Taylor Swift’s High-Waisted Shorts Era: Her Best Early-2010s Outfits & Chic Shoe Moments

Taylor Swift is known for her preppy, feminine-chic style, and her must-haves almost always include high-waist shorts—one of her most defining early-2010s wardrobe signatures.

This era of her fashion history was marked by polished stage looks, glittering textures, and classic footwear that balanced charm with a hint of retro polish.

Taylor Swift Shines in Alice + Olivia Rhinestones and Vince Camuto Glitter Oxfords at the 40 Principales Awards

Few moments capture this combination better than her appearance at the 40 Principales Awards in Madrid, where she paired an Alice + Olivia Felicity rhinestone crewneck with sleek high-waisted shorts and finished the look with sparkling Vince Camuto Selina glitter oxfords.

It’s a quintessential Taylor Swift outfit: youthful, coordinated, and unmistakably hers.

Taylor Swift shines at the 40 Principales Awards in Madrid on January 24, 2013, showcasing her chic style in a glittering red Alice + Olivia Felicity rhinestone crewneck paired with sleek black high-waisted shorts (Credit: ACE / INFphoto)

Swift’s love for high-waisted shorts didn’t stop at the stage—she carried the look effortlessly into her off-duty wardrobe, pairing it with crisp shirts and her signature retro-leaning sneakers.

Taylor Swift Keeps It Fresh and Preppy in Denim Shorts, a Two-Tone Oxford Shirt, and Classic Red Keds

During this period, Taylor often gravitated toward classic Keds, a brand that perfectly matched her girl-next-door aesthetic and youthful, polished vibe.

One of the best examples of this casual-yet-curated style came during the filming of her 2013 Keds commercial in Los Angeles.

During the filming of a Keds commercial in Los Angeles on March 16, 2013, Taylor Swift sported a chic and casual ensemble featuring Joe’s Jeans Melodie classic rolled shorts, a Jonathan Simkhai two-tone oxford shirt, and Keds Champion canvas sneakers (Credit: Merino / INFphoto)

Taylor’s off-duty denim-and-sneakers moment shows just how versatile high-waisted shorts can be, whether she’s filming a commercial or performing on stage.

More Celebrity High-Waisted Shorts Looks to Inspire Your Wardrobe

She’s far from the only star who leans on this silhouette for effortless style—many celebrities pair high-waist shorts with standout shoes to create chic, leg-lengthening looks.

Two standout concert looks from this era perfectly showcase Taylor’s signature formula: sleek high-waisted shorts, bold color pairings, and footwear that anchors her polished, retro-leaning stage aesthetic.

Taylor Swift Elevates Her Stage Style With Sleek High-Waisted Shorts on Tour

Whether she’s in black leather shorts with crisp shirting or leaning into her Red era with vibrant scarlet pieces, each outfit reflects her talent for turning simple staples into statement performance looks.

Taylor Swift electrifies the stage at Met Life Stadium, clad in high-waisted shorts during her Red tour performance in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 13, 2013 (Credit: Joel Ginsburg / WENN)

Our first look leans into a sleek, stage-ready aesthetic: black leather high-waisted shorts paired with a crisp white button-down and bold red oxfords.

The leather shorts introduce just the right amount of edge, balancing the preppy top and adding structure to the outfit. It’s a refined, minimalist formula that feels instantly Taylor—polished, coordinated, and effortlessly performance-ready.

Taylor Swift makes a bold statement in form-fitting black leather high-waist shorts (Credit: Joel Ginsburg / WENN)

Since both her tour and album were fittingly named Red, Taylor leaned fully into the theme with a pair of vibrant high-waisted shorts.

For this look, she opted for a more relaxed, summer-ready vibe, pairing the bold shorts with a classic striped tee and her go-to Keds sneakers—a combination that reflects her playful, all-American stage aesthetic.

Taylor Swift rocks a striped tee with a pair of high-waisted red shorts

The singer-songwriter brought this upbeat outfit to MetLife Stadium on July 13 during her stop in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a sold-out show that proved once again how seamlessly she blends comfort, color, and signature Taylor polish in her performance wardrobe.

Swift performed 18 songs to a 55,000-strong crowd, and the show even included collaborations with musicians Ed Sheeran and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy.

Taylor Swift brings out her guitar to perform with musician Ed Sheeran. She played a sold-out show to more than 55,000 fans at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2013, in East Rutherford, New Jersey

The wardrobe changes throughout the show were especially striking, with Swift moving effortlessly from casual T-shirt-and-short combinations to sweeping, glittering gowns—each look anchored in her tour’s signature color: red.

Taylor Swift coordinates perfectly in vibrant red high-waist shorts and matching sneakers

Taylor Swift’s Style Evolution From 2013 to Today

As much as Taylor defined her early 2010s aesthetic with high-waisted shorts, oxfords, and retro Keds, her style has continued to evolve dramatically over the past decade.

From polished tour staples to sophisticated red-carpet glamour and sleek New York street style, her fashion journey reflects a seamless shift from country-pop darling to global style icon. Below, we spotlight some of her most recent shoe and outfit moments to show just how far her wardrobe has come.