Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson on SNL: plaid minidress vs latex

Celebrity & Entertainment journalist
Dakota Johnson on the green carpet at the 2025 Zurich Film Festival in a glamorous look
Dakota Johnson at the 2025 Zurich Film Festival Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

A week after they twinned in Taylor Swift's "Patient Zero" video, the singer and Dakota Johnson made the opposite case on Saturday Night Live. Swift crashed Studio 8H during Johnson's third hosting monologue — and the friends showed up in statement minis that shared nothing but a hemline.

Johnson, styled by Kate Young, went full 2013 bombshell in a scarlet latex Versace mini dress and Giuseppe Zanotti Intriigo 90 mules. For extra wattage she stacked on Roberto Coin diamonds and rubies, including the $124,000 Wide Cobra Collar and a Cento Circle of Life ring.

Swift took a more autumnal, Folklore-esque route: Simkhai's off-the-shoulder Wells plaid minidress, cinched with a Saint Laurent Cassandre chain belt and grounded by Burberry's knee-high Pillar boots. Dana Rebecca Designs hoops and a Cartier Unlimited bracelet covered the jewelry, alongside her eight-carat antique engagement ring and wedding band — care of husband Travis Kelce, who was not in the audience.

The cameo doubled as a running bit. Johnson credited her friends with getting her through recent romantic upheavals and introduced Swift as her "literal therapist." Swift clarified the arrangement: Johnson simply turns up at her house once a week and eventually has to be driven home by security.

The matching era, briefly

It marked Swift's first SNL appearance since October 2023, when she introduced musical guest Ice Spice. After the goodnight moment, she returned to present Johnson with a cake for her 37th birthday.

The contrast lands because the pair have spent recent weeks deliberately twinning. Johnson appears opposite Swift and Colin Farrell in the newly released "Patient Zero" video in several mirrored looks, identical Toteme leather coats included, and presented Swift with the inaugural Artist Director Honors at last weekend's VMAs.

Sometimes the best thing about getting dressed with your best friend is looking nothing alike.

Both women have spent years honing recognizable wardrobes: Johnson's high-octane, disco-adjacent eveningwear versus Swift's polished coats, checked minis and serious vintage jewelry. On SNL night, skin-tight fire-engine latex and collegiate plaid made the point that real bestie style does not require a shared mood board.

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