The Lo Down: 8/13/26
Turns out, it wasn't just a phase...
Music, Fashion, Film
Music and going to concerts have been a massive part of my life for as long as I can remember. So many of my favorite memories with people I love have happened at concerts, and when I think back on different periods of my life, there’s almost always a concert attached to them. And then there are the truly ridiculous number of concert-related core memories I’ve collected over the years: seeing Phoenix at Lollapalooza for the first time with my cousins (and then seeing them four more times, bringing someone new with each time for their first Phoenix show); trying my first cigarette while watching the Red Hot Chili Peppers; holding Taylor Swift’s hand at her concert in 2009 (I know some of you bitches would go wild for that); unknowingly befriending a very famous actor at Lollapalooza one year and becoming convinced we were going to date; lying to my parents about my whereabouts so I could go to a concert hours away that I was explicitly not allowed to attend (I did get caught).
My oldest friend and I originally bonded over emo music in middle school (my parents were extremely concerned). We’d go to The Rave in Milwaukee and get roughed up in the pit at 13, 14, 15 years old. One of my core memories is seeing My Chemical Romance there in 2005: hair dyed black, heavy red and black eyeliner, one of our friends getting punched in the face because the pit got so rowdy. And yes, we were 13.
Which brings me to a very full-circle moment: 21 years later, I found myself at another My Chemical Romance concert.
I technically did fall out of the emo phase for awhile...or maybe it was just dormant. I’ve pulled out a performance or two of I’m Not Okay at karaoke over the years, but that was pretty much the extent of it. And honestly, there were a few years that I sort of fell out of touch with music and going to concerts in general.
But I’m feeling more connected to it this year than I have in a long time - even if it’s making me feel ancient that most of the concerts I’ve been to this year have been reunion/nostalgia tours (No Doubt, Hilary Duff, MCR). I’m truly still on such a high from seeing MCR. I don’t even know how to properly describe the feeling. It’s nostalgia mixed with happiness and excitement and this weird sense of community. And there’s something really freeing about screaming your head off for a couple of hours and not thinking about literally anything else. It feels like it unlocked a part of me that I didn’t realize I’d missed so much.
Which brings me, somewhat less sentimentally, to concert attire.
I can’t quite identify when concerts became events that require Halloween-level outfits, but it’s been Trisha Paytas-level cosplay at every concert I’ve been to recently. And while I geniunely love that for other people, it’s really not my vibe. I want to dress for the occasion too, but I still want to look and feel like myself. I usually just take some element of the artist/era/general vibe and work it into an outfit I’d otherwise actually wear. I want to be on theme, but I don’t want to look like I’m auditioning to join the tour.
I always start by digging through my closet to see what I already own that could work. Maybe it’s a color, a vintage tee, a sparkly eyeshadow in the back of the cabinet that I have no use for in my daily life. You likely already have something in your closet that works - you just have to look at it through the lens of wherever you’re going. I’d much rather buy one thing to fill in the gap than start from scratch for every event.
That being said, here are some of the outfits I’ve worn to recent concerts and how I pulled them together:
My Chemical Romance:
I knew that my favorite (and slightly spooky) oversized MM6 Maison Margiela tee was the core piece of the outfit. To amp up the edge, I dusted off my Pamela Love spike earrings & threw on a black choker.
Hilary Duff:
This was essentially the same outfit that I wore to the Addison concert last year. This old Alexander Wang tank screams Y2K - it’s one of those pieces that I don’t wear normally, but keep for occasions like this. The butterfly hair clips, courtesy of the girl sitting behind me at the concert, really made the outfit.
No Doubt:
This dress, from Marc Jacobs ‘Redux Grunge’ 1993/2018 collection, was the perfect piece in my closet to channel the 90s while still being ‘me’. Layering the tshirt under the dress and adding the bold silver jewelry + bag chain were the perfect accessories to match the vibe.
Planning ahead: I got this vintage Prada shirt from Past Studies in Chicago and knew instantly that I needed to wear it to the upcoming Harry Styles show. I’m still figuring out how I want to style it, though - maybe with these Kallmeyer silk shorts that I have? Any thoughts/opinions, pls drop a comment.
And as always, if there’s a concert or event coming up that you have no idea what to wear to, drop a comment or send me an email. I’ve got you!
Side note: I know I called this ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ and I didn’t write anything about film, but just wanted to make a reference to Charli’s new album. If you did want to hear about movies, though, I did see Spider-Man: Brand New Day last week, and it was great. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
On My Radar
The Apollo Bagels Tribeca-exclusive Saturday bagel: corn butter + tomato (Saturday 8/15, 9am-sold out)
Frenzie, a late night spot for wine & pizza in Brooklyn Heights
Bar Etienne, a new spot in the West Village from the Bar Valentina team
I think I mentioned Keepers awhile back, but it’s finally open now
Elder, a new British-Indian restaurant near Hudson Yards
Until next week -
xo
Lo
But seriously the Alexander Wang top for Hilary is soooo cute
A Trisha Paytas shoutout!