What is going on with the Taylor Swift friendship bracelet trend?

Swifties are having a *lot* of fun with it

Taylor Swift bracelets meaning at Eras Tour gigs
(Image credit: Instagram: Patrick Ta / Jennifer Garner)

Have you been seeing photos of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in North America lately and wondering why so many people are wearing multi-coloured beaded bracelets with Swiftie references on them? 

Well, let us explain.

The trend started as a sweet nod to a lyric in Swift's song from Midnights "You're on Your Own, Kid," in which she sings, "So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it." 

Fans took her literally and began beading their own bracelets, then taking the moment (their experience of the Eras Tour) and tasting it (dancing and singing until their voice goes).

The point of the bracelets—which read messages such as song titles, lyrics, or tongue-in-cheek references such as "Starbucks lovers" or "Olivia Benson" (one of Swift's cats)—is to wear them to the concert, then swap them with other makeshift jewellers in the audience. There are metaphorical bonus points to be had if you manage to give one of your bracelets to one of the celebs in attendance.

Speaking of celebs, among the many, many famous people who have attended the Eras Tour so far, a fair few were spotted sporting friendship bracelets — which they had either been given by fans or made themselves.

Lupita Nyong'o made headlines recently when she shared a TikTok of herself and her friends making the bracelets for hours on end ahead of attending the gig.

@lupitanyongo

♬ Karma - Taylor Swift

Sydney Sweeney also made friendship bracelets with friends.

Sydney Sweeney Eras Tour

(Image credit: Courtesy of Sydney Sweeney / Instagram)

Jennifer Garner was also given SO many friendship bracelets when she attended the Eras Tour in Kansas City that she was practically drowning in them in a photo she shared.

Jennifer Garner Swiftie friendship bracelets

(Image credit: Courtesy of Jennifer Garner / Instagram)

Selena Gomez also shared a picture of her "stack" on Instagram Stories.

Selena Gomez Eras Tour

(Image credit: Courtesy of Selena Gomez / Instagram)

Gigi Hadid and her makeup artist Patrick Ta also flaunted their many, many bracelets on Instagram, with a photo of the two of them making a heart with their hands.

Bottom line: if you've got Eras Tour tickets for next year in the UK, make sure you equip yourself with all the beads and string necessary beforehand!

Iris Goldsztajn
Iris Goldsztajn is a celebrity and royal news writer for Marie Claire. As a London-based freelance journalist, she writes about wellness, relationships, pop culture, beauty and more for the likes of InStyle, Women's Health, Bustle, Stylist and Red. Aside from her quasi-personal investment in celebs' comings and goings, Iris is especially interested in debunking diet culture and destigmatising mental health struggles. Previously, she was the associate editor for Her Campus, where she oversaw the style and beauty news sections, as well as producing gift guides, personal essays and celebrity interviews. There, she worked remotely from Los Angeles, after returning from a three-month stint as an editorial intern for Cosmopolitan.com in New York. As an undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles, she interned at goop and C California Style and served as Her Campus' national style and LGBTQ+ editor. Iris was born and raised in France by a French father and an English mother. Her Spotify Wrapped is riddled with country music and One Direction, and she can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.