Last night was a great night for Swifties. Taylor Swift not only made a surprise appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards (!!!), but she also announced that she’d be dropping a new album, Midnights, on October 21st. As if that wasn’t enough to break the Internet, the “All Too Well” singer, writer, and producer did all that while looking drop dead gorgeous in an Oscar de la Renta dress. But the makeup? That was the true star of the show—and obviously courtesy of none other than Dame Pat McGrath.
The gorgeous glam was statement-making, featuring a bold red lip, flawless skin, and a bedazzled floating wing that left us speechless. “It’s always an absolute joy to work with the most divine Taylor Swift on creating a timeless red carpet look,” McGrath said in a press release shared with Marie Claire. “Tonight’s look for the 2022 VMAs was sophisticated, sultry, and sublime, a combination of Divine Skin, a crystal winged eye created with my new MOTHERSHIP X: Moonlit Seduction Eye Palette, and the perfect red lip with LiquiLUST Legendary Wear Lipstick in ELSON 4.”
The makeup, gorgeous as it was, sent fans spiraling into a world of Easter egg hunting. Dissecting every square inch of Taylor's look is par for the course for the fan base—and some of the takeaways were hard to deny. The most buzzed about hypothetical was that the look, complete with the red lip and chain-link dress a la “Look What You Made Me Do,” was indicative that Reputation (Taylor’s Version) is on the horizon. “UMMMM HELLO!!!! IS TAYLOR SWIFT BEING AT THE VMA’S TONIGHT DRESSED SIMILARLY TO THE LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO VIDEO AN EASTER EGG THAT WERE GETTING REPUTATION TAYLOR’S VERSION SOON?!?! Holy s–t, holy s–t, holy s–tttttt. LETS GOOOOOOO,” one, very excited, person wrote via Twitter.
Another fan pointed out that the look could be indicative that Taylor would have a soundtrack on the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is set to come out in 2023. “Taylor’s eye makeup is giving hunger games capitol. Easter egg that she’s on the songbirds and snakes soundtrack,” one fan guessed.
While the truth behind these Easter eggs remains to be determined, we can say with 100 percent accuracy that this is one of Taylor’s best makeup looks to date.
Shop Taylor’s Makeup Look
-
Your Hairstylist's Favorite Hair Brand Just Landed at SephoraThe if-you-know-you-know cult classic is going mainstream.
-
I Need All of My Lip Products to Come With a Donut Applicator From Now OnI put four viral tinted serums to the test.
-
Princess Margaret's "Ill-Mannered" Comments to Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother Often Had "Courtiers Shaking Their Heads"The late royal was known for her one-liners.
-
Taylor Swift's Early Super Bowl 2025 Manicure Is So Valentine's Day-CodedHer nail artist confirmed exactly which shades she used.
-
The 13 Best Foundations for Mature Skin, Tested by Women Over 50It's perfect for mature complexions.
-
Billie EIlish’s Makeup Routine Is Surprisingly Wearable and Lasts for HoursHer makeup routine is full of drugstore staples.
-
Taylor Swift Pairs Her Sparkling Birthday Party Nails With Dripping Diamond EarringsPaired with dripping diamond earrings, of course.
-
Taylor Swift's All-Time Favorite Pat McGrath Red Lipstick Is Finally Back in StockIt's been a long time coming.
-
Taylor Swift Matches Her Blinding Cheekbone Highlighter to Her Bejeweled Bag and ChokerBest believe she's still bejeweled.
-
Cyber Monday's Best Tom Ford Fragrance Deals Let You Smell Just Like Taylor SwiftHer favorite scent and her favorite lipstick are both on sale.
-
Hair Pins for a Flawless French Twist Are Under $20 for Black FridayVintage hair pins are less than $20 right now.
