I went to a Harry Styles concert…

And here are some unsolicited observations that absolutely #NobodyAsked for.

Now, before we begin, I would like to clarify that I do not identify as a Styles fan, a.k.a. “Harrie.” I was mostly there for research purposes — an attempt to better understand my Gen-Z target audience. (And perhaps to be able to “talk cool” with my 16-year-old niece, but that one backfired. She disowned me via text for beating her to it. Cool story.)

Let me start by saying the hype was real and it started way before the concert with multiple“OMG! what are you going to wear???” texts. If you’re clueless like me, you’d be happy to learn that there’s an entire Pinterest thread on ‘Harry Styles concert outfit ideas’ for your inspiration.

Come show night, and the stadium looked like something out of unicorn puke dreams. There were feathery boas, sequined pants, glittery jackets, pink cowboy hats, and even mirrored dresses. The stadium and I were both pleasantly surprised to see so much visual stimulus at once. It was at this very moment that I realized fashion choices in Singapore are not as weather-dependent as common sense might argue. It only took a Harry Styles concert for some to brave the hot and humid weather and don a pair of leather pants. (You know who you are, and you have my respect.)

As for me, I put on a flowery shirt and tried not to disappoint. But, I can’t say the same about our modern day Prince who settled for a sequin t-shirt (and probably Sting’s borrowed tight black pants).

Another thing that didn’t disappoint was the energy of the crowd. Now, in case no speaker brand has thought of this yet, a stadium full of (mostly) swooning, gibberish-yelling teenagers makes a great stress test demo for your product. Think about it - Dolby all around you, even when you’re trying to ignore a bunch of hormonally charged teenage girls in front of you.

But here’s the thing: Harry Styles concerts are not just for teenage girls. They are age-agnostic. Whether you’re into his music or not, you’re sure to be entertained by the theatrics, infectious energy, and, of course, totally candid wedding proposals where the girl can’t decide if she should be staring at her fiancé or Harry. I don’t blame her. Harry is a performer and he has a charming way of engaging with his audience. He makes you feel seen. If you are a seven-year-old girl, he’ll even spot an A4 crayon drawing you did of him, compliment it, and promise to stick it on his bedroom wall. I’m convinced that this little girl will likely grow up to pursue a career in the arts and recount this core memory in therapy for years to come.

I, for one, felt seen too, and no, it was not during the song Matilda. It was when he pointed out a bunch of 30-something women in the crowd and cheered them for being in this delightful country to ‘just work.’ Not that I let work define my entire personality, but Harry Styles cheering you on for ‘just working’ was more cathartic than watching a Brené Brown talk.

Amongst the many who felt seen that night were the people in banana costumes. He even free-styled a song loosely titled ‘They’re Dressed as a Banana’. One can’t help but notice that Harry sure does love his fruits. He’s got a song about watermelons, kiwi, grape juice, and now bananas. He’s just one short of being the perfect ambassador for the ‘5-A-Day’ campaign. (PSA to WHO & Dole: sign him on before he gets too expensive!)

In conclusion, I may not have been a Harry Styles fan before the concert, but I left as a Harry Styles admirer. The man knows how to put on a show and create a sense of community among his diverse audience. Plus, he’s got some serious fruit game going on. So, if you ever have the chance to attend a Harry Styles concert, I highly recommend it — even if it’s just for the fashion inspiration. Who knows, you might just feel seen too, learn something about human behavior, or get a catchy fruit-themed song stuck in your head for days at the very least.

Now, if you enjoyed this and would like me to keep writing more, please consider liking, subscribing, reposting, or just buying me tickets to concerts that push me out of my comfort zone.