What Should I Wear to a Concert?

[ICanBuyMyOwnBooks]

I'm going to a gig with young teen DC. I'm in my 40s but don't want to look like the mum in the corner. I'd rather channel a Chrissie Hynde adjacent look. --I wish I looked like Chrissie!--

I've recently lost lots of weight so need new jeans, and a new jacket , anyway. I'm size 12/10 bottoms and size 8/10 in tops. I was thinking of jeans, boots (I have nice knee-high boots and also biker boots). Maybe a biker jacket or blazer?

I don't want to look over-dressed and also don't want to look dowdy. Help!

What gig is it? Indoor or out? Seating or standing?
Unless you feel the cold a lot I can't imagine you're going to want big boots and a jacket at a busy gig.

Is it Beethoven or slipknot?

Jeans grey t-shirt white runners. Denim ir leather jacket, have a great time

Think edgy, young, guitar-heavy band. Venue is inside - mainly standing (although there are some seats at the side but I doubt I'll be able to persuade DC to sit down!). I do tend to feel cold but was also thinking pockets would be handy for phone, car keys, etc. Although I have a belt bag which I could take instead.

I do have a denim jacket and runners. What type of jeans? I'm hankering for a pair of wide-leg jeans but haven't been able to find any I like.

I'm in my 40s but don't want to look like the mum in the corner. I'd rather channel a Chrissie Hynde adjacent look.

<Pictures 1000 identically dressed mothers>

You could get a completely unfussy dress from somewhere like:

Alexandra Golovanoff

American Vintage

Raey @ Matches

depending on your budget and inclination. (There are new ways to look cool …)

Unless you turn up in something wildly inappropriate - e.g a full ballgown or something incredibly skimpy from Annie Ibiza (both of which would be equally bonkers for Beethoven or Slipknot or a an edgy, young, guitar-heavy band) literally nobody will notice. Wear the casual clothes you'd normally wear.

I personally don't like belt bags - they've got paranoid tourist or for collecting money at fairground attractions or deckchair hire vibes. A small cross body bag - one of those intended for just phone, card and keys is fine. Loads of brands.

Wear a jacket that you can take off and tie round your waist if you're standing and it gets hot.

Well OP could wear those Raey dresses but in most of them she'd look very overdressed. Although I agree that if she wants to avoid "mum in a corner" avoiding, rather than channelling, Chrissy Hynde, is probably a good idea.

Jeans, tshirt, hoodie that you can tie around your waist and a cross body bag.

The choice of t-shirt is your statement!!

Wrong side of the bed this morning, @NatashaDancing?

The OP wants a spell of alt-reality, where she isn’t one of many million 40 plus mothers of teen daughters but A Person In Her Own Right. She wants to buy something new, not shop her wardrobe. And if she did want a Raey dress, I credit her with enough discernment to wear one of the very casual looking cotton t shirt dresses (some gratifyingly reduced in price) rather than a silk gown …

People will probably disagree, but jeans (not wide leg but that loose fit looks good) and a band T-shirt (any band you like past or present. If you don’t like band tshirts a mock turtle neck tshirt sllebes could look good. Dark coloured runners (because light colours are bound to get dirty) are good but depends on the Jean style. Some runners look shite with jeans. Laced up ankle boots or black plain brogues might be better. And find a hairstyle that helps you look a bit edgy for the occasion - nothing too edgy but a little but edgy (most unhelpful I know), and some earrings that will glitter in any lighting - but not chandelier type. Some good eye makeup - believe it or not , Kate Middleton’s eye make up at last Earthshot awards was pretty good/a little different. Just make sure it’s not eyeliner or mascara that will run if you sweat etc.. And wear a cross body bag for sure. I think a leather jacket would get way too hot at indoors concert. I’m not sure what type of jacket, but as someone else suggested, something you can tie around your waste if you need to.

*a mock turtle neck sleeveless tshirt or elbow length sleeved tshirt.

Cross body bag, make sure you check the bag size rules though some are quite severe.
Very comfortable shoes or boots for all the standing.
Comfortable casual clothes.

I do wonder sometimes if posters really don't get out much. The venue will be something like the Barrowlands or the Corn Exchange or Koko or the Electric Ballroom or Brudenell Social Club or the Manchester Academy or any other generic standing gig venue.

It'll be crowded and dark when the support and the band are on, there will be people buying pints in plastic glasses. No one will notice what the OP or anyone else is wearing. Unless it's a band which attracts dressed up fans (and from the description it doesn't sound like it)
I can't think of an event with less opportunity for dressing up and being A Person in Their Own Right.

We all know no one else will care what the OP wears!

But she does. She‘s posted a thread about it. She wants to be satisfied with her image in the mirror before she leaves the house. Where’s the harm in that?

No one’s suggesting she should ‘dress up.’

Her stated aim is not to look like all the other mothers with their teenage daughters. She will in jeans and a jacket - though that is a perfectly acceptable outfit for a gig. So I suggested something else. It’s more than likely that as the rest of the thread unanimously advocates for ‘jeans & …’ that that is what the OP will opt for. It doesn’t matter a jot to anyone else, either on this thread or at the venue.

Jeans and a band t-shirt. Not the band you are seeing though (unless it’s a metal band, in which case it’s ok to match the t-shirt to the gig).

Comfortable, and I cannot emphasise this enough, comfortable shoes. I go to a lot of gigs and will wear Docs or trainers - you’ll have the 2-3 hours standing/dancing at the gig (esp. if there’s a support act) and depending on the size of the crowd it could take an hour to walk to/get in and out of the venue. If it’s a smaller gig (e.g. a local town hall/theatre size) then it’s not such an issue, but if it is a Harry Styles/The Killers/Beyoncé style gig then be prepared to be on your feet for up to 6-7 hours.

I like to dress up a bit because it’s part of the occasion and I like to look like I’ve made a bit of an effort, so I’ll normally wear something like a dress and blazer/casual jacket, or cigarette pants and a plain t-shirt. Jeans are too warm for me, but I am menopausal 😁 I’ll normally take a small cross body bag as I jump around a lot and keys would likely fall out of my pocket! Either way, you will have a blast - layer and wear stuff you can tie round your waist. If it is outdoors bring a pacamac type thingy.

@NatashaDancing your ability to be sneery in almost every thread is quite a skill.
Your posting style comes across as you're the style queen and all should bow to you.

It's often unpleasant.

Ironically I actually worked in fashion for years. Sneering is the domain of those firmly on the fringes not the style queens. Such a joyless approach! 😉

Oh …

No thoughts on what you might wear, @ICanBuyMyOwnBooks ?

I go to gigs in my own right. I also have teen daughters and am in my 40s (just for another year anyway). I sympathise with the what to wear dilemma. I have many many band t shirts and jeans and boots and trainers. I often end up in a dress at gigs though. Generally charity shop buys, or vintage style new dresses. I am tall and fat so dresses work better.

For you and your dress size jeans and t shirt will be good, add a nice casual shirt (cheesecloth or cotton tailored slightly but not tight) some interesting jewellery and a nice cross body bag (I have a lovely vintage leather bag which fits all I need for a night out). Don't over iron , keep your hair loose, shiny and slightly tussled. You will be fine.

I had a great time taking my then 16 yo DD to her first gig last year. We were in Brick Lane so had a curry as well, she got her record signed by the band, and it was lovely to see her so excited by the experience. I didn't think about what I was wearing and actually can't remember what I wore now.

@FlemCandango

That sounds like a lovely night out with your daughter. :)

I never have luck buying at charity shops now. I’ve been various sizes of fat over the the past 5 years and I can’t find anything in those stores.

Before putting on weight I’d often score a good second hand dress. Or shirt.

Can I ask where you buy your vintage style new dresses?

TIA

Mid 50s here. My usual gig ‘uniform’ is skintight black leather trousers, high heeled ankle boots to match whatever current heel fashion is or my old classic high heeled boots which are at least 20 years old. I take a pair of flats to change into if I’m going to be dancing. The top depends on the band, a black vest top for most bands or something ridiculously sparkly for more fun stuff. I have a couple of classic jackets, or leather biker to wear to the venue. I choose not to wear band T-shirts. Every 40+ seems to wear jeans plus band T-shirt (looking at the Duranies here!) Do you want to blend in or stand out (for the right reasons) I prefer to wear something that makes me stand out, so for a goth or metal band I might wear all white…..

Yes I noticed it on another thread, sneering about people's choice of boots

I mostly wear jeans, they're just easy. If I wear a dress it's a shorter one because long dresses get trodden on and covered in beer. I use a sling bag as it's small and easy to keep track of.

And another thread sneering about people’s choice of language 🤣 Not the nicest or most helpful poster.

Anyway, OP, I’d say start from footwear as you want something comfortable and then build up from there. I’d also consider if you’re standing or seated, how big the venue is, whether you need to travel and so on. Do you have a favourite item you’d feel good in and you can build an outfit around? You mention you need new clothes anyway so maybe you could buy something that you could wear to this but would also get worn for evenings out doing other stuff? I would wear similar to a gig as to the pub - something like flatform converse, wide leg trousers or jeans and a top tucked in.