Tuesday 27 November 2012

The Daily Bread #14 - Gigging Hell



Top - Topshop
Cardigan - Vintage Engelhorn
Jeans - Cubus
Belt - Topman
Brogues - Swedish, Unknown
Necklace - Ethiopian airport

I'm not sure how many of you will be familiar with Northampton, UK, but I assume not a great deal.  Growing up there was interesting experience.  The town itself is bleak, and I'm not just saying that in a 'woe is me, curse my hometown' kind of way - visitors regularly comment on just how dreary it is.  Yet the utter misery of the town meant that its youth seemed to rally together in a bid to have some fun.  Whereas other places seemed to have more cliquey divides, Northampton seemed to have that less, in my experience at least.  You were simply in on the attempt to make some fun, or you were out, and that was that.

A key source of entertainment was live music.  I guess it was because it was something that people could do without much help - you could buy a guitar, you could coerce a grotty pub into letting you play, and there you had it, a night out for all your friends.  As I can't even clap in time, I participated in this scene purely as an audience member - but what's a band without their audience?  For a pretty nondescript Midlands town, we also got a surprising amount of bigger artists coming to play.  The best gigs were at the Soundhaus but that unfortunately closed down due to noise complaints (a cause of uproar in the glory days of 2008) but the bands kept coming to the Roadmender.  

Given that my social life revolved around sweaty gigs - from the good to the bad, the famous to the hopeless - I was pretty familiar with gig clothes.  I find they fall into an awkward category; they need to hit a certain level of nighttime dressiness, yet incorporate the comfort and practicality of day wear whilst also being almost indestructible.  It wasn't until yesterday, when I remembered I had tickets to see The XX tonight, that I realised I no longer had any idea how to dress for gigs.  Do I even have the materials for it anymore?

This morning I raided my wardrobe and cobbled together this outfit, which I think tonight's look will be based around.  I think the black jeans and the breton style stripes are a classic combination which, to me, gives an air of chic yet looks simultaneously carefree.  I will probably swap the cardigan for a denim shirt or leather jacket later and add some more edgy jewellery, I'm thinking chains and spikes.  I chose these brogues because they seem pretty indestructible and I don't care too much about them.  If I had some Converse here in Sweden with me, then I'd probably throw those on instead, but sadly I do not. 

I think part of my problem with gig dressing is that I get a little protective over my clothes and find it hard to be relaxed if I know I'm going to be stood on and crushed.  Do you have this problem, or is it just me?

Merry Monday,
Elise.




9 comments:

  1. I know how you feel, my home town is mostly populated by farmers and cows...

    pariswhenitspink.blogspot.co.uk

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  2. I've never been to Northampton before but I can imagine the picture! I love your top and brogues, so lovely! xo

    http://www.jenventure.blogspot.co.uk

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  3. Love this outfit, I think its perfect for a gig - and I love the XX!
    x

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  4. Such a familiar problem! The issue I always have is not being able to jacket and managing to be warm enough on my journey but not too hot at the gig! And I don't know what it is about me and jeans but they just don't stay up when I'm dancing! I think this works great though!
    I've FINALLY replied to your Leibster Award post if you fancy checking it out :)
    http://fashionsings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/leibster-versatile-bloggers-award.html
    xx

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  5. Gahhhhhh gig outfits really are tough to put together!! Especially if you're a sweaty-Betty like me and end up drenched in (mostly my own) sweat at the end of the night; never a cute look. But your outfit looks perfect!! I always stick to B&W for gigs so that my sweat doesn't show as much hehe :)

    Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  6. Funnily enough I was mulling over the same thing just yesterday; I'm going to a gig on Sunday but I have to travel on a coach to get to it, then we're going out for dinner so I need an outfit for coach, dinner and gig! Your outfit looks absolutely perfect, I love the shoes in particular, they look like they'd withstand being stood on :) xo

    Rosie // A Rosie Outlook

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  7. I completely agree, gig outfits are so hard to pull together! I'm going to see Ben Howard on Friday so this has given me a few ideas for my outfit :)

    Aimée X
    dress-it-up-6.blogspot.co.uk

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  8. Dressing for a gig is definately hard work. It also means I want to look good but not necessarily wear my best things. I like your sailor-esque look

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