Style Inspired by Styles: How Artists Inspire their Fans’ Fashion
Graphic by Agnes Lee.
In late September I waited in line outside the United Center in Chicago, eagerly anticipating Harry Styles’ “Love on Tour” performance. I had initially bought my tickets to see Styles when I was a senior in high school, and now, two years later, it was finally happening. I could feel the anticipation vibrating through the crowd of adoring fans, all decked out in feather boas and sequins. It felt like I was at the Met Gala, and the theme was Harry Styles.
The extravagance of the crowd’s attire was partially due to the postponement of Styles’ tour. The more time it took for the tour to begin, the more time fans had to plan outfits that best emulated the artist. Many took inspiration from his past performance looks by wearing colorful suits, cardigans, pearl jewelry and sparkles. Some shared their outfits with the rest of the fandom on TikTok using the hashtag #hslotoutfit. This trend became so widespread that the hashtag garnered over 37 million views in the U.S. with over 7,000 videos published from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30, 2021, according to data from TikTok. [cq]
Throughout his career, Styles has undergone a significant fashion evolution, from sporting simple t-shirts to becoming the face of Gucci. His stylist, Harry Lambert, recognized that Styles' fashion has become a means of expression for him [cq]. Because Styles isn’t very public about his personal life, fashion serves as a window into his personality for his listeners. Lambert usually dresses Styles in vintage ‘70s inspired pieces that blur gender norms by combining glam-rock and camp, including flowing bright colors, sparkles and sometimes even dresses, and fans have taken note. By emulating his fashion, fans can feel closer both to Styles and each other.
Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Reddit, L’Officiel, Yahoo!Movies, Dazed, Twitter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nerds & Beyond
Photo courtesy of Vogue
Styles is not the first artist to connect with and challenge fans to push boundaries and express themselves through fashion. For years, artists have been bending gender lines and inspiring fans to be their most confident selves with their outfit choices. With his frilly shirts, high heeled boots, and luscious curly locks, Prince started a conversation around sexuality and acceptance that continues to this day. Prince is a known influence on designers like Versace and Tommy Hilfger, as well as artists like Frank Ocean and Justin Bieber.
Stevie Nicks is another artist who has made her style an essential part of her brand. Nicks created a persona around her many shawls, top hats, flowing chiffon and lace dresses, platform boots and ethereal jewelry. Her stage presence complements her music, and it has allowed her to stand out in the industry. Designers like Anna Sui and clothing brands like Gypsy Moon constantly pull from Nicks's style as a source of inspiration for handkerchief hems, shawls or top hats. Like Styles, Nicks's fans emulate her fashion choices when dressing for her concerts. Some fans arrive in top hats, others in moon shaped pendants.
Photo courtesy of Vogue
Photo courtesy of Viva
And who can forget David Bowie, another artist who consistently played with gender as he reinvented himself, moving from androgynous to feminine to more masculine looks. Bowie helped invent glam rock in his Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane eras with various unitards and loud prints-, a style of fashion that has remained an inspiration to generations of music lovers and contemporary artists, including Styles. He encouraged his fans to be proud of who they are, whether that be in silver latex or blue jeans. Bowie also inspired many fashion designers, including Yamato, Hedi Slimane and Alexander McQueen, who brought Bowie’s pizzazz to the runway.
At the Harry Styles concert, I was in awe of the fashion around me. Feathers littered the floor, and the air was filled with glitter. I built my personal #hslotoutfit around a pair of bright pink jeans inspired by Styles’ colorful fashion. I paired them with a faux leather black crop top with matching black boots. In any other setting, I would’ve stuck out like a sore thumb in my bold outfit, but at "Love on Tour," I felt at home in my fashion choices. While Styles is already a fantastic performer, the style at the show fostered a sense of community that made the concert all the more memorable.
