Harry Is Back

graphic by Zoe Gigis

Hello, I am Maya Katz and, like most of the population, I love Harry Styles. After a long and excruciating 18+ months of the pandemic, our lord and savior, Harold Edward Styles, has returned to the stage and is here to cure the world of its misery. Harry Styles has resurrected from the ashes of his December 2019 album Fine Line and flew into a new era, Love on Tour. Everything that Harry does is iconic by default. Whether it be his style, the songs he sings, his significant others, or even his simply beautiful hair, people seem to fall on the floor when he simply breathes. Needless to say, Love on Tour is bringing a lot of people a lot of joy. The audience at home, and in-person if you are lucky enough to see him live, has a lot to look forward to. 

As Harry has evolved through the years, so has his fashion. He transitioned from way too skinny jeans and Chelsea boots to pattern mixing custom Gucci suits in just a few years. Although his fashion was somehow admired throughout his whole career, it has now become a staple part of his brand. Controversial at times but overall positive, Styles has brought a new wave of fashion into the public eye with his large platform. The expectation set up from Harry’s last tour, is driving the excitement for the long-awaited leg of the current tour. . Back in 2017 when Harry Styles: Live on Tour began, people were blown away by his bold fashion choices and new outfits every night. Considering that Live on Tour was a worldwide tour, he had many looks in his catalog by the end of the tour. In his fashion on his first tour, Harry featured some staple brands as well as some new and emerging designers. Some of the most prevalent brands that were featured in his first tour were Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Harris Reed, Palomo Spain, and Calvin Klein. That tour truly set the precedent for Harry's ability and want to explore all different types of fashion. Some of my favorites looks from his first tour were the custom Gucci, black and red fringed Mexico City suit, the Harris Reed purple, sparkly blouse that he wore backward by accident in Vancouver, the custom kilt he wore in Glasgow, and lastly for his infamous last night of tour in Los Angeles, a perfect, embroidered black, velvet jacket with matching pants by Gucci. These looks simply laid the platform for what was to come for Harry’s next tour. 

Harry’s tour looks on his first go as a solo artist were impeccable, so the expectations were pretty high for Love on Tour. I was hopeful because he has continued to work with the same stylist, Harry Lambert, and dressed beautifully in between periods of tours. And let me just say, Harry’s night one look in Las Vegas did not disappoint. Harry opened the show and his tour in a custom Gucci pink vest with sequined fringe and no shirt along with matching pink high-waisted pants. This look was stunning and I loved every second of watching it move on stage. This first look blew my expectations out of the water and made me very hopeful for the future of fashion for the tour. The looks for the tour, however, have been very good, but not as excellent as the opening night show. Harry seems to be following his pattern of a Gucci button-down, long sleeve with high waisted trousers and some type of heeled boot. Not that he does not look stunning, but I was expecting a little bit more with these outfits. I am a fan of the fun color combinations and the simplicity of most of the looks, but I am still craving that touch of over-the-edge eccentricity that Harry and his team usually bring. My favorite look so far, besides the opening night look, has been his Gucci, black sequined, button-down, and lavender trousers that he wore in Chicago. Although the fashion choices of this tour as a whole are not as completely astounding as I believed that they would be. I still love and adore his tour outfits and look forward to more. 

The next things that Harry fans across the world were debating about were what songs will be featured on the setlist. As the last time Harry toured he only had one solo album under his belt, it was much less of a divisive question. Everyone wanted their favorite song featured, but his concert is not long enough to play both albums all the way through with the addition of a cover or two and a One Direction song. The current setlist goes as follows: Golden, Carolina, Adore You, Only Angel, She, Two Ghosts/Falling, Sunflower Vol. 6, To Be So Lonely, Woman, Cherry, Lights Up, Canyon Moon, Treat People With Kindness, What Makes You Beautiful, Fine Line, Sign Of The Times, Watermelon Sugar, and lastly Kiwi. In my opinion, they squeezed a lot of songs onto that setlist and it seems very well rounded. The only thing I wish for is a cover in the future because Harry singing songs that are not his is a transcendental experience. 

Love on Tour also features some new key elements to Harry’s brand. Bunnies have been added to this tour as a main piece of the graphics on the screen along with being a part of the merchandise. I do not know where the bunnies came from, but I think it is a fun idea and a nice addition to the concept of the tour. The tour graphics also feature lots of psychedelic-looking rainbows and bright colors which is extremely fitting and creates a fun and high-energy ambiance for the show. 

Although Harry, his fashion, merch, setlist, and what his team sets up the tour to be is important, the most crucial factor and the factor that truly ties the whole Love on Tour experience together, is the fans. Harry’s fans are die-hard fans and make the tour perfect. The fans come in fantastic outfits, with hilarious signs, and bring the most insane energy. There has even been an Instagram account created, with over eleven thousand followers, dedicated to the fan's outfits at Love on Tour. This account truly brings me so much joy, it is called @hslotfashionhq. People who love Harry do not just think he is cool, they LOVE him, would take a bullet for him, and you can feel that at these shows.  

All in all, Harry makes so many people so happy and unconsciously creates a warm and inspired community that culminates in their love for Harry. Love on Tour has just barely begun, therefore so much can happen. The fact that live music is a possibility to go see again is hope enough that things are getting better in the world and if you get to celebrate that hope in the same room as Harry, you are one lucky person. Harry can do very little wrong in my eyes and I am truly on the edge of my seat waiting for the next crazy and exciting turn he is going to take with his tour!