling, for sure.
TheOtherChristina

Her hair and makeup are just awful and I hate her expression in the last photo, but the Gucci dress is an inspired choice for her because it’s practically a grown-up, fashion-forward translation of her preference for ethereal princess looks. It’s still sparkly and demure and traditionally pretty, but the geometric pattern and the addition of black sharpen it. The other looks just feel like she’s wearing someone else’s clothes, which is less interesting.
SapphoPoet

I love that Gucci dress–would have been a great choice for one of the Oscar after-parties.
jw_ny

You know she was dying to get these clothes off and get back into her beige…
Judy_J

Our little Taylor is growing up……
piecesofconfetti

Haha no. I can’t look at her without laughing. She’s ridiculous.
lizajane1776

CLOSE YOUR MOUTH!
Ahem. Love the clothes.
http://twitter.com/anacedillo Ana Cedillo

damn!! she looks amazing, i literally gasped when I saw these! omg she looks sooo incredible. she looks like a woman, classy, edgy, fun, amazing! this is what she needs to mature to, so sick of her damn princess-y lovey dovey crap! she looks incredible, taylor swift is a model, she looks so good in pictures and clothes! wow seriouisly impressed with this
http://profiles.google.com/anplica Anplica Fiore

Love the cover shot & the 1st black & white. Not so sure about that last pic…
Beardslee

She looks great here. She’s still such a kid; maybe these more sophisticated looks will inspire her.
http://twitter.com/arodenha Alli

God she is so boring.
http://asskickingadviser.com/ Ass Kicking Adviser

She looks great here. She’s growing up and seems to be navigating that transition better than most. I love the pic of her in the Dries Van Noten.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQPXLNCBM5CZSHZZXJDHPVFS7E Buffy

I had a hard time recognizing her in these and that’s a good thing
holdmewhileimnaked

she looks great & the photo of her in the leather jacket is how she will still look great after the kids & the divorces & more & more sad realizations about how life really is no matter who you are, no matter what you do. i think thats the best picture, btw. i’m not being sarcastic about any of it.
kolokOlchik

She looks great!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1077090078 Megan Sullivan

She looks fantastic.
Leo Anthony

That jacket definitely wasn’t from Dries Van Noten Spring 2012… it was from Proenza Schouler of the same season.
Leo Anthony

Or rather, you’ve just mixed up the labels on the Dries runway photo and the Proenza runway photo. Those were pretty memorable shows… Some fashion bloggers you are!
NurseEllen

Boy, those Gucci flapper dresses are getting a lot of exposure this season! But I don’t care for how Taylor looks in these shots. Can’t say exactly what bothers me but it’s instant and visceral. Stick to singing, honey.
- http://twitter.com/Alloyjane Alloy Jane
  
  Don’t you dare encourage her singing. I’d rather her be a giant snooze in a thousand pictures than have her fake her way as a musician. There are plenty of real singers out there that could use the stage-time.
  - NurseEllen
    
    You’re right, of course, and as a singer myself I should have known better. But the comment came from the same place as yours, really: there are plenty of REAL models who could use those covers! We are both looking out for the talent, which is good.
sleah_in_norcal

did she do something to her eyes? they don’t look so piggy as they used to. i noticed this at the grammys too. maybe it’s just a change in makeup.
girliecue

I was pleasantly shocked to see how androgynous Taylor’s face is once you scrape all the Disney Princess off of it. She looks more interesting here than she’s ever looked.
Toto Maya

She looks like an actual adult in these pictures. Yay!
- Lisa
  
  I agree – she looks really good!
http://twitter.com/myblackfriend myblackfriendsays

::eyeroll::
rainwood1

If everyone in the public eye tried to dress edgy, it wouldn’t be edgy anymore.
BrightsideSusan

It seems she has worked to keep the young vibe going which I appreciate after seeing the Lea Michelle/Britney Spears/Christina Agulara “I demand to be seen as an adult!” behavior and get ups.
quiltrx

They picked some really sophisticated looks here…lots of detailing, which is so opposite the twee/billowy/Disney princess bit she’s been known for. Really flattering, and she looks like HERSELF…just a more sophisticated, grown-up version.
http://twitter.com/Alloyjane Alloy Jane

Is it just me, or does she look like Schmeidi? Also, way better than her normal looks. Now if only she could keep her mouth shut.
aristida_girl

Love the clothes…she did a good job, i try not to hate her, i am sure she is a nice girl
Zi Jie Tan

the clothes are great, but I couldn’t stop staring at her face and the weird bald spot on the right side of her hairline…. it’s just more Taylor Swift face than I’m used to. As a girl with a full face myself, I shouldn’t judge.. but I just can’t.
alyce1213

Absolutely stunning. The black and white shots are gorgeous; she’s really working it.
Good for her!
MilaXX

I wish straightening her hair wasn’t always a part of the shedding the princess fairy image, but I have to admit she looks really pretty here.
Mexxoo

<3 you guys for doing Taylor a solid! (now and all the past solids!)
http://twitter.com/FallingPhoenix2 Aymie Manning

Is it just me, or do her eyebrows look just a bit… off? They’re clearly drawn on, and not only are they too thin but the right one is higher. Despite not being her biggest fan, I would have to say she’s doing a pretty good modeling job here. I just wish I wasn’t so distracted by her eyebrows!!
PantherontheRunway

I love her anytime she straightens her hair. And the best part, is she is starring you down on that cover, she looks…(for lack of a better word) …odd when her eyes are half-lidded. Her face in the third picture is just…..odd.

But she looks amazing, she’s more editorial than I thought
Geno Boggiatto

She’s so BORING. She’s the Jennifer Aniston of the 2010′s. Boring. Boring. Boring. Boring.
http://vhanna26.typepad.com Vera

She really looks fabulous!
miwome

She looks fantastic here. Although–and this is not a bad, thing, just an observation–in the black and white photo with the Tom Ford jacket, I totally would have mistaken her for Anna Paquin. A resemblance never would have occurred to me.

Man, I love the Australian fashion industry. I find I like the stuff that comes out of there far more consistently than I do what comes out of Italy, France, or even the US.
lucasuk82

The clothes are beautiful if not jaw-dropping, but the hair and make up are fantastic. She looks like Candice Bergen in her “Candy” Bergen days. (Dear God, I have got to stop making cultural references that make me sound 90.)
- alyce1213
  
  You don’t sound 90! You sound like you know what you’re talking about.
ri_dic

She should hire these stylists.
Allison Woods

I think she wears the clothes better than the models. Especially the gold and black. She should dress like this all the time, looks great on her.
http://profile.yahoo.com/MRHVHZFX6WM4H7HVAUPPF5NEDI Albert

this is bugging me, you mixed up proenza and dries in the captions
bitterk

She’s coming along nicely. Next let’s file down the teeth to normal size and lose the hunched shoulders.
rhaazz

I hate these pictures. She looks like a generic 30 something hollywood blonde, nothing like herself. TLo are wrong this time. She doesn’t look great, she just looks like everyone else.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=786229820 Rhonda Hanson

she can’t do edgy — i think she looks awkward and not attractive.
Diego!

I think she looks amazing! I love the second pic!
lovelyivy

I am trying really hard to see this objectively, without the lenses of my unreasoning dislike of her and her music (for some people it’s Renee Z, for some it’s Angie, for me it is this young lady).

She looks lovely and far more grown-up than ever- whoever is styling her is doing a great job presenting her maturation through style. I can acknowledge this only because she will NOT be in Les Miz.
ccm800

as any world class fashion model nearly made me spit take. Pushing it with that one. I like the first B&W but likely because her hair obscures whatever it is about her face that unnerves me.
http://frockpaperscissors.blogspot.com/ kvlm

finally! she found her look…she needs to keep this up and skip the molly dogood image she usually rocks because it is quelle snooze!

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Taylor Swift for Harper’s Bazaar Australia

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