Game On: Dressing For Sports Spectating
How Taylor has developed a new genre of style (plus NFL 2025-26 predictions)
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Since 2023, Taylor has become a fixture at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. When her Eras Tour schedule permitted, she has been a reliable spectator at Chiefs home games - totalling 23 appearances so far. At each game Taylor expanded her fashion playbook to bring her intentional style to this new arena of looks.
Over the course of two seasons, Taylor developed a game day outfit strategy. One that worked within the constants and constraints of her setting. Each successive outfit built on its predecessor thanks to considered, repeatable motifs, colors, and brands. The result was a thoughtful mix that retained Taylor’s signature feminine style thanks to girly staples (cozy sweatshirts, mini skirts, matching sets) while standing on its own to fit into a world with its own notable flair for fashion. I highly recommend reading two commissioned guest essays that give depth to the world of tunnel fashion (and beyond) in sports for background.
According to a People exclusive last week, we can expect Taylor’s approach for the upcoming NFL season to be “completely different” than previous. The source says that, “[Taylor’s] schedule is much more open now that the Eras Tour is wrapped and she’s genuinely excited to have the time and flexibility to show up for Travis more consistently.” Interpretation? It’s likely we’ll see Taylor appear not just at home games, but away games as well. “Taylor plans to be at as many of his games as possible,” the source affirms, adding, “They’ve both had such demanding schedules for so long, so having this stretch of time where things aren’t quite as chaotic feels like a welcome change.”
This statement, coupled with Taylor and Travis’ surprise appearance at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, felt like an optimal time to spotlight Taylor’s past sporty style outings while also looking ahead to what the 2025-26 NFL season might hold.
Below, you’ll find:
A timeline of Taylor at non-football sporting events - including deep cuts! (free for all to read)
Predictions for Taylor’s style M.O. during the upcoming NFL season (paid subscribers only)
Before she dubbed heartbreak as the national anthem and became a regular sports spectator, Taylor’s role at games was as musical guest. Starting at a young age, she would leap at the opportunity to play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at any sporting event that would have her - most notably in her home state of Pennsylvania.
In 2008, she described her precocious strategy to Rolling Stone. “When I was 11 years old,” she said, “it occurred to me that the national anthem was the best way to get in front of a large group of people if you don’t have a record deal. So I started singing the national anthem anywhere I possibly could.”
She notably delivered her rendition of the anthem in 2002 at a 76ers game, in 2007 for the Reading Phillies Double-A team, and during Game 3 of the 2008 World Series which saw a Phillies win.
Taylor has supported multiple teams over the years across a multitude of sports. Her cheers from the crowd are typically in favor of cities she has a personal history with. Namely, the places she’s lived: Nashville, Los Angeles, New York.
December 2007, Nashville Predators (hockey)
Naturally, some of Taylor’s earliest sport outings were in support of a Nashville-based team as it’s where she planted her country roots in her teen years. Here, she attends a Predators game with fellow country singers Kellie Pickler (with whom she shared opening act duties on Brad Paisley’s Bonfires & Amplifiers tour, Kellie would also go on to be Taylor’s opening act on the Fearless Tour in a few short years) and Carrie Underwood.
Those earrings alone really take me back to the fashion of the mid-aughts. All that’s missing here is a belt at the waist and a long pendant owl necklace. Her cozy striped sweater worn long over dark wash jeans take me back to a time when double layering lace camis or dresses over jeans were the trends du jour.
January 2009, LA Kings (hockey)
Throughout 2009, Taylor toggled her hockey team allegiances between Music City and the City of Angels. She and Demi Lovato (ah, the Disney years) twinned in Kings jerseys in the stands together. Looking back, I think seeing her in modern-day merch makes me appreciate her choice nowadays to wear vintage Chiefs gear all the more. Both for the unique, individual flair a retro piece brings but also for how it ties in to Taylor’s longstanding love of vintage.
February 2009, Nashville Predators (hockey)
A woo girl in her natural habitat. Taylor’s appearance at another Predators game was meant to coincide with her cameo in a round of commercials for the 2008-09 season posted to the official Predators website.
To the game itself, Taylor wore a plaid button up (if I were to guess at the brand, it would be Rails) with grey washed low rise(!) skinny jeans and a leather moto jacket by Hanii Y. I know that I myself likely wore an exact copy + paste of this outfit in high school. Taking an analytical eye, I’m tempted to pick up the tones in this plaid shirt as Predators colors (navy blue and gold) with the red serving as reference to the flag of Tennessee (a red field backdrops an enclosed navy circle of three white stars). The rest of the outfit, by contrast, serves as a neutral backdrop to let the colors of the plaid pop.
I remember seeing this ad all those years ago on my TV - that adorable “rowr” still lives in my head rent free.
October 2009, Los Angeles Kings (hockey)
I go back to October 2009 all the time. Exactly one year to the release date of Speak Now (2010), Taylor took in an LA Kings hockey game with another Taylor - the Lautner of purported “Back To December” fame.
You can just see the studded shoulder details of her Topshop sweater peeking through from under those curls. While the rest of her outfit is unseen here, know that she’s wearing a pair of dark wash skinny jeans tucked into a very notable pair of tall knee high boots by Everybody that she reliably wore throughout both the Fearless and Speak Now Tours.
February 2011, Los Angeles Kings (hockey)
Perhaps as a precursor to her official acquisition of property in Los Angeles (according to The LA Times), Taylor appeared to fully convert to the King-dom of LA. She attended another Kings game in early 2011 with Glee star Chord Overstreet.
Her blistered leather jacket here - by Rick Owens - remains one of my all time favorite casual pieces in her closet. She wore it on a number of occasions throughout 2010 all the way up to 2014. Thus far, it continues her more casual approach to sports dressing of dark neutral outerwear and knits.
October 2014, New York Knicks (basketball)
A change of era, a change of venue, a change of sports. By 2014, Taylor had made her move to New York City official. At the time of this particular game, her album 1989 had been out in the world for about 48 hours.
As part of press for the album, Taylor sat down with TIME magazine. Reporter Jack Dickey inquired if Taylor’s then-recent transplantation to New York City made her an automatic Knicks fan. Which led to this highly comedic exchange:
Jack D: You recently moved to New York. Are you a Knicks fan now?
Taylor: Yeah, totally.
Jack D: You realize they’re not very good.
Taylor: I love them, though.
Basketball games offer a unique outfit viewpoint compared to other sports. At events for hockey, baseball, or football seats might be impeded by glass barricades, arena seating, or recessed private boxes that bisect an outfit - making waist up styling the prime real estate of an ensemble. By contrast, basketball gives attendees (at least those with courtside seats) an opportunity to show off their footwear. Here, it felt like Taylor was leaping at the chance to do so with her leopard print Christian Louboutin booties. They really “pop” against her inconspicuous black turtleneck and black skinny jeans. As a lover of leopard print, I personally +1 the choice. If you squint, you’ll also notice her other key accessories: Knicks pins affixed to her top.
An added dose of nostalgia? I was delighted to read my original blog commentary on this outfit still stands to this day: “As someone who frequently wears all black outfits and then adds a pop via her shoes or scarf, I can totally dig this outfit.”
November 2014, New York Knicks (basketball)
By contrast, cut to two weeks later and Taylor exchanged her all black ensemble for one with a unique mashup of colors. A burgundy knit by 525 America with mustard Paige Denim jeans, and black Rag & Bone booties (which she also happened to own in multiple colors).
This outfit marked one of several instances where Taylor would wear an item of clothing backwards - something I went on to personally point out to her for a funny exchange on the blog. In fairness to Taylor, this sweater legitimately was reversible!
🏈 Greatest in the League: Of course, the sport we most associate Taylor’s attendance with is football. I wrote two in-depth analyses that go look-by-look on Taylor’s game day fashion while cheering on the Chiefs over the course of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
September 2024, US Open (tennis)
At the time of New York Fashion Week, Taylor instead opted for a sportier outing to support fellow American Taylor (Fritz) in the US Open final.
The gingham print of this Reformation dress (still available!), a brand Taylor has worn since 2012, is sweet and breezy. It calls to mind picnics on the grass, apple pies, and Americana. In other words a charming and summery piece to wear when supporting an American athlete.
October 2024, New York Yankees (baseball)
While perhaps one of her most low-key sporting appearances to date, it also happens to be one of my favorites. I loved the combination of neutrals from her black oversized blazer by The Row to her brown and black damier shirt by Louis Vuitton. In a way, it calls back to her earliest days of leather jackets and knitwear at games, but relaxed for todays fashions. This is the sort of vibe I love to embody in my own day to day outfits. A little edgy, a little sporty, a lot of neutral.
Because I love a detail, I also adored how the chain feature on her LV tee coordinated with the gold hardware of the Louis Vuitton trunk bag she was also spotted carrying.
June 2025, Florida Panthers (hockey)
Back to present day! And, incidentally, a circling back to hockey - one of her earliest examples of sports dressing. However, her outfit here feels the furthest cry from her previous hockey arena ensembles.
While her early days of hockey spectating defaulted to a pairing of a sturdy outer layer with utilitarian knits, this two piece set by Area fits in closer to where her current football style has landed. Decidedly more glam (thanks to crystal trim), but with a casual, sporty twist (elasticized cuffing).
The NFL season is set to kick off in September with Taylor entering her third full season of looks.
Taylor’s rookie season (2023-24) took her signature girly style and transplanted it in a stadium setting. Her game day outfits were an extension of her signature approachable, feminine style that fans love and also love to replicate. By emphasizing vintage wares or pieces sourced from brands local to Kansas City or women-owned, it felt like Taylor was sidestepping directly contributing to NFL coffers while still offering support to the Chiefs franchise in a way that highlighted sustainable fashion and businesses that reflected her values.
By contrast, if her first year was about fitting in, her sophomore effort was about stepping up. Her ensembles were elevated - either literally by taller heels or else by luxury brands (often head to toe spotlights of a single designer) and logos, tempered intermittently by vintage Chiefs garb.
So what could her third season entail? Well …
📝 Support: The rest of the post — featuring a moodboard of predictions for Taylor’s appearances throughout the NFL 2025-26 season — continues under the cut below for paid subscribers only. Liner Notes doesn’t take on any advertisers and is entirely supported by readers like you who have a love of fashion and are unafraid of the deep dive. Every bit of support for the editorial efforts that go into making posts like this means so much. Would you consider supporting me by upgrading to a paid subscription or gifting a month today?