For 13 years, Sarah Chapelle has followed Taylor Swift meticulously — her music, her shows, her life and, above all, her fashion.
The Vancouver woman's passion for the world's most famous musician was recently compiled and published into, what has since become, a best-selling book about Swift's signature styles.
One week after its Oct. 8 release, Chapelle's novel reached the New York Times' best-seller list under the "advice, how-to and miscellaneous" category.
And the author/reporter's milestone is the result of many years of blogging Swift's style selections to a T.
This includes dresses, shoes, boots, purses, jackets, jewelry and everything in between.
A graduate of Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Bachelor of Journalism program, Chapelle has received high praise for her research, analysis and commentary since first starting "the official Taylor Swift fashion blog" in October 2011.
As of this publication, the 32-year-old has more than 352,000 followers on Instagram, nearly 40,000 on TikTok and 95,000 on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Glacier Media caught up with Chapelle ahead of Swift's shows in Vancouver Friday to Sunday, Dec. 6-8 — the final stop on her two-year Eras Tour.
Chapelle is also scheduled to host a book signing at Indigo - Robson (1033 Robson St.) on Friday at 3 p.m.
And yes, she confirmed to Glacier Media she's going to attend all three shows at BC Place, too.
Congratulations on your book launch! What does it mean to you to see it flying off the shelves, physically and online?
Taylor Swift Style became an instant New York Times best seller when it was released and has been on the national Canadian best seller list since its release (seven weeks). It’s been a dream come true to become a best selling author.
Did you ever imagine all your days of blogging about Taylor Swift’s signature styles and fashion wares would be turned into a book?
I love that pop culturally and societally we have gotten to a point where we can take an academic lens towards acts like Taylor and their art. I wanted to write a book that analyzed Taylor’s fashion with an equal level of thought and intention that she puts into crafting it. In the same way that Taylor once forced people to take the perspective of a young girl seriously, I also wanted to write a book that treated a subject often treated as shallow with care.
How did this all start? Who approached you? Who influenced you? What was the “ah-ha” moment to turn your passion into a career?
I started my blog of the same name, Taylor Swift Style, in October 2011 when I was a university student pursuing my degree in journalism. It represented the intersection of the things I was most interested in: Reporting, fashion, and Taylor Swift. I’ve been a fan of Taylor’s since 2006 and for the last 13 years, I have provided not only the exact details of her clothes, from designers to prices, but I’ve also elected to go deeper and offer context and commentary that explores the intention behind every outfit. As a journalist and true fan, I feel uniquely positioned to provide an in-depth and nuanced analysis of Taylor's fashion.
How many Taylor Swift concerts have you attended?
17. My very first Taylor concert was also my first concert ever when I saw her open for Brad Paisley in 2007.
Are you going to one of the Vancouver shows this weekend? All three, perhaps?
All three!
Have you met Taylor Swift in person?
Yes.
What does your day-to-day look like? Give us a glimpse into the life of author and blogger Sarah Chapelle.
Every day might look different. My current workload is divided between reporting on Taylor’s exact fashion (whether that be out on the streets of New York, what she’s wearing at an Eras Tour concert, or attending a Kansas City Chiefs game), carrying out signings for my best selling book Taylor Swift Style (I have four dates left on my book tour including in Vancouver at Indigo Robson on Dec. 6 @ 3 p.m.), and writing for my newsletter on Substack.
Why did you believe it was important to chronicle Taylor Swift’s fashion and style?
For Taylor, her fashion and music work in tandem to communicate a message. As this generation’s most prolific songwriter, we’re most familiar with her confessional, emotional songs about her life. But her style is the other half of that story. The visual half that iconifies every era and makes moments memorable. Taylor Swift Style tells the fashion story behind every single Taylor Swift album - both her musical and sartorial evolution. It decodes the relationship between her lyrics and her style that, together, craft her image and tell her story.
Why should the public take an interest in your book? How do you hope someone’s life can be changed by reading “Taylor Swift Style”?
Taylor has truly had a meteoric last few years between the success of her back to back pandemic albums, winning her fourth Grammy of the Year for Midnights, the record breaking success of the Eras Tour underlining her efforts to re-record her back catalogue, and of course her latest album The Tortured Poets Department. Interest in her has never been higher. Like the Eras Tour itself does so successfully, Taylor Swift Style provides fans new and old the opportunity to relive Swift's most iconic fashion moments wrapped up in one beautiful package. It's a must-have book for any fan. When people read this book, I hope they come away with a renewed appreciation and respect for the art, complexity, and nuance of fashion and how Taylor’s style has played a pivotal and integral role in building her brand and legacy.
