Over the pandemic, I thought a lot and wrote a little about the way fans shape a concert experience. That’s why livestreams—while a creative shift during a difficult season—weren’t the same. So much of a live music experience is in the way we experience it together. Even if you show up alone, you aren’t alone, not really.
I knew this intellectually, but it didn’t really set in fully until I went to a One Direction dance party about a month ago.
There was no band there, just a DJ, but everyone still dressed up. In some ways, they dressed up even more than they would at a One Direction show because there was no chance that any band member would see them, so they could be their funnest, nerdiest fan selves. They showed up in the most unique shirts and outfits and they showed up ready to dance. I think this is fan culture and community at its best and most pure and most beautiful.
My friend Maggie and I ended up at the back of the room and to our right was a group of friends. I don’t even remember the song, but at one point they put their arms around each other, singing and dancing and and jumping and swaying. Tonight. Together. Happy. Alive.
I knew I was going to write this story for this blog post after that dance party. Then this morning I woke up to a video of the Kiwi Pit. Watch this and tell me it’s not about the feeling, it’s not about being together, it’s not about the midnight memories we make dancing together to the best song ever (sorry, I couldn’t resist).
This post is divided into titled sections and there’s information at the very bottom about how to get ahold of me if you see yourself in one of the photos or if you’d like to hire me! Thank you for reading, for showing up, for dancing.
Close-Ups
Some folks had an accessory or wardrobe highlight or tattoo that really popped and they were kind enough to say “yes” when I asked for an extra photo.
Sign(s) of the Times
The Power of Harry Lambert
A quick aside: I asked the folks above for a photo, assuming they were all friends and coordinated this look. When I finished shooting, I asked them if they planned it. Not only did they not plan it, but they didn’t even know each other! They literally just randomly ended up in line together—the odds!
If you’re new here, Harry Lambert is Harry Styles’ stylist and one of the top people I’d want to work with someday (if you’re reading this, please email me: estorie@outlook.com!). I studied styling and really respect his eye and the way he can put together a unique outfit that embodies what’s next. Innovation and creativity. That’s the thing.
He was the one who put Harry in the iconic leather suit and boa outfit at the Grammy’s. That look was worn one single night and Harry hasn’t been spotted in a boa since. But you wouldn’t believe how many boas I saw outside Madison Square Garden. That man’s power to influence an entire generation of fashion! We love to see it.
One of the other iconic looks he’s revived is 70’s-style pants (and pantsuits) that we have seen on Harry Styles since his 2017-2018 tour.
Last but not least, Harry Lambert styled Harry Styles in the now-Tik-Tok-viral JW Anderson cardigan. Harry Styles wore this look on Good Morning America in late 2019. Shortly after, the pandemic hit and homebound fans took to learning knitting and crocheting, teaching themselves how to make this cardigan. Instead of getting annoyed at the imitations or trying to shut them down, the brand instead responded with gratefulness, thanking fans and even releasing their exact pattern to make creating it even easier! That’s really treating people with kindness, am I right?
Fan-Made
No shade to Harry Styles & co., but the Harry Styles fan-made merch consistently blows the “official” merch out of the water. If you spend any amount of time on Harry Styles (or One Direction) Tik Tok, you’re bound to see creative stickers, phone cases, necklaces, shirts, and sweaters. Please link me to your favorite creators by commenting below so I can go Christmas shopping for my sister!
To Be So Lonely
Just kidding, I don’t think going anywhere alone has to be lonely. Honestly, it can be pretty fun! As someone who has gone to a lot of concerts alone, I have so much respect for the folks who love something enough to show up alone, all dressed up and ready to dance in a crowd full of strangers. It’s a unique sort of bravery and vulnerability. And that’s far more beautiful than lonely.
Two Pretty Best Friends
I would like to submit these images as proof that two pretty best friends do indeed exist.
'Cause your friends,
They look good and you look better
Name that song!
Berries (and Watermelons and Bananas) and Cream!
If you’re wondering why “she’s dressed as a banana,” just watch this.
The End
If you’ve made it this far, thank you!
If you let me take your photo, thank you for trusting me. If you’re simply reading this, thank you for gifting me with your time. It’s our most irreplaceable individual resource and it means a lot to know you’d spend some of yours with me and my stories and my art.
If you see your face in this post and would like a copy of that photo, please email me at estorie@outlook.com. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting cheerful and excited dm’s! Send away—I love meeting y’all! But for more logistical things like getting you your photo, email is more effective: dm’s get buried super easily and we don’t want that. Let me know which photo is you and I’ll send it to you as soon as I can! Feel free to use it on social media, but please caption-tag me (@estorie on Instagram, @estorieco on Twitter, and @estoriethegirl on Tik Tok—yes, I wish bots didn’t snatch my matching handles, too). If you want to use it anywhere else (publications, promotional material, anything published online or in a physical form, etc.), just shoot me an email and we can talk details. Sound good?
If you enjoyed this post and would like to work with me, the same is true. Just send me an email: estorie@outlook.com! I’m available for articles, portraits, live music shoots, street style—and whatever other ideas you might have.
If you enjoyed this post (start-to-finish, all of this—shooting, culling, editing, writing, uploading—took about 10 hours!) and would like to support me as an artist, my venmo is @estorie! Thank you!
