As the weather warms up, you might find yourself planning to enjoy some live shows. Let’s talk about what to wear to a concert in summer for guys.
Is there anything better than going to a live show during the summer? That and heading to the beach are my two favorite warm-weather pastimes. Autumn tailgates can be hit-or-miss, as some days are just too cold to be outside. Meanwhile, spring simply equals allergies.
Still, knowing what to wear to a summer concert can be tricky. This is especially so for guys — ladies look great in a sundress indoors and outdoors.
You might be headed to an air-conditioned stadium. Or perhaps you’re going to an outdoor music festival.
I once thought I’d be okay with a cotton button-down and chino shorts at Coachella. Long story short, I ended up sweating half my body weight off. This is particularly bad when you’ve been day-drinking for hours.
Don’t make the same mistake I did. Combine style with practicality with some of these best practices for summer concert outfits.
What To Wear to a Summer Concert: Things To Consider
When you’re putting together a concert outfit, here are all of the things to consider.
Don’t be intimidated. Not all of these will be relevant at once. And at the end of the day, once you’ve decided which is the most relevant, most things fall into place.
Consider Place
First, where and when is the concert?
I’m mainly talking indoors versus outdoors here, which is obviously related to weather. If it’s during the day, in the middle of July, you want loose, breathable clothes.
If it’s indoors or in the evening, I’m going to echo your mother right now. Wear layers. Bring a light piece of outerwear that you can hold or put on your shoulders if it gets warm, and put it on if it gets cool.
You never know how air-conditioned an indoor venue is going to be or how windy the evening can get.
Remember It Depends on the Concert Type
Next, what kind of concert is it?
When I lived in LA, where I was born, I loved going to outdoor concerts. I still do, but it was truly a way of life there.
However, classical music at the Hollywood Bowl has a different vibe than Coachella. Sure, there aren’t usually strict dress codes for outdoor events. But don’t you want to be respectful of the atmosphere and look like a well-adjusted adult?
Relatedly, how long is the concert?
A music festival might last all day. So again, you’ll need a modular outfit that can accommodate changing temperatures.
Ask “What Else Will I Be Doing That Day?”
And finally, are you doing anything before or after?
If you’re going to a rock concert and then out to dinner somewhere fairly nice, you don’t want to show up in ripped jeans. It might fly in the former but not in the latter.
Despite all of the variables, it’s fairly easy also to make sure your style is taken into account.
Outdoor Festivals and Summer Concert Outfits
Again, the possibility of outdoor shows is one-way summer concerts, which are different from concerts the rest of the year. So, let’s start with that!
Formal and Smart Outdoor Concerts
Sometimes, but rarely, an outdoor concert calls for formal wear.
Weddings can take place outdoors, and there’s usually dancing at the reception. The mix of practical needs and respecting a dress code means there’s a lot of overlap.
More common than truly formal outdoor concerts are smart casual and cocktail ones.
These can be fun to navigate because you can explore patterns and colors you wouldn’t usually — pastels, maybe? Think of summer as a safe space.
Your secret weapon here is the summer suit. A light-colored, usually linen, suit that’s comfortable, lightweight, and easy to move in. So yes, you can still dance in it if you’re at a pop concert.
Heck, you can even experiment with looser fits since summer is all about comfort. Just make sure the shoulders fit well and the trousers taper, even if just a bit.
Depending on how “smart” the concert is, you might just wear the suit jacket or perhaps go for a broken suit.
And if you want to keep cool and look like an off-duty James Bond, I highly recommend camp or Cuban collars. They’re summery and classic but might be a touch whimsical outside of the summer season.
Day-Time Casual
Does a casual outdoor concert mean you can just go in a T-shirt and jeans? Actually, yes.
But make sure they’re properly fitted, neat, and in an appropriate palette. For example, you don’t want to go to a hardcore goth rock concert in a pastel pink shirt.
Short-sleeve button-downs and polos are great ways to level up your casual outfit. They add structure but never look out of place, even in the most relaxed dress codes.
A knit polo is effortless, light, and comfortable. A pique polo is more country club-related. However, cinched-hem polos combine structure with a loose, relaxed aesthetic.
Remember, concerts are all about having fun. That palm tree-themed button-up that you were scared to rock during a pub crawl? Perfectly appropriate for an outdoor daytime concert.
I have a pair of chino shorts with anchors on them that I wear with boat shoes. I only wear them on two occasions: When I’m actually on a boat and when I’m at an outdoor, casual concert.
Speaking of shoes, low-profile white leather
Multi-Day Music Festivals
Are you headed out of town for a multi-day music festival? More often than not, you’ll want to pack two outfits per day. This is particularly important if the concerts last from morning into the evening.
To make it easy, consider planning a daytime outfit and a nighttime outfit. Trust me. If it’s the middle of the summer and you’re running around from set to set and band to band, you will get sweaty.
In the hottest situations, sometimes you can’t do more than a light tank top and swimming shorts.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with summer festival outfits, though. Choose your favorite colors, accessorize with a stylish watch, and put on your best sunglasses. When you don’t have much choice garment-wise, it’s all about the accessories and colors.
The most important accessory, by the way? Sunscreen (followed closely by deodorant).
Dressing Thematically
There are two kinds of concerts that may require a specific way of dressing thematically. Or rather, you can definitely have some fun with them.
I’m going to talk about what to wear to a rock concert in the summer. Then, let’s dive into what to wear to a summer country concert.
What To Wear to a Rock Concert in Summer
Whether indoor or outdoor, rock concerts are the perfect shows to dress on a theme, too.
So, how does one wear a band tee as an adult man? Or rather, how would you pull it off without looking over the hill? Easy. Go vintage and top it off with workwear.
Workwear isn’t the most summer-friendly dress category. However, you can always choose chambray over true denim or one of the many options of breathable stretch jeans available today.
The Mugsy brand is a good example of this.
Wear a vintage band tee and top it off with a chambray short-sleeve utility shirt. Button it halfway up, and you’ll have more texture and less graphics. Finish it with light, slim cargo pants, leather boots, or clean
I don’t typically recommend distressed denim and raw-hemmed jeans to grown men. However, a slightly distressed pair of pants with raw hems looks fine at a rock concert.
Again, have fun with accessories. A leather cuff bracelet with hardware has that rugged, rocker vibe to it, but it’s not especially costumey. A pair of cool sunglasses would look great on your face (if you’re outdoors) or hanging from your t-shirt (if you’re indoors).
What To Wear to a Summer Country Concert
Unfortunately, guys don’t look as good with shorts and cowboy boots as girls do. So, how do you incorporate country style at warm-weather summer concerts?
Again, stretch denim, chambray, and accessories are the most important things in your arsenal.
Cowboy boots with light-wash denim offer the western flare you want at a country show. Pair them with a T-shirt, and you’ve got a Springsteen-esque look that won’t cause you to profusely sweat.
You can even go with a lightly woven henley. And hey, if a cowboy boot is too much for you, a chukka boot hat-tips to horse-riding culture while remaining stylistically neutral.
Of course, if cowboy hats are your thing, go for them — as long as they don’t block anyone’s view!
FAQs
Here are some quick answers to commonly asked questions about summer concert outfits!
What Do You Wear to a Hot Outdoor Concert?
First of all, you wear sunscreen and deodorant. Second, go for moisture-wicking, lightweight, and flowy outfits. Linen versions of more structured garments work well if you need to look smart.
What Do You Wear to a Rock Concert in Summer if You’re Over 40?
You can wear a band tee as long as you balance it out with some structure. Chambray workwear is a great way to combine classic, adult looks with breathability and function.
Conclusion: Look Good, Stay Comfy, Enjoy the Music
When it comes to what to wear to a summer concert, it’s all about comfort and making sure you can enjoy yourself.
It doesn’t matter how on-theme your cowboy outfit is to that country concert if it makes you insecure. And who cares how great that shirt looks in the mirror? Especially if it’s going to cause you to sweat uncontrollably at that music festival!
Balance your priorities out to ensure you have a good, comfortable, and confident time.
What do you usually wear to an outdoor concert? Do you have go-to looks for concerts in general? Let us know in the comments!
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