Taylor Swift toasts her 35th birthday with a little black dress and $36,000 diamond earrings

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The Swiftie who sees Taylor Swift’s 35th birthday dress and doesn’t scream “Reputation!” is stronger than me.

Photos from the singer’s lavish birthday bash in Kansas City finally surfaced online on Dec. 18, courtesy of a photo montage by Swift’s close friend and Chiefs partner Brittany Mahomes. It had all the makings of a stunning black dress for a night out and a possible nod to the haute goth aesthetic of her sixth album.

Pictures showed the couple hugging outside a dimly lit bar and toasting Swift’s birthday. They wore matching black and silver looks: Swift’s, a $4,290 Balmain mini dress styled by Joseph Cassell Falconer. Mahomes channeled her buddy’s Epoch tour Outfits in a sparkly fringe jacket similar to the ‘Karma’ finale jackets, while Chiefs WAG Lyndsay Ball wore one Lover-coded pink jacket. Guests in the pictures below — including Ashley Avignone and Patrick Mahomes — also wore plenty of tassels, sequins, suits, and jewel tones. It could have suggested a Roaring 20s-style dress code Great Gatsby References in “That’s Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” but People reports that the birthday party actually took place Epoch tour-Topics. (This is a developing story; Marie Claire will add more credits as they become available.)

$4,290 at Farfetch

The Instagram window for Swift’s exclusive birthday bash also included lavish floral bouquets and colorful cocktails. Not pictured: The alleged $175,000 worth of gifts Travis Kelce allegedly bought for his girlfriend.

Swift accessorized her little black birthday dress with diamond earrings from DeBeers — worth $36,000, according to the jeweler’s website. (Her loud luxury era, which began with a $54,000 Louis Vuitton watch and Gucci loafer pumps, appears to be still ongoing.) She also added what looks like a red Chiefs friendship bracelet. The singer gracefully pinned her hair up, similar to the French twist she recently tried out at a soccer game. Her signature NARs lipstick completed the birthday girl’s ensemble.

$36,000 at DeBeers

Taylor Swift usually shares an Instagram post highlighting her birthday plans, gets caught celebrating by the paparazzi, or both. Last year, she turned 34 surrounded by friends in New York City and wearing a heavenly Clio Peppiat mini dress. Fans mistakenly assumed that the black was a hint of her long-awaited fate Call Retake, although it was actually her unofficial first outfit Tortured Poets Department Fashion era.

A knee-jerk “…Ready for this?” The reaction isn’t all that unmatched for her 35th birthday look. Balmain’s strong shoulders and exaggerated embellishments pair well with the armor Swift metaphorically wears on her Call Text. The twisting tendril of silver flowers on the front of her party dress also reminds this author of the lyrics to “Call It What You Want” (in which flowers grow back as thorns).

Balmain is also an interesting choice for the designers in Swift’s repertoire. In her recent appearances, she’s gravitated towards Vivienne Westwood corsets, Miu Miu tartans and Versace skirt suits – all paired with gold necklaces. The last time Swift wore Balmain in a big way was to the London premiere of Beyoncé’s Renaissance concert film in 2023. At that time, she chose a disco ball-style dress in metallic silver to match Queen Bey’s dress code.

Maybe this birthday look is just a hint of what was on Taylor’s 35th party playlist, which is reality Reputation (TV) Outfits are saved for another event. Either way, I’m waiting for Swift to confirm exactly which of her own eras she referenced on her big day.

Shop Taylor Swift-inspired little black dresses and diamond earrings

$250 at J.Crew

$819.99 at Saks Off Fifth

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$1,250 at Tiffany & Co.

$395 at Moda Operandi

$1,041 at Jared