The Intersection of Fashion and Music
Fluorescent boas, sequin tube tops, rhinestone-studded jeans, and glittery eye makeup characterize the unofficial uniform of eager audience members gathered in front of The Forum for Night 8 of 18 sold-out Harry Styles concerts in Los Angeles. Mega-fans and last-minute concert-goers alike, everyone had clearly understood the outfit memo. It’s not just Harry Styles fans that have subscribed to a flamboyant exhibition of color and aesthetic flair through concert fashion, though; the Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny, Pitbull, and KPop devout fan bases, to name a few, have too cultivated an affinity for crafting cohesively styled outfits for concerts. There is no doubt that in 2023, concert fashion began defining the fandom.
While fans have banded together to pay homage to their favorite artists for decades, the past few years have seen an incredible number of concertgoers of all ages and walks of life express a widespread devotion and collective reverence for these musicians, evidenced by the hours spent hot gluing gems onto jeans or beading stacks of personalized bracelets. Whether you’re embarking on a multi-day affair to Coachella or scoring tickets to the Eras Tour, hand-selecting or DIY-ing the perfect outfit has become one of, if not the most, exciting aspects of the concert-going experience.
The culture of concert fashion simultaneously interweaves a deep sense of freedom of expression, radical inclusivity and an inherent thematic consistency among audience members who draw inspiration from the artist’s personal style and musical genre. The looks range from something as simple as replicating Ariana Grande’s iconic little black dress, knee high boots, and high ponytail look to elaborate outfits referencing obscure lyrics or the artist’s own personal background. Fashion mirrors the themes and tones of music through powerful displays of color, material, and layered texture, with perhaps the most prominent example being the Eras Tour outfits that correlate with each of Taylor’s albums.
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-08-15/dress-code-at-a-concert-absolutely-if-youre-a-fan-of-taylor-swift-harry-styles-or-beyonce.html
Why is it that in 2014, average concertgoers were content with concert tour t-shirts and skinny jeans, but now choose to invest money and time into elaborate outfits? Some argue it’s social media’s grasp on Gen Z that has spurred this shift, with TikToks spreading inspiration and reinvigorating creative imagination. Although the concerts themselves cultivate a sense of togetherness among fans, it is the comradery and content-sharing across social media platforms that have promoted tight-knit bonds within fanbases. Social media channels generate hype among fans globally, featuring threads predicting Harry Styles's outfits for each concert and sharing crafty ideas for handmade attire.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/retail/2023/08/08/taylor-swift-friendship-bracelets-driving-michaels-sales/70549834007/
On a larger scale, concert fashion acts as a vessel for cultural movements. Fashion subculture trends have long reflected a timeline of music genres. From the hippie, bohemian looks of the 60s, punk rock in the 70s, Old Hollywood glamor, eccentricity of the 80s, to current couture concert dress, concert stages been transformed into runways. And they have also given brands like Oscar de la Renta, Louboutin, Balmain, and Alexander McQueen more relevant and relatable ways to appeal to younger consumers. While music can tell stories about personal experience, cultural background, and emotional state, fashion allows for stylistic autonomy by highlighting creativity and the nuances of one's personality. Both sensory stimulators, when fashion compliments music, the two work together to demonstrate more than just levels of fandom. In fact, they function to convey dynamic personal narratives. Music and fashion draw upon auditory and visual means to express how we view ourselves and enrich our personal image, from subculture affiliations to genre preferences. It is this fusion between the music that we listen to and the way we dress that creates an outward, material projection of our thoughts, emotions, and tastes, allowing for new relationships to form with people who share these identities.
Concert fashion presents a simple yet tangible way for the everyday listener to connect to the pop stars they turn to both during the more joyful moments in life and the darker ones, too. Beyond providing opportunities to express personal identities and connect with artists, concert fashion is critical in building community among fans. The joy and enthusiasm shared by an audience is grounded in their coordinated outfits, which create an undeniable feeling of closeness as fans prepare to scream their hearts out in unison.