Taylor Swift's New ‘Life Of A Showgirl' Era Is Here — And Her Orange Lipstick Is The First Clue

Elle

5 days ago

It's happening! Taylor Swift has just announced her 12th album and newest era, The Life of a Showgirl, and in true Swiftie fashion, we're already on high alert for clues, teasers, and sneaky Easter eggs. The first possible hint? A beauty nod to the album's colour theme. That's right: Taylor has set aside her signature red lipstick in favour of a bold new hue... orange.
The singer made her highly anticipated TS12 debut on the New Heights podcast, an NFL show hosted by her boyfriend, American football player Travis Kelce, and his brother Jason.
During the announcement, Swift sported an orange-tinted lip - a shade that could easily be linked to the vibrant, glittering colour of The Life of a Showgirl vinyl, the interior of the trunk, and much of the typography we've seen for the release so far. An easter egg? Perhaps not. An indicator of what her new signature make-up could be? We think so.
The new citrusy hue marks a bold departure from Swift's signature beauty look, which typically features a crisp yet delicate cat-eye wing and a striking red lip - the ultimate classic beauty duo. While rumours suggest that the singer stayed loyal to Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLUST Divine Rose II in Elson 4 throughout her record-breaking Eras Tour, the exact formula for her upcoming era, like the album's cover, tracklist, and sound, remains a total secret.
Rumours that a new album could be on the way began swirling Monday morning, after Taylor Nation (the singer's official marketing team) posted a carousel of photos with the caption: 'Thinking about when she said, "See you next era…"'
The singer's New Heights podcast episode will be released at 12 a.m. BST on 14 August, and we anticipate more will be revealed upon its debut.
If you're looking to recreate Swift's new look, or simply can't wait to dive into the The Life of a Showgirl era, there are three orange lipstick avenues to explore. First, opt for a peachier, orange-leaning nude that captures the essence of the shade without being too bold. Second, try an orange-toned red that maintains the drama of a classic crimson lip while adding the warmth of a summery hue. Lastly, go for a traditional bright tangerine shade, because if there's one thing we know about Swift's latest era, it's that it won't be short on drama.
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Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper's Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.