Concerts: The Land of Fashion Freedom
It is no secret that people go all out when dressing for concerts. Alongside the pounding music and flashing lights, is room for fashion experimentation. Concert-goers, now more than ever, are showing an extensive amount of planning and impressive level of commitment to their outfits. While fashion has always been a pillar of concert culture, attendees have reached a new level, crafting their own pieces that capture the essence of the event and express a shared love for their idols.
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest concerts in the last few years.
Courtesy of Kayla Hockman on Instagram
One of the most outstanding examples of concert fashion is at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Fans wear outfits based on every niche reference imaginable. Many Swifties chose to base their outfits around a specific album from Taylor’s discography. Kayla Hoffman, a fan in attendance at the opening night of the Eras Tour, wore a sparkly pink and red dress resembling that which Taylor wore in her “Me!” music video.
Courtesy of Hashtag Magazine
Other fans drew inspiration from iconic symbols in Swift's career. Two fans going to the Eras Tour in Detroit built their own outfits to dress as Taylor’s “Wonderstruck” perfume and a disco ball, a reference to the song “mirrorball” on the Folklore album. There is no limit to the creativity showcased at today’s biggest concert.
Olivia Rodirgo’s “Guts” tour recently kicked off and fans have already set a precedent for the fashion expected at this event. Rodrigo is best known for her pop-punk style, and attendees have tapped into her lookbook for inspiration, wearing pieces such as short sparkly skirts and chunky black boots. Two fans, Nabelee Aregbe and Sarai Parks, pictured to the right above, matched their outfits to those that Olivia wears on stage.
Courtesy of Chern Xin on Instagram
Other fans chose to make reference to songs from Rodrigo’s discography. Chern Xin, while attending opening night of the Guts tour, based her outfit on the lyrics “light as a feather,” from Olivia’s song “all-american bitch.”
Courtesy of AZCentral
Beyoncé fans shined at last year’s “Renaissance” tour, donning the silver and black tones seen on her album cover. Markell Dorsett and Miguel Gutierrez, pictured above, stuck out with their impeccable use of rhinestones and shimmer. Cowboy hats adorned thousands of fans' heads, paying homage to Beyoncé's roots in Houston, Texas.
Courtesy of The New Yorker
Harry Styles made headlines several years ago for his feminine style and bold concert attire and his fans swiftly matched the precedent he set for fashion. Emre Sevindik and Ashley Arellano, while attending Styles’ 2022 concert at Madison Square Garden, replicated the classic bold T-shirt and high rise pant combo that Harry often wore on stage. Tons of fun accessories, like feather boas and bold beaded necklaces, became staples at ‘Love on Tour.”
Courtesy of 303 Magazine
Following the trends we have seen thus far, Sza fans emulated the artist's personal style and concert wardrobe when attending her 2023 concert. Many people chose to stick to warm and neutral tones, which Sza is often found wearing on the day-to-day. Others chose bolder looks, leaning into the retro styles that the artist takes inspiration from. Two fans attending the Denver show back in October opted for denim on denim, matching one of the outfits Sza wore on stage.
Courtesy of trinitylynnh on Pinterest
Some fans take inspiration from their idols’ styles very seriously. During Ptbull’s 2022 “Can’t Stop Us Now Tour,” it became a trend to dress as pitbull, complete with sunglasses, sharpied goatees, and bald caps.
Music and fashion are expressions of identity. So, naturally, when they are combined, we see creativity flourish. When attending a concert, fans often choose to stick to a common theme, as we have seen while observing the variety of styles across concerts in the last few years. Each individual puts their own twist on it, and as a result, these events turn into fashion shows reimagined. Concerts present the perfect opportunity to dress up and wear that risky item that has been sitting in your closet! Chances are, there will be plenty of other people wearing their own unique outfits.
Featured Image Courtesy of Grunge