Taylor Swift cardiganWatch at the source

A dreamy, introspective ballad, “cardigan” serves as the lead single from Taylor Swift’s surprise eighth studio album, *folklore*. Released on July 24, 2020, the song explores themes of lost love and nostalgia through the lens of a fictional character named Betty. The self-directed music video, filmed on a soundstage in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic, features Swift journeying through three symbolic settings—a candlelit cabin, a moss-covered forest, and a stormy sea—representing the phases of a relationship. The production adhered to strict health protocols, with Swift handling her own styling and makeup. The video’s ethereal, cottagecore aesthetic complements the song’s melancholic tone.