The Return of the Rave and The Case for Disco
Raves are back. According to the 2023 Instagram Trend Report, 68% of Gen Z social media users plan to attend a rave this year. It makes sense, of course, that after two years of a Pandemic, young people are ready to go back out and continue to party (or, if they turned 21 during lockdown, like yours truly, to start for the first time).
Courtesy of Soho House Paris
Rave fashion for women has, for many years now, consisted of patterned tights, bright colors, and fishnet stockings. A simple google search for what to wear at a rave shows countless articles recommending neon mesh shirts, rainbow bodysuits, or space buns. Of course, there is nothing wrong with any of these things, but with the return of the rave and the growing expanse of world music, I ask a bold question; why not rebrand the rave?
There have been generations of young people who have gone out to clubs and stayed out until dawn during different eras of various levels of revelry, such as the swinging 20s or the disco era of the 1970s and 80s. Studio 54, for example, which was a nightclub from 1976 to 1986, is the poster child of wild bacchanalia, famously hosting parties with famous guests ranging from Andy Warhol to Jackie Kennedy.
Courtesy of USA Today
It seems as though Studio 54 had no rules, and that anyone was totally free to be anything they wanted inside. It welcomed complete and total expression, and with that total chaos- for example, Bianca Jagger once famously arrived inside the club astride a white steed. Because of this complete freedom, fashion of all sorts reigned. There was wild hair, intense, theatrical makeup, and plethoras of iconic outfits, from disco, to sleek Hollywood glam, to total rocker looks, and everywhere in between.
The above images, all taken inside Studio 54, show a selection of looks that could easily be worn out today. All black paired with cowboy boots worn by Diana Ross is a foolproof, utilitarian yet still cool look. David Bowie sports an illustrated button down that bares resemblance to a design most recently popularized by Timothee Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name and seen on a variety of shirts and pants since, while Cher rocks the simple and chic white blouse, jeans and heels amped up with a cowboy hat. A sequined dress look and a classic 80s bodysuit are also simple, though a bit more dressed up.
My advice: either go simple or go all out. Cher and David Bowie are dressed simply, yet they are rocking some of the most fashionable looks at the club. Simple Levi’s, a vintage button down, and a couple of unique accessories can never fail. Or, you can embrace the debauchery and opt for an abundance of sequins, wich are very disco and are coming back in a big way, mesh tops, no top (if you dare).
Disco is starting to come back. We have seen sequined disco styles across various runways, and Beyonce recently starred in a campaign for Tiffany & Co. titled “Club Renaissance” that directly references famous imagery from Studio 54. With the resurgence of raves and the renaissance of disco imminent, why not dare to combine them?
Courtesy of Alexandre Vauthier
The examples from Studio 54 would not look at all out of place at a club today- so why not at a rave? Of course, clubs and raves are different, so there are some essential rules. First, always wear closed toed shoes to protect your feet, and always have a bag with your essentials close to your body. Opting for solid, chunky shoes is a safe bet, because the right shoe will look good with big pants, little skirts, or even just underwear. This could mean big black boots, cowboy boots, or just good sneakers. Pairing masculine, utilitarian items with more delicate, feminine styles creates a cool juxtaposition that is perfectly at home at a rave.
Raving returning in 2023 shows a nostalgia for a carefree past and a hopeful sense for the future. I suggest that we lean into this sense of nostalgia and opt for a chic, discoed up version of the rave to make this year as memorable as the infamous 70s nights of Studio 54.