10 Pics Of Taylor Swift Rocking Her Iconic Winged Eyeliner

Taylor Swift's eyeliner is as much a part of her as her songwriting, or her bangs. The sharp, winged cat-eye liner is a signature part of her look, and when something works for Swift, she sticks with it. And as she's grown in stardom, so has her liner. When she broke out onto the scene, her liner was more subtle, but as Swift has taken over the world, her liner has become more prominent. It became one detail in the larger arc of Swift's full beauty transformation. To be sure, along the way Swift has made some makeup mistakes that ruined her otherwise gorgeous look, but this is just part of the process in her achieving makeup perfection, particularly that dramatic liner. 

"[Swift's] cat-eye is iconic because it's consistent," celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli told InStyle in December 2024. "If you look at Taylor's makeup archive, she rarely wears heavy makeup on her actual eyelids but rather accentuates her eyes with eyeliner. It brings out her eye color and also frames and accentuates her eye shape." Early on in Swift's makeup story, around 2012, she used the CoverGirl Line Exact Liquid Liner to get that dark flick. Later, around 2018, fans spotted the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen Liquid Eyeliner Duo in her documentary, "Miss Americana." As of 2022, Swift was using the Pat McGrath Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner in shade Xtreme Black. So she's really tried them all to different dramatic effects, but each unique look is perfection. 

In the very early days of Taylor Swift's career, with the release of her single, "Tim McGraw" in June 2006, she didn't wear a winged liner. However, as early as June 2007, Swift started to show an inkling towards the liner look that would dominate her makeup aesthetic in the years to come. When she attended the 32nd Annual American Women in Radio & Television Gracie Allen Awards on June 18, 2007, Swift wore the slightest trace of a wing, with a soft flick of charcoal color drawing out her eye shape. 

Taylor Swift's eyeliner has undergone its own evolution. In the early days of her career, the wing wasn't so prominent. When she attended the TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World Annual Gala on May 4, 2010, Swift leaned far more into false lashes than eyeliner, a cosmetic choice that would change in the years to come. There was a subtle hint of a wing, but it was much more discrete than it would quickly become. 

As if making up for lost time, Taylor Swift dove headfirst into eyeliner once she was an established artist. When she attended the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, Swift rocked a strong liner look with an inner corner cat-eye. It's clear that Swift wanted to emphasize the liner alone because she went for a nude lip and nixed any blush. The bold, graphic look extended the length of Swift's eyes to give a feline illusion.

By the 2020s, eyeliner was a guaranteed part of Taylor Swift's makeup routine. When she attended the 2022 MTV VMAs on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey, Swift incorporated the rhinestone sparkle from her dress into her eye makeup. Along with a bold, black wing, Swift added diamond decals along her brow bone to bring together that diamond touch. She balanced the jet-black ink of the liner with a touch of frost at the inner corners of her eyes. 

One of the quintessential moments of Taylor Swift's eyeliner love occurred at the 2024 Grammys. She arrived with her classic bold red lip and balanced it with a strong sweep of black liner. The liner ended in a very sharp finish, adding drama to her already-dramatic look that night. For fans who love to rock a standout pout with Swift's favorite lipsticks, there are several options as Swift likes to change things up with the products she uses. 

During the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift didn't skip out on a dramatic liner look. While on stage on July 23, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany, she showed off her classic combo of jet-black liner with bold red lips. What makes her stage makeup so impressive is that Swift's concerts are very active, meaning that she likely sweats a lot on stage. Also, Swift never cancels a show because of rain. The fact that she can sweat and perform in the rain is proof of her stamina, but also the staying-power of that incredible eyeliner.

Taylor Swift clearly loves makeup, and playing around with different looks is part of her ever-evolving charm. When she cheered on the Kansas City Chiefs on October 7, 2024, Swift showed up with gold, glittery freckles by the brand Fazit. The sparkling detail added a festive touch to her classic flick of black liner and her glossy, red lips. The makeup look was playful while staying true to the style that Swift clearly loves to return to again and again. 

When Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce, she became not only the biggest pop star in the world but also the most famous WAG. When Kelce's team, the Kansas City Chiefs, beat the Buffalo Bills on January 26, 2025, thus ensuring their spot in the Super Bowl that year, Swift hugged Brittany Mahomes. Swift also showed off a new style of liner that curved upwards from her eyes. It was very prominent and proved that even on chill days at the stadium, liner is a must for Swift. 

It's rare for Taylor Swift to wear heavy eyeshadow. Instead, her signature look is the attention-grabbing black winged liner along with a red lip. If she does wear eyeshadow, it's typically a matte neutral shade that's meant to discretely add definition. When she attended the Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York City on June 11, 2026, Swift gave a view of her go-to makeup style for events. A hint of blush complemented the red lipstick, while the liner added drama. 

Taylor Swift changed things up with her eyeliner when she attended "Oh, Mary!" on Broadway at The Lyceum Theatre on June 13, 2026 in New York City. Swift nixed the jet black liquid power of her signature liner look and instead opted for a subtle charcoal gray tone liner, while still keeping the wing long and dramatic. She balanced this unique touch with a coral-based lip tone and a soft shimmer shadow. Even when subtle, the emphasis is still on her liner.