Concert-Core: the Unofficial Dress code of the Modern Live Show

Mid-August of 2022, the streets of Toronto were flooded by an extravagant and colourful mob. The feathers from thousands of boas lined the halls of Union Station and into the Scotiabank Arena, later collected into corners and amassed in rainbowed piles. “Harry Styles Concerts Are His Fans’ Met Gala,” wrote Maura Brannigan in Fashionista magazine, a statement which rings true when witnessing the unofficial, yet undeniable, dress code of Harry Styles: Love On Tour.

 
 

The modern-day concert has turned into the ultimate themed party, with fans decking themselves in exaggerated outfits and costumes to immerse themselves in the show experience. Harry Styles fans are easily spotted in their bright colours, cowboy hats, and glitter, embracing the campiest of styles to match Styles’ own extravagant outfits. Styles himself embraces his fans’ dedication, even occasionally gifting feather boas to entire lucky audiences.

Styles is not the only prevalent example, as no artist has been excluded from the concert-core phenomenon. Every fanbase has seemingly cultivated their own unofficial theme and aesthetic to match that of their favourite music. TikToks and other social media posts rack up millions of views and likes, some featuring creators’ own concert looks, while others provide creative lookbooks to inspire other fans. The informal dress codes are largely informed by artists’ iconic looks, and of course, the music itself. Taylor Swift fans have perfected this concept, matching their attire to each differing theme of her world tours. Their elaborate costumes have been recognized as early as 2009, featured in the Fearless World Tour concert movie. The 1975 tour, At Their Very Best, has caused a modernized resurgence of Tumblr grunge fashion, circa 2014. I attended the show last December, entering the venue only to be transported back in time, lost in a sea of chunky black boots, leather, and reinventions of Matty Healy’s iconic suit look.

 
 

The concert-core sensation extends to events such as music festivals. Coachella made festival fashion infamous, bringing out the best of celebrities, influencers, and fans alike. Some of the festival’s most memorable fashion moments come from public figures such as Vanessa Hudgens, named Queen of Coachella back in 2013 for her boho-chic styles which dominated festival fashion at the time. Like solo artist shows, varying festivals demand different dress codes. EDM events, such as Veld or EDC, inspire neon colours, glow sticks, and body glitter. Country festivals, like Boots and Hearts or Stagecoach, call for cowboy hats and bandanas.

 
 

Music has long informed fashion and vice versa. The live show is just one of many venues through which artists are able to inspire and evoke creativity in their audience.  Artists use costumes to help communicate details and themes derived from their music. Their looks are often specifically tailored to evoke a certain response and understanding in viewers. Fans do the same, using fashion as a means to express their attachment to the music. Most of all, it’s fun. Some fans choose carefully cultivated outfits, while others aim for the craziest costumes they can think of. There is no pressure, no expectations. At its heart, concert-core reflects fans voluntarily expressing themselves and their love for the music. The connection between artists and fans is evident in the immersive culture of concerts, the sense of community emphasized through the shared styles of the crowd. Music and fashion alike can inspire a closeness between even strangers, and the relationship between the two mediums continues to evolve.

Nicole Dancey