Fearless singer Taylor Swift did not attend the 88th Annual Academy Awards but showed up at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party looking like a total winner.
Taylor Swift shows off her short hairstyle at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held on February 28, 2016, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
The then 26-year-old singer wore a revealing black gown paired with gold accessories, making for one of her sexiest looks yet.
While Taylor stunned at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, her musical prowess had already earned her a place among the stars. Let’s look back at her journey to fame, starting with the release of her groundbreaking album, Fearless.
The Fearless Journey: Taylor Swift’s Rise to Stardom
Nearly eight years before her stunning appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Taylor Swift released her second studio album, Fearless, on November 11, 2008. Born on December 13, 1989, in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Taylor was 18 and marked her 19th birthday just a month later.
Taylor Swift’s iconic Fearless album cover captures her signature curls in motion, reflecting the album’s theme of youthful energy and boldness (Credit: Taylor Swift)
Re-Recording Success: Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
Following the dispute with Scooter Braun regarding the ownership of its master, she released a re-recording of the album with six additional tracks on April 9, 2021.
“Deciding on what album to re-record first was pretty easy for me,” she revealed in an interview for Republic Records / MCA Nashville.
Taylor Swift dazzles in a sequined off-the-shoulder gown at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, where her album Fearless won Album of the Year on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
“I always gravitated towards Fearless because I think that, as an album, it was a real coming-of-age. And I look back on that album and it fills me with such pride, and it was an album about hope, and lessons learned, and the effervescence of teenage youth and all that. What more fun than to go back and explore that?” she added.
Taylor Swift announced on social media in April 2021 the release of a new version of her album Fearless (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
“I think that I tried to keep it as close to the original as possible, and the additional songs that I’ve added are songs that I think add insight into what the album almost was, because every time you make an album, you leave some songs off, and I think it’s really cool that the fans will get to have the full picture this time around,” Selena Gomez’s best friend said.
Taylor Swift proudly holds her awards after winning big at the Academy of Country Music Awards (Credit: Judy Eddy/ WENN)
“In terms of production, I really wanted to stay very loyal to the initial melodies that I had thought of for these songs,” Taylor said in an interview with People.
“And so we really did go in and try to create a ‘the same but better’ version. We kept all the same parts that I initially dreamed up for these songs. But if there was any way that we could improve upon the sonic quality, we did,” Taylor added about the recording.
“We just kind of took all the knowledge that we’ve acquired over decades of playing this music and applied that to it,” she continued.
“But yeah, I did go in line by line and listen to every single vocal and think, you know, what are my inflections here. If I can improve upon it, I did. But I really did want this to be very true to what I initially thought of and what I had initially written. But better. Obviously.”
Taylor’s striking fashion sense has always complemented her musical achievements, and her appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party was no exception, where she effortlessly embodied elegance and glamour.
Taylor Swift’s Signature Style: Gold Accessories and Glamour
Taylor Swift shows off one of her sexiest looks yet at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
She arrived at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar After-Party with Lorde, who was glamorous in a dress with a high neck, an embellished bodice, and a long, black tulle skirt.
Taylor Swift and Lorde pose for photos together in matching monochrome looks (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
The “Blank Space” singer made jaws drop in a skin-baring gown from Alexandre Vauthier’s Spring 2013 collection.
The sultry dress had a plunging neckline that dipped down to her navel, an open back, and a slit that went all the way up to her thigh, showing off major skin. It also had a sweeping train to add further glamour.
Taylor Swift stuns in a daring black Alexandre Vauthier gown paired with gold accessories at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, showcasing her signature blend of elegance and edge (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
Step into Style: Taylor Swift’s Giuseppe Zanotti Sandals
Taylor teamed the sleek gown with gold accessories, including a wide choker, a Jimmy Choo clutch, and strappy heels. She topped off her look with a straight chopped bob, winged eyeliner, and nude lipstick.
Taylor Swift wears an Alexandre Vauthier dress with a sweeping train at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
Taylor highlighted her model-like legs with a pair of metallic gold sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti. The sandals featured triple straps, back-zip fastenings, and about 4.5-inch heels.
Taylor Swift’s feet in sleek metallic gold Giuseppe Zanotti sandals (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
Taylor Swift’s metallic gold Giuseppe Zanotti sandals added extra height to her already statuesque 5ft 9 ¼ (175.9 cm) frame (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN)
You can check out these Giuseppe Zanotti sandals at Farfetch and Amazon.
Giuseppe Zanotti Metallic Three-Strap Evening Sandals, $845