The Summer of Super-Fan Approved Concert Dress Codes

Theatrics are back, baby! Bring on the drama, leave the boring merch at home. After three years of slowly returning to normality, people just want to have FUN again. Campy, exciting, delicious fun. And nothing quite represents this like a super-fans commitment to concert dress etiquette. After years of isolation, it’s time to celebrate. 

Dressing up to go to a concert, and especially mirroring the artists’ aesthetics while doing so, isn’t novel by any means. The utmost dedication to the artist by a super-fan to turn a three-hour concert into an unforgettable spectacle, is one of the most beautiful things about the artist-fan relationship. It’s not just a night of performance, it’s a night of pure enjoyment, a night of community building between fans and performer. 

A few months ago, Tottenham Stadium did away with classic white football jerseys, and instead was inundated with silvery bodysuits, sequined cowboy hats, and a flurry of glitter, everywhere. Wembley Stadium was littered with feathers from neon boas, a mirage of pink, blue, green, and purple feathers blowing aimlessly across the venue. TikTok is brimming with Era’s Tour outfit ideas, from niche references, to particular lyrics, to complete homages, to Taylor’s different “eras,” or different album aesthetics (side note: if the US has been any example, any international Swifties better start planning their outfits… now). 

But even beyond these international, block-buster tours, even nicher artists have devoted fans with dress codes in mind. The ethereal Ethel Cain saw white, flowy dresses, something akin to frolicking across a prairie, and Christian iconography dotted around her fans. Boygenius was a slew of Skeleton costumes and stripped-from-promotional-photos outfits. More avant-garde artists looked straight out of Blade Runner, with rave aesthetics being brought into the modern light. Even the Grateful Dead’s new tour saw Deadheads, whether authentically or not, reviving the Deadhead aesthetic. 

It’s a testament to the super-fan, whose history is a long and curious one. The super-fan has been a cornerstone of the music industry, both economically and metaphorically. These fervent devotees, with their unwavering loyalty and boundless passion, have become driving forces for the success of their idols. With a new social media landscape, favouring a visual culture and providing a platform for fans to feel especially and personally connected to artists, concerts have turned into spectacles. 

Super-fans, or ‘stans’ more colloquially, began to change the way they functioned as a community in the 2000s on social media. They took on new powers and greater importance in how they, as opposed to traditional media outlets, could help their favourite acts become megastars. They gave themselves names (Taylor Swift’s Swifties, Nicki Minaj’s Barbs, Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters, BTS’s Army), and a myriad of memes, slangs, and complex codes of belonging. Outfit aesthetics are now apart of these complex, self-created behaviours and cultures, serving as the ultimate homage to an artist, visually representing the importance and fondness towards their work.  

The stans unite under a shared sartorial theme, enhancing the communal experience and creating a sense of belonging. This not only adds to the spectacle of the shows but also fosters a strong sense of camaraderie among the fans.

Even looking beyond music, the dual-blockbuster releases of Barbenheimer have, jointly, become the 4th biggest domestic weekend box office in the United States, with billions of ticket sales worldwide. A trend of seeing the two films, which couldn’t be any less alike, back-to-back was spurred across the internet, and (you already know) people came out in their best dress. Black, moody, vintage aesthetics were donned for Oppenheimer, with pea-coats and loafers abound. After a mid-movie costume change, a sea of Barbie-pink flooded cinemas, complete with cowboy boots, niche references to iterations of Barbie dolls, and even recreated looks already seen in the trailers. 

It’s all just so much fun. It’s turning what should be an average event, now less attainable with rising ticket prices, to an extravagant production in itself. It’s a performance by actors, musicians, and bands met with an equal performance by the fans who flock to see them, building a further sense of familiarity between artist and fan. 

The impact of super-fans reaches far beyond the realm of fandom fashion. Their unwavering support and massive followings have turned artists into cultural icons, influencing fashion trends, social media, and even politics. In a world where artists' every move is scrutinised and shared instantly, these dedicated fans serve as a powerful marketing force, driving album sales, concert attendance, and overall brand loyalty.

The rise of super-fans has redefined the entertainment industry, propelling artists to unparalleled heights and transforming the way we engage with popular culture. As they continue to shape and influence the landscape, one thing is for certain - the power of the super-fan is a force to be reckoned with and an enduring testament to the remarkable bond between artists and their adoring followers, and they'll be sporting their best outfits (think a Roman soldier going off to war) while doing it.