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What to Wear to a Country Concert

All you need are 6 essentials.

Trends
What to Wear to a Country Concert

As a New York native, I’m pretty much the polar opposite of a “Southern belle.” But that doesn’t change the fact that every so often, I’ll click on the Country Hits station on Spotify and let the lyrics speak to me. I love Little Big Town. I follow Thomas Rhett (and his adorable family) on Instagram. I was also an early fan of Taylor Swift—way back when she was a girl with cowboy boots and had teardrops on her guitar.

So when Chevrolet asked if I wanted to attend this year’s CMA Fest—which airs on ABC tonight—all while testing out the 2018 Equinox? I was pumped.

To make a long story short, I thoroughly enjoyed Nashville: the car—with its ventilated seats (super helpful), rear-vision camera, and WiFi capabilities—was pretty sweet, and I even visited The Castle Recording Studio...between stuffing my face on an Anthony-Bourdain-inspired restaurant tour. The only part where I sort of struggled? Finding an outfit for the actual concert.

But as a forever student of fashion, I made it up as I went, gathering tips from other attendees while mixing in some fashion-forward flair. By the second day, I realized that with just 6 essentials, you can truly have the cutest outfit at a country concert. Read on for a few quick tips, along with some shopping picks.

 

Something Denim

When it comes to bottoms, you’re always safe with a pair of jeans or cutoffs, but it’s worth it to think outside of the box. Look for embroidered options or give overalls a go, or maybe even ditch pants altogether for a patchwork denim dress. I also noticed that a lot of performers went with simple black jeans, which continues to be a winner for a variety of occasions.


 

A Somewhat Simple Top

Comfort is key at concerts, so your top doesn’t need to be fancy—you want to be able to move! I personally stuck with sold t-shirts (they go with everything!), but I’m also a fan of striped, knotted, and ruffled picks, too, to take things up a notch.

One-and-Done Pieces

If you’re stumped finding two pieces that look perfect together, you can also go the one-and-done route. Wear a dress or playsuit instead and pair it with comfy footwear.

 

Standout Accessories

Some say that accessories make the outfit, and in this case, it couldn’t be more true. While there will likely be plenty of cowboy hats in attendance, switch things up with a panama option or cap. You can also give t-shirts a boost with a bandana, layered necklaces, and earrings.

 

A Top Layer to Tie It All Together

No matter what the season is, bringing a top layer for extra warmth is always wise. But denim jackets, bomber jackets, and even long, flowy cardigans will also pull your outfit together and be the finishing touch you’re likely missing.

 

Boots (Obviously)

Yes, sneakers are perfectly fine at any kind of concert, but when you’re in a country crowd, you’ll notice: cowboy boots are everywhere. If you’re willing to invest in an elevated solid pair, you’ll likely get good use out of them this fall. Still, combat boots, metallic booties, and simple camel-colored are all great, stylish alternatives, and will be even more versatile later on.

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