Faces + Spaces: Music Festivals
Two Northwestern student’s style at festivals is dynamic as the music itself
When the snow finally melts from the trees and spring starts to creep onto Northwestern’s campus, students begin to talk about all things Dillo Day. This year, Dillo Day, produced by Mayfest Productions, will take place on May 30. It is the largest student-run music festival in the country and draws more than 10,000 attendees each year. Students always speculate about the artists who might appear on the lineup, but it’s just as common to hear them discuss what they are going to wear.
Many students begin the task of planning their Dillo fit weeks or even months before the annual event. This is emblematic of a larger trend in the U.S. where concert and festival goers invest a large amount of time and money into their outfits. As such, these events become distinctive sites where music and fashion are completely interlinked.
Bienen senior Noelle Torres attends concerts and festivals across the country, and Torres said they act as unique hubs for self expression through fashion. She said she’s noticed different genres of music cater to different styles and that even the artists experiment with their looks.
“I definitely think fashion and music are really super intertwined,” Torres said. “Whether it’s like artist merch or music videos, they have a direct influence on each other.”
For instance, when Torres saw the artist Flume perform at Lollapalooza, he wore an astronaut suit that corresponded with the show’s music and visuals. She said his outfit made the show more of an experience and exemplified how music can be conducive to self expression through fashion.
Before Torres attends a show she creates mood boards and Pinterest boards to help curate her looks. Her favorite outfit she’s put together recently was a yellow jumpsuit that she wore to Lollapalooza.
“I definitely spend a lot of time on it. I went to Ultra this past year, and my friends and I actually made powerpoints to share with each other,” Torres said. “For big festivals like Ultra or...BUKU in New Orleans, that takes, I’d say several months in advance, also because I’m just excited for the trip itself. For like a concert that’s coming up or just one that’s here in Chicago, it’s normally just like the week of, more short term.”
Weinberg sophomore Gavin Parisi also puts together his outfits about a month before he attends a festival or concert.
Since music is a source of inspiration for a lot of people, Gavin feels it can encourage them to channel the inspiration through what they wear. Additionally, he believes that social media has also been a strong driving force behind concert wear culture.
“If you just look at the people who post pictures from Coachella, or really any music festival, it’s a huge outlet for fashion now,” Parisi said. “Social media has made people want to try harder to look good or express themselves through fashion because of the image that’s perpetuated.”
In fact, some clothing brands have even begun to sponsor celebrities that attend music festivals. For instance, model Kendall Jenner, model Emily Ratajkowski, and actress Shay Mitchell have posted several photos from Coachella that were sponsored by the clothing brand Revolve.
Other brands like Calvin Klein, SHEIN, Sephora, Dote, and NYX Cosmetics also utilized Instagram influencers to their advantage and sponsored dozens of posts. The fact that brands are actively trying to curate their presence at concerts and festivals is indicative of just how interconnected music and fashion truly are.
In essence, these venues are conducive to self expression through fashion because they foster environments where attendees are inspired and driven to look their best. Though different genres cater to different styles and some outfits require more planning than others, it is clear that concerts and festivals are spaces where music and fashion are uniquely symbiotic.