Popsugar Fashion Celebrity Fashion The Meaning Behind Taylor Swift's Button-Up at the MTV VMAs Was Taylor Swift's VMAs Button-Up a Nod to "The Man" Music Video? Indulge Us For a Sec 31 August 2020 by Kelsey Garcia Congrats to @taylorswift13 on winning Best Direction! #GirlPower #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QrnJQoABHd— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020 As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. At this point, nothing Taylor Swift does is without some symbolism. In the past, fans have dissected her clothing choices and seemingly mundane photos to uncover details about, say, the theme of an upcoming album or its potential release date, and it's become a well-known game between Taylor and her Swifties. So, why would her virtual appearance at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards be any different — even if it was just a little over a minute long? The evening earned Taylor the award for best direction, which she accepted from home while wearing a striped shirt dress from Derek Lam's contemporary diffusion line, 10 Crosby. While some fans on Twitter romantically theorized the button-up may have been borrowed from her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, it's more likely the shirt dress was a subtle nod to the very music video that earned her the award: "The Man." Released earlier this year, the video had Taylor (dressed as a man) present the many ways men are glorified and receive unearned praise in society in an effort to illustrate the double standards women face. Her shirt dress then, which fuses together both masculine and feminine silhouettes, falls right in line with that juxtaposition. Plus, it makes for a really chic house dress. Watch Taylor's speech, as well as "The Man" video, ahead, before browsing Taylor's exact shirt dress and similar options. Related: The MTV VMAs Red Carpet Was the Fashion Fix We've All Been Missing Watch Taylor Swift's Best Direction Acceptance Speech at the 2020 MTV VMAs Congrats to @taylorswift13 on winning Best Direction! #GirlPower #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QrnJQoABHd— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020 Shop Taylor Swift's Derek Lam 10 Crosby Shirt Dress Image Source: neimanmarcus.com Derek Lam 10 Crosby Striped Shirt Dress with Knit Waist Tie ($189, originally $450) Derek Lam 10 Crosby Striped Shirt Dress with Knit Waist Tie $189 from neimanmarcus.com Buy Now Shop Similar Shirt Dresses Image Source: shopbop.com DL1961 Cranberry Shirtdress ($189) DL1961 Cranberry Shirtdress $189 from shopbop.com Buy Now Only Poplin Shirt Dress in Blue Stripe Image Source: asos.com Only Poplin Shirt Dress in Blue Stripe ($60) Only Poplin Shirt Dress in Blue Stripe $60 from asos.com Buy Now Shegul Striped Cotton Shirt Dress Image Source: coedition.com Shegul Striped Cotton Shirt Dress ($175) Shegul Striped Cotton Shirt Dress $175 from coedition.com Buy Now & Other Stories Asymmetric Mini Shirt Dress Image Source: stories.com & Other Stories Asymmetric Mini Shirt Dress ($99) & Other Stories Asymmetric Mini Shirt Dress $99 from stories.com Buy Now MSGM Belted Shirt Dress Image Source: farfetch.com MSGM Belted Shirt Dress ($273, originally $390) MSGM Belted Shirt Dress $273 from farfetch.com Buy Now Watch Taylor Swift's "The Man" Music Video Celebrity FashionAward SeasonFashion ShoppingMTV VMAsDerek LamTaylor SwiftDresses