On fashion month’s 23rd day, Vogue’s dedicated Gen Z editors are holding on by the tiniest of threads. The only thing that could possibly revitalize us from our sleep-deprived daze? The one and only Taylor Swift—our musical icon—releasing her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.
Though weary, we believe we can endure the remaining four days of shows. Join us as we share our reactions to the album’s full tracklist.
Irene Kim: It’s currently 5:30 a.m., and it feels almost illegal to be awake at this hour, but alas, here I am live-blogging the Loewe show. (Shoutout to Jack and Lazaro!) This is Florence and my second reaction to Taylor Swift, and while it’s exhilarating, I can’t help but feel frustrated that we have to wait on each other to experience her albums!!! I was scrolling TikTok this morning while waiting for Loewe and caught a 30-second teaser of one of her tracks and nearly hurled my phone across the room!
Florence O’Connor: I’m in London, and I must say, waiting for Irene to wake up to dive into this album might be the most challenging task I’ve ever faced. But for my bestie (Irene) and our fans (that’s you guys), it’s worth it.
O’Connor: OMG, already vibing with the beat. What a total jam! I’m pulling up the lyrics to follow along because I can’t afford to miss a single moment!
Kim: My brain is still in sleep mode, but I’m loving it. Honestly, I can’t grasp the lyrics just yet—that’ll come later today when my work is done. But the chorus? Absolutely beautiful.
O’Connor: I feel it’s time to admit that Ophelia is pretty high on my baby-name list, but everyone argues it’s too tragic of a story to tie to a child! Not sure if this song strengthens or weakens my case?
Kim: OMG, LOL. Ophelia is truly stunning!!!!!
O’Connor: Clearly, this album is about Travis (not that there was ever really a question), but “pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes” is impossible to ignore. Go Chiefs! Do football players have walk-out songs, or is that just for baseball? They definitely should, so Travis can strut out to a Taylor melody.
Kim: That last line is so cute: “You saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia.” Please insert a hundred sobbing iPhone emojis here!!
O’Connor: Can’t wait to belt “Be my NY when Hollywood hates me” with you, Irene, while we’re in LA for Vogue World: Hollywood later this month. (Everyone be sure to tune in on October 26!)
Kim: I’m already screaming and crying over the line, “ooh, oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me/ All the right guys promised they’d stay under bright lights/ They withered away, but you bloom.” Because that is so Travis.
Kim: This song reminds me of an Emily Henry novel I read this summer, Great Big Beautiful Life! One character has the essence of a starlet like Elizabeth Taylor or Taylor Swift (incredibly famous with numerous fleeting relationships), so it hits close to home. But that book had a happier ending, so Taylor, I only wish for the HAPPIEST ending for you!
O’Connor: If “You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby”… Taylor, you are on fire!
O’Connor: The juice here is that folks speculate this track is about Keleigh Teller because she once gave Taylor an opalite ring and then they went from inseparable to MIA. The lyrics, “And all of the foes, and all of the friends (Ha, ha)/ They’ve seen it before, they’ll see it again (Ha, ha)/ Life is a song, it ends when it ends” lend some credence to those TikTok theories.
Kim: Tea, indeed. The ring was gorgeous though.
O’Connor: “This is just a storm inside a teacup”… I’m currently sipping tea from a teacup as we speak. Never felt closer to Taylor.
O’Connor: This track encapsulates how the entire Vogue team feels about Irene during fashion month. She “protects the family.” We can absolutely “leave it with” her. And believe me, fashion PRs “know [her] name in the streets.” Anyone who “mistake[s] [her] kindness” might find their “card cancelled.” This empire belongs to Irene Kim.
Kim: That’s the kindest thing anyone’s ever said to me. I’m in tears!!!!!!
O’Connor: “You know, you remind me of a younger me. I saw potential.” Oooh, who do we think this could be about? Sabrina Carpenter? Gracie Abrams? Dare I suggest Olivia Rodrigo?
Kim: It might just encompass all of them!!! She’s the mother (in the best way) of the pop girlies. And the line “I protect the family” feels so mafia and coded in New Jersey!!
O’Connor: This might be a hot take, but this feels like it could fit into a musical? I’m loving it. Like, this could be in Dear Evan Hansen?
Kim: OMG. Could Taylor Swift hit Broadway soon?! Or maybe a Vegas residency?!??!
O’Connor: We’re definitely only a few years from The Life of a Showgirl: The Musical! Sabrina Carpenter could take the lead!
Kim: Major father figure vibes for sure!!
O’Connor: “But I’m not a bad b****, and this isn’t savage” matches the melody of “’Cause I’m not your princess, this ain’t a fairytale” from White Horse. Chills.
Kim: The line, “so many traitors, smooth operators” is something Donna Kelce should remember when she joins Traitors next season. Especially among the housewives and former Survivor cast.
O’Connor: *Immediately googles where Gallatin Road is* It’s in Tennessee. Interesting.
Kim: The 50 Cent reference is MAKING MY DAY!!!! Two icons, honestly.
O’Connor: I assume this is a reflection on an old high school fling? She brings up Abigail, their second period, a corsage.
Kim: Fascinating, I initially expected this would be about an alleged ex friend based on the song title. But as always, Taylor Swift exceeds our expectations.
O’Connor: This tune just took an unexpected turn: “Abigail called me with the bad news” and “But I whispered at the grave, ‘Should’ve kissed you anyway.’” That’s quite sad!
Kim: As Florence knows, my childhood friend expressed interest in me this summer, and now Taylor Swift seems to be advising me to jeopardize the friendship rather than endure a lifetime of regret? (He doesn’t read Vogue, so the odds of him catching this are slim!!!)
O’Connor: Wow, Irene is getting real here. (Perhaps a bit too real??) We truly risk it all for a good narrative. Thank goodness for the paywall, am I right?!
Kim: Yay, paywall!
O’Connor: At least Irene’s not alone, because Taylor is being TRUTHFUL in this song. Sorry, Charli XCX, it’s team Taylor forever.
Kim: OMG, this track. The lyrics. I’m SCREAMING over how savage Taylor is being. “Boring Barbie” made me laugh out loud. I can’t deny it.
O’Connor: Honestly, step aside Kim K, Taylor has a new arch-nemesis. Irene, should we write a diss track? You all would love to know the subject, wouldn’t you?
Kim: Florence and I could easily whip up a diss track if Vogue locked us in a conference room for an hour. We might need to borrow Taylor’s band, though.
Kim: How does Taylor Swift make her diss tracks sound so sweet? If you weren’t focusing on the lyrics, you could confuse it for a non-diss track.
O’Connor: I worry that ours wouldn’t be nearly as subtle.
Kim: True. But kudos to you, Taylor! Clapping back through her album!
O’Connor: Irene and I celebrate our birthdays soon (just four days apart… truly twin flames), and I asked Irene what gift she wanted, and she said nothing. So Irene is definitely not relatable to this song.
Kim: I love us!! To be fair, when I asked Florence the same question, she also said nothing. Then she mentioned wanting a sweatshirt!!!!! (It does sound cute, though—from Cherry LA!) We both need to aim higher—like a gorgeous house by the water—because a home with a basketball hoop in the driveway isn’t my ultimate dream. (I grew up with that, so it doesn’t resonate with me here!)
O’Connor: I guess I want to “have a couple kids,” but they will all carry the name Ophelia!
Kim: And if they keep your last name, they could be Ophelia O’Connor, and if you pick a middle name starting with O, they’d have the coolest initials “OOO,” which is my favorite email subject line!
O’Connor: This is why everyone needs an Irene in their lives. Brilliant.
O’Connor: This song is spicy! Right now, I’m relieved we’re not listening to this track in a work conference room.
Kim: Thank goodness!! It feels NSFW. But Taylor being friends with Sabrina Carpenter has definitely loosened her up a bit. I’m here for it.
O’Connor: OMG, is this referencing Blake Lively? “Good thing I like my friends cancelled/ I like ’em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal.”
Kim: OMG. Are they still friends or not? I need answers NOW!!!!!! Returning to the song, this is so Reputation-influenced. I adore how open and vengeful Taylor is becoming.
O’Connor: Now that is TEA! Am I blowing this out of proportion, or could “something wicked this way comes” hint at the upcoming second Wicked film? I would be thrilled to see a Taylor Swift cameo in Oz!
Kim: That would be legendary if Taylor appeared in Wicked.
O’Connor: I need to witness her perform “Defying Gravity” ASAP.
O’Connor: So excited to savor yet another adorable Travis-inspired song. Their love is simply the best. Irene, you can call me honey!
Kim: Yes, me and Luke!!! (That’s Florence’s boyfriend, who gets a mention in every Florene piece! We adore Luke!)
O’Connor: Throuple alert!
Kim: LOL! We could share our house—just imagine the basketball hoop in the driveway! It’s far more financially savvy to co-own a home in this economy!
Kim: Who could ever tell Taylor Swift to step aside? I’d let her take my man any day!
O’Connor: She’s welcome to join our dynamic. Quadruple alert!
O’Connor: OMG. My sister’s name is Kitty… I’m envious! She’s currently performing as a showgirl in a West End play!!
Kim: Between the tea and the Kitty reference, it’s as if this album was crafted just for you, Florence.
O’Connor: I’m fuming. I wish my parents had named me Kitty instead. This is downright unfair. And she’s the eldest child.
O’Connor: I just realized Sabrina Carpenter is also featured in this track. Iconic.
Kim: Same here—I genuinely forgot about the Sabrina collaboration! Their voices harmonize perfectly, don’t they? Our two favorite showgirls!
O’Connor: We’re also “married to the hustle” and recently were showered with “blooming bouquets” (thanks to our boss, Chloe Malle, who turned her office into a floral shop for a fortnight).
Kim: Best week ever! We were basically taking home flowers every other day!
Kim: The outro feels like Taylor’s gearing up for a Vegas residency. I would spend every penny to witness it live.
O’Connor: No notes. Excited for the performance! (This is our formal request to any brands wanting to sponsor us! We’d love you forever!)
