On the first day of Lollapalooza, Chappell Roan made waves in a wrestling-inspired bodysuit, her fans clad in pink. But all four days during Chicago’s biggest annual music festival, attendees make Grant Park their runway.
Fans were decked out in cowboy hats, crocheted pieces and sequins. Couples and friends coordinated outfits. Fans wore Lollapalooza merch and band T-shirts — K-pop group Stray Kids being among the more popular on Friday. Some made their own clothes.
Caytlyn Cannon, and Morgan Moore, both 23, study fashion at Central Michigan University, so they gave considerable thought to their respective outfits for each of Lollapalooza’s four days, which they planned out and coordinated with each other.
Cannon fashioned her skirt out of a piece of fabric from Hobby Lobby, using fake flowers from Dollar Tree to weave in her hair. Moore wore an outfit from online store Fashion Nova, with a lace veil draped over her hair.
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This is Cannon and Moore’s second time at Lollapalooza, but they said fashion has changed a lot since they last went in 2019.
“Last time, we were wearing denim jean shorts,” Cannon laughed. “I feel like social media makes people want to put a lot more effort in. I’ve seen the craziest accessories.”
For Isaac and Cassie Langreck, 30 and 28 respectively, Lollapalooza was an excuse to make a few purchases.
Isaac already had his flamingo-printed shirt in his closet, then stumbled upon the matching shorts at clothing discounter Marshalls last weekend and knew he had to wear it to Lollapalooza.
Cassie had originally stepped out on the streets of Chicago in what she describes as a “Pokemon outfit” but decided after a few minutes of walking that it wouldn’t be weather-appropriate. She changed into a rainbow cape, neon sunglasses, black shirt and denim shorts with sequined mesh pants underneath. The latter two items she purchased from clothing retailer Shein specifically to wear for the festival.
The married couple from Wisconsin – who have attended Lollapalooza numerous times in recent years – also said they think fashion at Lollapalooza has changed in recent years.
“I feel like (Lollapalooza in the past) was more over comfort, and Coachella was more of a vibe for people to dress up differently,” Cassie said. “But in the past couple of years, I see more and more people trying to kind of go out of their comfort zone.”
“This is a good way for people to be more risky and kind of test the waters and just have fun,” Isaac added.
Major music festivals like Lollapalooza, Coachella in California and Governors Ball in New York City have become synonymous with an excuse to put together social media-worthy outfits. This year, as in years’ past, attendees have taken to Instagram to poll followers about their outfit choices or lament on Twitter that they didn’t plan out their outfits in advance.
But the Langrecks have always been dressed for the occasion. Cassie described how in 2018, Isaac dressed up in an inflatable Reptar costume, from the television show “Rugrats.”
“It was dedication that only lasted a couple hours,” Cassie laughed. “And then it busted open.”
Fashion is part of an ongoing concert tradition for Audrey Koopmans, 20. The Long Beach, California, native and community college student says whenever she goes to concerts or music festivals, she puts a stack of homemade beaded bracelets on one arm to give out to people she meets. She loads the other arm with bracelets she’s been given by friends.
The bracelet-making tradition stemmed from a hobby Koopmans took up during COVID-19, when the pandemic limited all kinds of in-person social interactions.
“I would mail them to people – friends, online friends,” Koopmans said, describing how she’s kept up the practice.
To complete her beaded look for the second day of Lollapalooza, Koopmans donned jeans, a crocheted top and a bolo tie with a scorpion on it.
Though Koopmans is a regular concert-goer, this is her first time at Lollapalooza, and she brought her sister and mom along.
“It’s kind of cool that she’s coming,” Koopmans said of her mom. “She likes staying young.”
And, for Koopmans, these experiences are all about the community.
“I’m a good gift-giver,” Koopmans said, adding that she gave out over 30 bracelets to fellow festival-goers yesterday. “It’s just fun to share.”
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