Feather boas and heart motifs at Harry Styles, silver latex and cowboy hats at Beyoncé and now sequins and slogan tees at Taylor Swift. These juggernauts of the pop world have inspired a whole generation to go Maria von Trapp on their curtains. Gone are the days of just wearing jeans and a nice top to a concert. All you need to do is open TikTok to see that lucky ticket holders have been hand-sewing and hot-gluing their outfits for months.
Artist James Mollison has been photographing fans at concerts around the world, from Madonna to Oasis, since 2005 for his project The Disciples, with a fascination for the different tribes of people who attend, the way they emulate celebrity to form their identity and how typologies emerge when photographing a group. If you’re suffering from PTSD — Post Taylor Swift Depression — here is a line-up of ES Magazine’s favourite fan outfits. And remember, she’s back in August — so get down to Hobbycraft, asap!
