Combining her passions for fashion and journalism, a Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) alum has found success as an expert on Taylor Swift’s style.
Sarah Chapelle is a graduate of KPU’s Bachelor of Journalism program, and it was during her time as a student that she began a blog centred around Swift’s fashion.
“I’ve been a fan of Taylor’s since 2006,” says Chapelle. “I wanted to create a space for fans who loved the intersection of Taylor’s artistry. Her storytelling is crystallized in both the lyrics of her songs and the outfits that she puts on her body.”
Taylor Swift Style is a platform for “critically kind commentary” on Swift’s fashion, says Chapelle. Through thoughtful analysis and documentation of Swift’s outfits, she unravels the intention and deeper meanings behind the singer’s style choices.
“Swift’s fashion and music work in tandem to communicate a message,” she explains. “We’re most familiar with her confessional, emotional songs about her life, but her style is the other half of that story — the visual half that iconifies every era and makes moments memorable.”
Chapelle’s audience has grown extensively over the past 13 years, with over 350,000 followers on Instagram alone.
“I’m so grateful to have found so many other people who share my passion. Cultivating a space on the internet that embraces complex conversation and diversity of opinion feels like finding a unicorn. My followers are individuals who feel unified by our shared passions and excited by our differences.”
Chapelle’s latest accomplishment is publishing a book, Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras, which she released on Oct. 8. The instant New York Times bestseller pairs insightful commentary with over 200 photographs of outfits Swift has donned throughout the years.
“In the ‘blank space’ — Taylor pun intended — left when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would always write ‘author.’ Becoming a published author, and a bestselling one at that, is the definition of a dream coming true.”
Chapelle credits KPU’s Journalism program for equipping her with the skills necessary to launch her successful career.
“At KPU, I learned how to take my love of storytelling and plant it in reality,” she says. “How to expose truths, cover events with fairness, and draw a person in words. I use my journalism background to provide commentary and historical context, backed by the writing and research skills I learned, to analyze the medium of fashion.”
Chad Skelton, chair of Journalism and Communications Studies at KPU, says that Chapelle’s success proves that the program helps prepare students for careers beyond just journalism.
"The mix of skills we teach — how to report, write, and use multimedia tools — is a great preparation for a whole host of careers in fields like public relations and communications. Sarah's success in becoming the go-to expert on Taylor Swift's style shows just how diverse the career paths are for KPU Journalism grads.”
KPU’s Bachelor of Journalism program is the only four-year journalism program in Metro Vancouver. Students produce journalism that draws on the full range of multimedia storytelling possibilities, including photography, audio, video and data visualization.