Good fitting jeans and a shirt that you wouldn't wear to an office. This is me at 69 years old.
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I need... wardrobe advice
- Thread starter DaveParker39
- Start date
If you're that worried about your look, hire a imagine consultant. Personally I get my pro wear from wornstar in Chicago.
Keep it simple.
A pair of jeans and a black casual-fit button-down shirt untucked and with the top two buttons undone (to reveal a t-shirt with a brighter color) is cool yet understated rocker. You can dress that up for mod or dress it down for punk. If it has long sleeves, unbutton the cuffs and roll 'em up. That's the vibe of a rocker shedding their button-down office skin.
If it were me, I'd go blue jeans, black casual button-down (untucked) over an orange T-shirt. And, yeah, unbutton the top couple of buttons so the bold orange is peeking out. And the button-down's sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up.
Oh, and clean shoes. Ladies notice the shoes, so even if your sneakers are comfy and well-worn, they should be clean.
Untucked, rolled up, and slightly unbuttoned = inner rocker shedding their button-down normie skin.
Stage rocker fashion is a balance. You want to look put together without looking put together. It's a looser put-together than work or formal. You also don't want to look like you just rolled out of bed. Ladies in the crowd respond well to guys in bands who put some effort into their attire but don't look like try-hards.
Hence, keep it simple. Jeans, solid non-black T-shirt untucked, casual black button-down on top (untucked and slightly unbuttoned), and clean shoes.
(I used to play in an image-conscious band, so I had to think about how I present myself on stage a lot. I wanted to look cool but still be comfortable enough to play and perform naturally and well).
A pair of jeans and a black casual-fit button-down shirt untucked and with the top two buttons undone (to reveal a t-shirt with a brighter color) is cool yet understated rocker. You can dress that up for mod or dress it down for punk. If it has long sleeves, unbutton the cuffs and roll 'em up. That's the vibe of a rocker shedding their button-down office skin.
If it were me, I'd go blue jeans, black casual button-down (untucked) over an orange T-shirt. And, yeah, unbutton the top couple of buttons so the bold orange is peeking out. And the button-down's sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up.
Oh, and clean shoes. Ladies notice the shoes, so even if your sneakers are comfy and well-worn, they should be clean.
Untucked, rolled up, and slightly unbuttoned = inner rocker shedding their button-down normie skin.
Stage rocker fashion is a balance. You want to look put together without looking put together. It's a looser put-together than work or formal. You also don't want to look like you just rolled out of bed. Ladies in the crowd respond well to guys in bands who put some effort into their attire but don't look like try-hards.
Hence, keep it simple. Jeans, solid non-black T-shirt untucked, casual black button-down on top (untucked and slightly unbuttoned), and clean shoes.
(I used to play in an image-conscious band, so I had to think about how I present myself on stage a lot. I wanted to look cool but still be comfortable enough to play and perform naturally and well).
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Wear some kind of black boots, no white leather New Balances or Crocs. Some kinds of jeans, blue or black whatever fits better and go on Amazon, search for "mens stage clothes for musicians" or womens if that applies, I don't want to presume, and you can find a bunch of shirts to complete the look. Importantly, check with the rest of the band to find out what they are wearing. You don't want to show up in goth gear when they have matching bowling shirts. Heh.
Badly done full-sleeve tats on both arms and super-guaged earlobes seems to be all the rage around here. I think i will pass on that look.
You said it right. WE should have stopped the thread here. I am not reading any further.
The fact that you're even asking the question seems like a major step up around here, based on some of the gig photos posted.
There's a difference between the appearance of a rag-tag looking pickup band and a professional show presentation.
There's a difference between the appearance of a rag-tag looking pickup band and a professional show presentation.
Turnaround
Commercial User
I used to play in an image-conscious heavy rock band where our stage appearance was a crucial component to our image, so I made a concerted effort to offer a thoughtful suggestion in my previous post and not clown or troll like others have.
But while many are saying to coordinate with bandmates for a cohesive look, you also don't want to look like paper dolls. You want to have some individuality personality flair. In my old band, our look was "post-apocalyptic survivors" and we all had unique outfits that fit the theme so it was both cohesive and eclectic.
But while many are saying to coordinate with bandmates for a cohesive look, you also don't want to look like paper dolls. You want to have some individuality personality flair. In my old band, our look was "post-apocalyptic survivors" and we all had unique outfits that fit the theme so it was both cohesive and eclectic.
FWIW, i always insisted that any ensembles I directed dress uniformly and conservatively, as the idea was to present a unified cohesive performance to the audience without visual distractions from the aural performance. I told the players, "If you want to stand out, do so by demonstrating exemplary musicianship. It doesn't take any talent or ability to dress outrageously."
A stylish hoody is acceptable in today’s rock n roll wardrobe. But it has to be a nice one IMO, no one wants to see someone on stage in a dumpy, oversized, $5 at the thrift store hoody. But a nice casual button up shirt works too, sleeves rolled up.
As for pants, no faded work jeans or “high and tight” dad jeans. No creased pants unless you know what you’re doing or you’ll look like a youth minister or a mortician. Get some nice, no-crease trousers in a dark color that you like and *that fit correctly.*
Nothing gets tucked in, ever, unless you’re Freddie Mercury.
As for shoes…low top Jordans, Air Force 1’s, or Converse are acceptable sneakers, and urban style boots are always good.
As for pants, no faded work jeans or “high and tight” dad jeans. No creased pants unless you know what you’re doing or you’ll look like a youth minister or a mortician. Get some nice, no-crease trousers in a dark color that you like and *that fit correctly.*
Nothing gets tucked in, ever, unless you’re Freddie Mercury.
As for shoes…low top Jordans, Air Force 1’s, or Converse are acceptable sneakers, and urban style boots are always good.
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You can never go wrong. I’ve got a broke-ish filmmaker/muscian friend in Brooklyn whose entire personality is built around his $800 hand made Italian zippered black boots.
I’m sorry to inform you that there are fashion police working undercover in this very thread.
