Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour begins in less than two weeks: here’s what you can do to hype yourself up

Although it may be tempting to buy a completely new outfit for the concert, recent studies and news reports have shed light on fast fashion’s negative impacts on the environment. Instead, the diverse array of thrift stores scattered across our sunny island offers a more sustainable alternative. Un.Wastelands has collaborated with local creator itsnewyearsday to set up The Eras Pop Up at its flagship store located along Haji Lane. There you will find a section dedicated to everything Taylor Swift, including concert outfits and accessories. Otherwise, thrift stores now offer curated selections tailored to various styles and aesthetics, so it’s simple for you to locate which store to check out when shopping for an outfit that represents your favourite Taylor Swift era. You can also check out our list of the best thrift shops in Singapore to find your perfect Eras Tour outfit.

“So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it”. The wise words of Miss Swift ring true as hundreds flock to the Eras Tour with arms full of friendship bracelets to trade with other Swifties. The trading of friendship bracelets started even before the first show of the Eras Tour, with fans making bracelets to trade in honour of the song “You’re On Your Own, Kid”. This practice has now become a staple at concerts and even movie screenings of the tour. If you would like to make a personalised friendship bracelet for your other Swiftie friends, check out Craftbeast Handmade, a decoden and beading studio where you can craft your own Eras Tour bracelet using the wide array of beads available. Those who wish to make friendship bracelets for trading, head on over to Beads and Crafts to get beads and other materials starting from $1.

After decking yourself out in your favourite Taylor Swift era-inspired attire, make your way to Pixie Loft and strike a pose in front of Taylor’s iconic album covers like 1989, Lover, and Red. Nestled along Haji Lane, this photo studio boasts Taylor Swift-themed backdrops and photo strips created by local artist blindgoldrush, offering you and your friends the chance to immerse yourselves in the magic of her timeless albums. Each photo strip will set you back $10 per person, but take advantage of the studio’s weekday deals which includes   one-for-one entry and even extra photo strips for free. Be sure to check out the section showcasing locally-made merchandise before leaving!

Let’s face it, Taylor Swift doesn’t exactly have the best merch. We enjoyed the folklore cardigan and the Red “All Too Well” scarf, but most of the merchandise sold for the Eras Tour is not the prettiest and can cost you an arm and a leg. Thankfully, other fellow Swifties had the same idea and designed merch that is aesthetically pleasing at affordable prices. Main Street Commissary has teamed up with local creator fromthevaultsg to host a month-long event to celebrate the Eras Tour in March, appropriately named Fever Dream High. The café will include Taylor Swift-inspired food and drinks, as well as a weekend market featuring merchandise made by other local artists, such as keychains, temporary tattoo sheets, and tote bags. Those looking to purchase merchandise before the event can check out Pluto Days Club, featuring Eras Tour-themed apparel, accessories, and stationery made by local artists.

Remember the iconic bloodied cake from “Blank Space”? You can now order that cake from Baker’s Brew, complete with blood made of raspberry sauce (knife and exes not included). Baker’s Brew currently has a Taylor Swift cake collection in celebration of the pop star’s upcoming tour, including the viral reputation burnaway cake and a spectacular Eras Tour cake, with each slice representing every album Taylor has released thus far. Choose from a wide array of flavours including the classics like chocolate and vanilla, or opt for the fruity yubari melon and lychee mango. You can check out Baker’s Brew’s Taylor Swift collection here.

Don’t miss the chance to practise the various fan chants (which have been compiled into a list by Redditor u/ThrowawaySurvivor24) which, while not as elaborate as the ones you hear at K-pop concerts, foster a sense of community and unity among fans. As a way to get fans excited for the upcoming concert, Tipsy Unicorn is hosting a Taylor Swift tribute night with Singapore-based DJ Kohsh, singer Anthea Anne Lee, and cover band The Vibes.  Their sister bar, Tipsy Flamingo, is also hosting a similar tribute night with performances and trivia games.

For a less boozy affair, Jewel Changi Airport is also hosting its very own beJEWELed sing-along event, featuring singer Joie Tan and the band 53A. Fans can expect to receive an exclusive friendship bracelet and an additional pack of beads to create bracelets. Both nights will feature Taylor Swift’s greatest hits such as “Love Story”, “Blank Space”, and “Anti-Hero” – a great time for you to practise the fan chants and prep your voice for the upcoming concert!

For those who have the stamina to party in the afternoon and attend a three-hour concert afterwards, check out Swiftie Season, a pre-concert party put together by fan clubs from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Head down to  Adventure Cove to test your Taylor Swift knowledge at the trivia competition and capture precious memories with a Taylor Swift-inspired photobooth. Get to know other Swifties in the region and have a good time belting out your favourite songs (but not too much, you have a concert to go to afterwards!). Don’t worry about getting to the concert venue late: you can download the Stanly app to claim a free shuttle bus ride from Adventure Cove to Singapore National Stadium.

If you’ve seen videos of the crowds after the Coldplay and Ed Sheeran concerts, you’ll know that Stadium MRT will be insanely packed after the show. Even if you’re seated at ‘Cat 10’ (outside the National Stadium), you’ll probably get caught up in the crowds once the concert ends. The best way to ensure a crowd-free experience is to book your post-concert transportation before the show. Wagon is back again with its shuttle services to other stations such as Jurong East, Woodlands, Serangoon, and Tampines for $16. Alternatively, you can book a ride through HitchVibe – a shuttle service started specifically for The Eras Tour – and get to stations such as Boon Lay, Choa Chu Kang, Sengkang, and Sembawang for $13. Be sure to use the promo code TIMEOUT15 to get 15% off your first booking on HitchVibe.