Brightly colored feathers, sequins, and loose holographic glitter. The energy of screaming teenage girls radiates off remnants of bright pink boas and the echoes of Harry Styles’ closing song, “Kiwi,” fill the air. A Gen-Z ghost town. I’ve never been to a Harry Styles concert, but this is how I imagine the stadium floor looks once it's deserted. The typical “Love on Tour” concert-goer wears a crop top, funky-colored flared bottoms, a matching feathered boa, and accessories such as go-go boots and heart sunglasses. There must be some rulebook for his shows, because those out of uniform stick out. Nowadays, closets aren’t the first place people look for outfit inspiration; people want to wear this uniform to prove their loyalty to the artist and their fellow fans. In short, the “Harry Stylesfication” of concert outfits has turned concert fashion elitist.

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated fans as concerts were postponed by lockdown protocols. Consequently, many teenagers became engrossed in social media to escape reality. New trends were rapidly fabricated, despite the lack of in-person events to attend. On the other hand, music’s status as a form of escapism helped musicians garner popularity. The revival of live music brought new opportunities for concertgoers to show off their styles. People turned to TikTok to post their pre-concert “get ready with me” videos (or GRWMs), where they would flaunt their uniforms: sequin-encrusted crop tops and swirly-patterned flared bottoms. As concert GRWMs were boosted through TikTok’s ever-changing algorithm, the ideal concert fit became highly coveted. Aleiagh Hynds, ‘24, a visual media arts major and concert photographer, notes this change in concert attire. She says, “It’s definitely a lot of fast fashion. People will usually wear the dominant trend and stuff we used to associate with like ‘basic girls’ and sorority girls.” This shift is primarily associated with the desire to maintain a social media presence. Hynds comments, “Fast fashion crowds treat shows as a place to show off and take pictures (rather) than a safe space to enjoy live music.” On TikTok, the hashtag “#HSLOToutfit” has 387.8 million views and contains various fast-fashion-filled fit checks. Each video is polished and fashioned to look aesthetically pleasing in hopes of going viral. During Harry’s residency at Madison Square Garden, my Instagram feed was full of people posing under the “Love on Tour” sign. I didn't even realize these people were Harry Styles fans!

Taylor Swift’s past tours showcase the stark contrast between concert fashion then and now. DIY outfits were the norm; concertgoers would wear homemade “Junior Jewels'' shirts inspired by the “You Belong With Me” music video or they would build outfits inspired by various song references such as old ladies holding a sign that said “the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now,” referencing Swift’s song, “Look What You Made Me Do.” The more creative the outfit, the more likely you would get selected by Taylornation to meet her.

When attending the “Red” Tour, my friends and I wore matching DIY outfits. We bought red sequins, glitter glue, and a tacky red hair extension because loving him wasn’t the only thing that was red, so was a chunk of my hair. The crowd wasn’t a sea of colorful feathers. I took solace in knowing the only matching accessory in the stadium was the complementary bracelet that lit up with Swift’s songs.

Besides concert ‘fits being repetitive, other issues must be considered. Most, if not all, outfits are from fast-fashion sites like SHEIN or ZARA, and the litter from the accessories isn't biodegradable. It also places a significant strain on the employees at each venue. Hynds addresses this and states, “A lot more thought could go into these outfit choices; from an environmental standpoint: fast fashion isn’t good, and from a respect standpoint: employees shouldn’t have to clean up after you because you were shedding feathers all night.” Next time you pick your concert outfit, try something new, not only to be different, but as a sign of respect for those who have to clean up the glitter and feathers that you leave behind.

"There's a Piece of You in How I Dress:" The Stylesfication of Concert Culture