Summer concert season is in full swing again, and I have a roundup of patterns and looks for summer concert season. You can sew these looks whether you are a 20-something Gen Z, a millennial, or even a Gen X-er like me! I’ve got looks that flatter plus, middle aged, and young styles.
Concert season is whatever you define. I know a lot of people consider this the “big” concerts like Coachella in April in Palm Springs, CA, or Bonaroo in Tennessee, or Lalapalooza in Chicago or Summerfest in Milwaukee, but it’s also your local Friday night concerts in your hometown, your local bandshell, a regional blues or jazz concert (we have several.) I live in mid Michigan and I’m linking this to our concert and festival series so local peeps have all the details on local concerts.
Summer concert season is a great time to break out the fun garments that you’re not going to wear to your work day (although I work from home and I can wear anything I like to work – a blazer over the top of anything on a Zoom call works for me!
Fun tops that bare your shoulders and show off (or get some) sun!
Halter: The Aalto Twist Front Top and Dress is my pick for a halter for this season. This twist front neckline is flattering, it’s available in a top (you can customize your length from cropped to mid hip), and a maxi dress- but again, customize the dress from short to midi to maxi.
Tube top: my own FREE August Bandeau tube top is available here. This has a clever front panel using fabric on the crossgrain, is a blouson style that will hide any midsection fluff and looks great in a shorter waist or a longer hip length
Bottom layers perfect for concerts:
Wide leg elastic waist pants and shorts: Everyone and their sister has a sewing pattern for elastic waist pants! Pick your favorite and sew one! I like double gauze, linen, cotton lawn prints, rayon prints, cotton and rayon knit fabrics. You can shorten these into any length shorts you like. My favorites are: Jalie Simone, Christine Jonson Taper & Wide Leg no-sideseam pants (a 20-minute sew in your favorite knit fabric.) Free, try Fabrics-Store.com (and their linen is amazing) Cass pants.
Midi skirt in a textured/crochet knit. They do make knit crochet fabrics! If you line a sheer / openwork one with nude swim lining, you can create a chic but covered look. Try, also, a textured knit that’s not a crochet. Here are my pics for knit midi skirts that you can sew in a quick session.
Tie front top: this is something to wear over the halter and tube tops in the evening. I like this one here.
Jogger pants: I love a lightweight, high-waisted jogger pant for summer in a flowy rayon print! The Luna Jogger by Made by Rae – extend the top of the pant up 1-2″ for a high rise version of these pants. I like to go for three channels of elastic in the waist, and if you do too, add 1.5″ to the width of the waistband to sew three channels in these pants. Attach the waistband folded / flat, sew three channels (two seams) leaving 1″ open at the center back on all channel seams, then thread skinny elastic through each channel, starting with the top one. Try on the pants, secure the elastic at the length you like, and stitch the casing lines closed. You may also thread elastic through just the top and bottom channels for a shirred look (although I find three is more secure.)
Cropped basic oversized tee shirt/dress. Love the version from Tauko sewing magazine, the “Blue” edition, but also you can find this a lot of other places!
