Harry Styles kicked off his Together, Together tour in Amsterdam in May wearing a colourful floral printed tie from Celine, sparking a trend that has turned the office neckwear staple into a secret language for concert-goers. Four days later, he paused mid-set at the same stadium to acknowledge the crowd, saying, “There’s a lot of ties in the audience tonight. I see you queens, I see you.”
Ties Replace Feather Boas as Concert Essential
At his record-breaking 12-night residency at London’s Wembley Stadium, ties became the new feather boa. Fans wore shirts with neatly knotted ties, sparkly vest tops with ties loosely slung over them, ties used as belts, tied around waists, twisted into ponytails, and even dresses and skirts fashioned from ties. Whitney Jones, an editorial assistant at Grazia, created an entire skirt from 18 ties sourced from Vinted and charity shops, documenting the process on TikTok. “I’m obsessed with concert-themed dressing,” she said.
Celebrity Influence Fuels Tie Revival
Styles wore ties at six of his 12 London shows, including a magenta version from Valentino, a burgundy option from Prada, and a ditzy floral number from JW Anderson. Bad Bunny also sports a tie in his DTMF show, and at the Schiaparelli couture show in Paris, he wore a tie braided from blond tresses. Actors Tom Holland and Josh O’Connor favour the mono tie, where the accessory is barely distinguishable from the shirt. According to eBay, searches for retro ties are up 367%.
DIY Customisation Creates Community
Fans are borrowing ties from fathers, digging out old school ties, and buying secondhand. Platforms like Etsy and Instagram are filled with sellers offering customised ties. Amy Frye, a flight attendant based in Utah, started thrifting ties and gluing letters onto them after Styles wore a tie with “Pop” on Saturday Night Live in March. She has made 200 ties so far. “It’s so fun because I have so many different patterns and colours and every person wants something different for their outfit,” she said.
Jones’s skirt features ties embellished with nods to song titles, lyrics, or fun moments from live performances. A polka dot tie includes “Satellite” lettering and a zodiac constellation made with glitter. Another tie for “Sign of the Times” has stick-on letters and red gems resembling fireworks. Her favourite song, “Fine Line,” is celebrated with a pink and blue harlequin tie covered in gems spelling out the song title.
Ties as Subtle Fandom
Jones says dressing up is a key part of the Styles fandom. “It feels like being a kid again and that you’re part of a community. The best part is being able to spot other concert goers on train platforms on the way to the venue.” Frye, who has seen Styles three times, sees ties as a more subtle way of expressing allegiance. “It says you are a Harry fan without saying you’re a Harry fan. It’s a way of doing it without wearing official merch. It’s more ‘If you know, you know’!”
