When Taylor Swift dropped the "Bad Blood" music video back in 2015, it didn't just break the Vevo record for most views in 24 hours. It basically reset the internet's expectation for what a pop star "squad" could look like. But if you look past the star-studded cameos from Selena Gomez to Mariska Hargitay, there is a weird, almost unbelievable story behind the fashion that most fans actually miss.
You see, everyone assumed these high-tech, futuristic assassin looks were custom-made by some high-end couture house in Paris.
Honestly? They weren't.
The $13,000 Secret Behind the Bad Blood Outfits Taylor Swift Wore
Most people think Taylor's stylist, Joseph Cassell, spent months working with luxury brands for this shoot. In reality, a massive chunk of the wardrobe—specifically about $13,000 worth of latex and leather—came from a Los Angeles erotic boutique called The Stockroom.
Yeah. You read that right.
The fierce, post-apocalyptic vibe wasn't sourced from the runway; it was sourced from a sex shop. This included the flesh-colored latex basque Taylor wears in the opening office fight scene and the black bow-neck latex blouse Selena Gomez (Arsyn) sports while betraying her. It’s a hilarious bit of trivia because the video looks so polished and cinematic that you’d never guess the "armor" was actually high-end fetish wear repurposed for a PG-13 superhero narrative.
Why the "Stockroom" Aesthetic Worked
- Latex is unforgiving. It catches light in a way that regular fabric doesn't, which is why those hallway explosion scenes look so crisp.
- The Silhouette. The video was heavily inspired by Sin City and Kill Bill. Using structured latex gave the girls a "comic book" outline that felt more like a drawing than a person.
- The Contrast. You’ve got Taylor in these ultra-tight, matte-black pieces against a backdrop of fire and snow. It pops.
The Designers You Actually Need to Know
While the sex shop provided the "bones" of the outfits, Taylor also tapped some serious independent talent to round out the 17+ characters.
One of the standout names is Úna Burke. If you look at the characters "Justice" (Mariska Hargitay) and "Headmistress" (Cindy Crawford), they are wearing these intricate, architectural leather pieces. These aren't just belts; they are wearable art. Burke is an Irish designer known for using traditional leather-working techniques to create "armor-like" accessories.
Mariska wore a nurse’s cape from Burke's 2013 collection, while Cindy Crawford rocked a black holster brace. It gave the older "mentors" in the video a sense of authority that felt different from the younger "assassins" in their Stockroom latex.
🔗 Read more: The Real Story Behind Corporation for Public Broadcasting Viewers Like You Thank You
Then there’s Chromat.
If you remember the "Slay-Z" look (Gigi Hadid) or "The Trinity" (Hailee Steinfeld), a lot of that cagey, structural stuff came from Becca McCharen-Tran’s label, Chromat. They specialize in "structural experiments for the human body," which fits the "Bad Blood" vibe perfectly. It’s all about lines, cages, and making the body look like a piece of architecture.
A Character-by-Character Breakdown of the "Vibe"
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of black leather, but the outfits were actually tailored to the specific "powers" or personas of the squad members.
Catastrophe (Taylor Swift): She starts in that beige latex "office" look, which is meant to feel vulnerable. After the betrayal, she moves into "training" gear. You see her in a lot of cut-out crop tops and bandages. The final "battle" outfit is the most iconic—a red wig paired with a black, strappy leather ensemble that looks like it was ripped straight out of a 1990s comic book.
Arsyn (Selena Gomez): She’s the villain. Her look is more refined and "femme fatale" compared to Taylor’s "warrior" look. The short black wig and the latex blouse scream classic spy movie antagonist.
💡 You might also like: Family Ties Mallory Keaton: Why We All Underestimated the 80s Fashion Icon
The Trinity (Hailee Steinfeld): The video used a lot of camera tricks to show Hailee as three people at once. Her outfits were built around white and silver metallic pieces, making her stand out as a more "technical" or "digital" part of the team.
Frostbyte (Lily Aldridge): Probably the most distinct departure from the black/red theme. She’s in the snow scene, wearing a white, furry, hooded outfit that makes her look like a high-fashion Eskimo assassin. It’s one of the few times we see soft textures in the entire four-minute video.
Why "Bad Blood" Still Matters for Taylor's Style Evolution
"Bad Blood" was the bridge between the "1989" era and the "Reputation" era.
Before this, Taylor was all about high-waisted shorts, Keds, and "Welcome to New York" optimism. This video introduced the "Dark Taylor" aesthetic. It proved she could do "edgy" without it feeling like a costume (even if it literally was a costume).
If you look at the Eras Tour today, the "Bad Blood" segment of the 1989 set features Taylor and her dancers in neon-accented, black-light responsive gear. It’s a direct evolution. The "armor" is gone, replaced by sequins and fringe that mimic the movement of a fight rather than the look of one.
The original outfits were stiff and difficult to move in. For a stadium tour, she needs to breathe. But the spirit—the idea of a squad of powerful women in cohesive, dark, "warrior" fashion—started right there in that 2015 video.
How to Channel the Bad Blood Look (The Expert Way)
If you're trying to recreate these looks for a costume or just want to inject some of that "Catastrophe" energy into your wardrobe, don't just buy a cheap polyester jumpsuit.
- Focus on Texture. Mix matte faux leather with high-shine vinyl. The "Bad Blood" outfits worked because they weren't just one type of black fabric.
- Hardware is Key. Use silver buckles, body chains, and heavy zippers. The "squad" looked like they were held together by metal.
- The Makeup Contrast. Notice how Taylor’s makeup is a very sharp, geometric cat-eye paired with a nude lip. It keeps the focus on the "intensity" of the eyes rather than the "glamour" of the red lip she’s famous for.
- The "Fake" Thigh-Highs. A lot of the boots in the video were actually just black ankle boots paired with leather leg warmers or "thigh-high socks" to give the illusion of a single, massive boot. It’s a much cheaper and more comfortable way to get the look.
The "Bad Blood" outfits weren't just about looking "cool." They were about world-building. Taylor used fashion to turn her real-life friends into a cinematic army, and whether you love the song or not, you can't deny that the visual impact of that leather-clad squad changed the way we look at music video styling forever.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check out Úna Burke’s online archive to see the original leather pieces used for Cindy Crawford and Mariska Hargitay.
- Look for "structural bralettes" or "cage tops" from brands like Chromat if you want to incorporate the "Bad Blood" silhouette into your festival or concert outfits.
- Compare the original 2015 video outfits with the 2024 Eras Tour 1989 set costumes to see how Taylor's team adapted "assassin" fashion for high-intensity stadium choreography.