How to Navigate the Scene without Losing Sight of the Music
This summer marked some of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time, with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour racking in over $1 billion and Beyoncé’s following at nearly $580 million with The Renaissance Tour.
But money was not the only thing circulating at the venues. Fans worldwide were motivated to show up and dress out.
In response, clothing websites like NastyGal featured special “Eras Tour” and “Renaissance” collections, which generated over $100 million in sales.
The frenzy was nothing new. Pressure to dress for a concert started in the ’60s, dating back to fans dressing to mimic the Beatles, eventually with fans dressing to mimic genres such as punk, rock and goth.
In 2009, Carrie Brownstein, an American actress, musician and writer, wrote about her experience dressing for concerts. Although the article is 15 years old, it still speaks to the pressure to dress up for today’s concertgoers.
“In our youth, what we wore to shows acted as cultural signifiers. Our clothing exemplified and demonstrated our level of fandom, our knowledge of the artistic and social context from which the band or musician came, who we were, who our friends were and who we wanted to be, or, at least, what we wanted to be perceived as being,” she wrote.
Gillian Brown, a junior at the University of Minnesota, said social media has amplified dressing for today’s fashion. “It can be really fun to get dressed up, but it feels pressurized. I see people’s opinions on what fans wear on social media, judging them, and it really adds to what I think I want to wear,” she said.
“It doesn’t feel like a welcoming environment. Sometimes I just want to wear a hoodie or something,” Brown said.
So how can all of us concertgoers return to a non-judgmental space to dress up or down? How can we feel free enough to dress up when we want? Here are some tips.
- Join a fan base, embrace its love for music, creativity, and the overall concert experience, dress up, and go all out. Knowing your limits, finding outfits on a budget, thrifting new pieces, and spending wisely will add to the memorable experience of getting ready and being easy on your wallet.
- Creating mood boards or finding outfits online on websites like Pinterest allows you to create your own aesthetic to base outfits on. Spending a little time on your board can go a long way.
- Hitting thrift stores before the show can give you a unique look that is budget-friendly.
As concert fashion continues to evolve, fans face the challenge of balancing their desire for stylish expression with their love for the music. While social media and societal pressures may influence your choices, it’s essential to remember that the true nature of a concert lies in the shared experience of music.
Whether opting for a casual fit or embracing the opportunity to dress up, fans should prioritize comfort, enjoyment and personal expression. By balancing fashion and fanhood, you can create lasting memories without the unnecessary burden of societal expectations.
If dressing up for a show is taking a toll on your mind and time. Take Brownstein’s advice and be there for the memories; forget about the rest. “I often mistakenly think back on concerts as having been an experience between the music and me, when in fact the experience was more about my friends and me,” she wrote.
Dress down and embrace the space around you. The artist, their music, and your friends are why you go. Don’t let small things like an outfit drag you down.