Taylor Swift Has Declared That It Is Time to Dress for Revenge—Here’s How

In the name of the father, the son, and the holy Taylor Swift, we have gathered here today because of “Vigilante Shit.” One of Taylor’s new songs on her album Midnights. In the ~vengeful~ and spooky song allegedly about Scooter Braun and all the messiness that comes with that (*cue jaw and mic drop*), our fearless (heh) leader told us that she “dresses for revenge.”

Some of my thoughts after hearing the above: How does one dress for revenge? What are some clothing items that give revenge energy? Okay, but like honestly, what is this song even about? Should I be on some vigilante shit myself? Why can’t I control the impulse to slink around my apartment when this song is playing? These are very valid Qs and I’m here, at your service, to be your trusty Swiftie guide through this ride.

But before we hit you with some incredibly chic revenge fashion, you might want to understand the lyrics and the drama that come with this track. You know, so you can fully embody its spirit when you suit up. And it’s juicy, my friends, so buckle up.

What is “Vigilante Shit” about?

Crucial background info you need: Taylor and Scooter Braun—aka a big-name executive in the music industry who currently manages Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato—have been in a years-long feud over the fact that he bought her first six albums and took rights from them. What that meant was she lost total control over the music she recorded from 2006 to 2017 and wasn’t allowed to perform those albums without permission from Scooter and Big Machine Records (her previous label).

There are a lot of twists and turns that happen from there (and if you want a more detailed dive about it, we gotchu). To sum it all up: In 2020, Scooter ends up selling the master rights to Taylor’s first six albums in a deal worth $300 million, according to Variety. And then Taylor starts rerecording all of her masters. Aka: Revenge (Taylor’s Version).

Now how does all this tie back to “Vigilante Shit”? Long story short, fans *think* the song is about how Taylor wants to get back at Scooter. Exhibit A: When she sings about exposing a cheating husband to his wife and the subsequent divorce—Scooter has recently separated from his partner of almost a decade, Yael Cohen. Could be a coincidence…or maybe not!

She then mentions what seems to be a man in her life who wronged her and did some pretty shady stuff. And because no one is doing anything to reprimand this person, she takes it upon herself to serve justice (through the divine power of music and Easter eggs). I know I’m speculating here, but it sure sounds like the story of Scooter taking Taylor’s master rights!

Ugh, the way Taylor is able to gracefully drop hot goss and stand up for herself in her timeless bangers is an art that will never get old.

What does Taylor mean when she says, “Lately I’ve been dressing for revenge”?

Some more lyrics:

Basically, what she’s saying here is that she uses fashion as symbolism. In this case, she doesn’t need to publicly argue or defend herself through angry words, but instead, she’ll speak her mind through bold, head-turning outfits.

Revenge fashion has roots dating back to Princess Diana’s time when she wore the iconic off-the-shoulder Christina Stambolian LBD the day her estranged husband, then-Prince Charles, admitted in a televised interview that he’d had an affair with (his eventual second wife) Camilla Parker Bowles. Since then, that outfit has been dubbed the “revenge dress” for very clear reasons.

Fun fact: People think Taylor’s look at her appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers in November 2021 was her doing her own version of Princess Di’s famous revenge dress. During this interview, Taylor explained why she was rerecording her old albums. She did deny that there were any connections, but don’t you think the silhouettes look a lot alike??

Alright, now onto the main course….

How do you dress for revenge?

Think: leather, corsets, lace, sheer, formfitting dresses, sparkles, striking shoes, and standout colors. These all fall under the glamorous, cheeky, edgy, and outspoken categories that really make a statement. That statement being one meant to retaliate and, er, stick it to the man, if you will. It’s truly about wearing your pride and claiming your truth, in the form of chic, badass clothing.

And whether you’re trying to find a ’fit to avenge someone or something or you just think revenge fashion is incredibly fabulous because it absolutely is, here you’ll find everything you need to put together a lewk that has payback plastered all over it. We love a drop-dead look…. 😏

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