The Art of the Tour Outfit

By | Sydney Stevenson

Cowboy hats for Beyonce, hair bows for Sabrina Carpenter, and neon green for Charli XCX. Nowadays, concerts have become a runway, complete with specially crafted dress codes and themes. Similar to planning for their birthdays and vacations, fans have begun planning their outfits to see their favorite artists months in advance. Scanning through Pinterest for inspiration, spending hours combing through clothing websites, and sometimes spending hundreds–yes, hundreds – of dollars on their final outfits. So, why do people take dressing up for concerts so seriously, and when did this phenomenon begin?

The concept of dressing up for music shows can be traced back to the counterculture movement of the 1960s, influenced by artists such as David Bowie, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and more. During this era, artists began strategically developing brands to accompany their music, which included the artists’ style and aesthetic. This not only helped the artist craft a persona, but also aided in the artists’ relatability to their audiences. Young people heavily identified with musical artists during these formative years. For many, music represented an escape from their mundane lives and offered a window into something greater. So, fans began to adapt the aesthetics of their favorite artists. Wearing colorful velvet pantsuits like the Supremes, long fur coats like Janis Joplin, and leather jackets like the Rolling Stones. Concerts became an outlet for people to express themselves in ways they may not have gotten the opportunity to otherwise, and allowed them to further connect with the artists they were watching. 

This sentiment was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. With people stuck at home with limited outlets of self-expression, many began to experiment with their sense of style. When quarantines were finally lifted, fans were eager to implement these new styles into their everyday outfits as well as their outfits for special occasions, especially concerts. Fans have also gone as far as fully replicating outfits worn by an artist. During the second weekend of Beyoncé’s infamous 2017 Coachella performance, the singer pointed out a fan sitting front row who had recreated her iconic yellow hoodie and ripped-shorts look from the previous weekend. Mid-song, she exclaimed, “How did you do that so fast? She has on my outfit, y’all!”

Whether you want to create a perfect replica of your favorite singers’ wardrobe, sew an original outfit, or buy one online, there are an endless number of options for what you can wear at your next tour stop. Above all, be yourself and don’t subject yourself to anything you are uncomfortable with for the sake of aesthetics. Speaking from experience, don’t wear cowboy boots to see Beyoncé just because everyone else is. Your feet will hurt.