You know that feeling when you're 15 and you've got a crush on the guy next door who is definitely dating the wrong girl? That's the vibe of the junior jewels taylor swift shirt. It’s basically the "Holy Grail" of Swiftie DIY projects. Honestly, if you haven’t seen a white t-shirt covered in Sharpie doodles at a concert, have you even been to a Taylor Swift show?
It started in 2009. Taylor was leaning out of a window in the You Belong With Me music video. She looked like every other awkward teenager trying to figure out high school. She was wearing these oversized pajama pants and a white t-shirt. On that shirt, in messy, colorful markers, were the words "Junior Jewels."
It wasn't just a costume. It became a manifesto for anyone who felt like they were on the outside looking in.
The Mystery of the Names
Back in the day, everyone wanted to know whose names were on that original shirt. It wasn't just random scribbles. Most of them were her real-life friends from back home or the early days of her career. You could spot "Abigail" easily—that's Abigail Anderson, her best friend since they were kids. There were others too, like "Gelsey" and "Courtney."
The shirt felt personal. It felt like something she actually made in her bedroom while listening to demos.
Then came 2017.
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Taylor released the Look What You Made Me Do video and basically broke the internet. There’s a scene where she stands in front of a mountain of "Old Taylors." One of them is the You Belong With Me version. But if you look closely at the junior jewels taylor swift shirt in that scene, the names changed.
Who Made the Cut in 2017?
The updated shirt was a literal "who’s who" of her inner circle at the time. It was a subtle way of showing who stood by her during some pretty messy years in the spotlight.
- Selena Gomez was right there, obviously.
- The Haim sisters (Alana, Danielle, and Este) were featured prominently.
- Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds got a shoutout.
- Ed Sheeran and Gigi Hadid were on the list.
- Even Patrick Alwyn, the brother of her then-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, was included.
People went wild analyzing the names. If a name was missing—like Karlie Kloss or Lorde—the rumors started flying immediately. That’s the power of a Sharpie in Taylor’s hands.
Why We Are Still Obsessed
It’s been over fifteen years since that shirt first appeared. That is forever in pop culture time. So why does it still matter?
Because it’s accessible.
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Most celebrity fashion is literally impossible to copy. Nobody is out here buying a $40,000 custom Versace gown for a Friday night. But anyone can buy a $5 pack of Hanes undershirts and some fabric markers. It represents the "Girl Next Door" era that people still crave, even now that she’s a billionaire playing stadiums.
The Christ the Redeemer Moment
If you need proof of how iconic the junior jewels taylor swift shirt is, look at Brazil. In 2023, the actual Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro was projected with a version of the shirt. It said "Welcome to Brasil" instead of "Junior Jewels."
Think about that for a second.
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World was dressed up in a fan-made t-shirt design from a 2009 music video. It was a massive gesture of hospitality from the fans and the local authorities. It proved that this isn't just a piece of clothing; it's a symbol recognized globally.
The Eras Tour Revival
When the Eras Tour kicked off, the junior jewels taylor swift shirt made its official stage debut. During the Fearless set, Taylor comes out in a high-fashion, sequined version of the outfit. It’s got the same "Junior Jewels" text and the names, but it’s covered in crystals.
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It’s the ultimate glow-up.
Fans started making their own versions for the tour. I’ve seen people spend forty hours hand-beading the names of their own friends onto shirts. Others just use markers and have their "concert squad" sign it before they go inside. It’s a full-circle moment for the community.
How to Make Your Own (The Right Way)
If you're planning to make one for a themed party or the next tour leg, don't overthink it. Use a white cotton crew neck. It needs to be a bit baggy to look authentic to the original video.
- Get the right markers. Standard Sharpies will bleed if the shirt gets damp (and you will sweat at a show). Use fabric markers like Tulip or Posca pens.
- Use a backing. Put a piece of cardboard inside the shirt so the ink doesn't soak through to the back.
- The "13" on the back. A lot of people forget this, but the original shirt has a large "13" on the back. It’s her lucky number, so it’s mandatory.
- Personalize the names. You don't have to copy Taylor's friends. Write the names of your own besties. That’s the whole point of the shirt—celebrating the people who "belong with you."
The beauty of the junior jewels taylor swift shirt is that it doesn't have to be perfect. In the video, it looks like a craft project gone slightly off the rails. The lines are shaky. The colors are mismatched. That's what makes it feel real. It’s a reminder that even the biggest star in the world started out as a girl with a pen and a story to tell.
To get the most out of your DIY project, try practicing your "Taylor-style" handwriting on a piece of paper first. She has a very specific, loopy way of writing her "J"s and "L"s that defines the look. Once you've got the muscle memory down, start from the center of the shirt and work your way out so the "Junior Jewels" logo doesn't get crowded by the names.