Out and About in New York City

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May 12

Written By Sarah Chapelle

Taylor Swift heads out to dinner in New York City in her "bridal era" wearing a crisp white knit dress by Retrofete. — Worn On: **5/12/26 // new york city, ny**

the commentary

As a lover of all things neutral and minimalist Taylor’s latest string of street style moments have had me delighted. Historically, Taylor has loved an LBD (Little Black Dress) for a dinner out. Here, she swapped it out for an LWD. According to Retrofete, this mock neck mini dress has a subtle metallic threading woven into its knit, giving it a subtle sheen that’s “the perfect choice for dinner dates or chic nights out.” Which is exactly the case here! Taylor has previously worn Retrofete’s designs. As their namesake implies, their collections center on vintage-inspired party dresses making them a brand perfectly up Taylor’s alley.

In terms of silhouette, I enjoy the coverage balance between the higher neck and long sleeves offset by that short pleated skirt - which is almost giving preppy / tennis energy. The high pony adds to that feel and I think was the right move to give some “breathing” room for the neckline. Taylor’s worn plenty of pleated minis in her street style over the years, especially ones like this that have integrated belt loops. I’m thinking specifically of her run of plaid Miu Miu skirts! While at first glance it might be a familiar look on her, the optic white colour makes it feel v fresh.

To ground her white dress, I think Taylor played her accessories well by opting for streamlined hits of black. In terms of shape and textured stitching, her Dior bag (a bucket design pulled from the Winter 2025 collection) reminds me a bit of her stitched Chanel 25 bag she’s carried on a few occasions. The slight slouch of it was a nice foil to the sharp pointed heels she decided to pair it with. To that, I have long loved a minimalist ankle strap heel so you just know these Gucci slingbacks had me very excited. One very sweet detail is where the “Love” in the style name is derived from: A small red heart stamped into the sole of the shoe. A romantic personal touch! But the one accessory that got me the most excited? A long, trailing ribbon tied into her ponytail. What a fun little touch that also worked to keep the eye moving across all her black accessories that ground her crisp white mini dress.

To that, one thing I’m asked often is how to recognize the style demarcation between eras. My thoughts on this have always been that these era overlaps are easiest to discern in hindsight. After all, her style is only one half of the story - her music, of course, being the other.

Regardless of what lays ahead, Taylor’s latest string of style moments have perhaps been some of my favorites in recent memory. That elegant minimalism serviced by sleek neutrals and sharp strappy sandals has me very excited for her current approach to style, wherever that may lead!