Fan Fashion: Wave to Earth at The Orpheum

Wave to Earth, South Korea’s hottest indie-rock band, wrapped up their 20-show tour of North America with a finale in Tampa, Florida. 

The weather was hot and humid on Sept. 17, 2023, with the sun not setting until late into the night. Hundreds of teens and twenty-somethings, umbrellas in hand, lined the dirt road that led to The Orpheum, an intimate outdoor concert hall in Hillsborough County. 

Tristan, a high school student from Hawaii, traveled nearly 5,000 miles to Florida for his first-ever concert. He wore a light blue button-up dress shirt from Forever 21, layered over a plain white t-shirt with denim pants that he thrifted from Goodwill and cut up into jorts. Wanting to actually be able to see the band, he wore black-rimmed prescription glasses. Additionally, he accessorized with the bracelets that fellow fans handed out in line, as well as two silver chains and a black leather “icon” bag to hold his digital camera. For shoes, he sported plain white sneakers–a durable decision. Tristan said the inspiration for his look was “light” by Wave to Earth, and noted how many other fans coordinated their looks with certain Wave to Earth songs and/or album covers.

Yuki, a University of South Florida senior, dressed in a simple but stylish manner. She combined a black, sleeveless button-down with a cropped knit vest that showed off her tattoos, black dress pants, and black ankle boots. A common theme I noticed from many of the other concert attendees was prescription glasses, which Yuki donned as well. The main focal point of this outfit, though, was the black, white, and red tie/scarf around her neck. It featured a geometric image of a chapel. Most of the pieces Yuki wore, aside from the leather boots, were thrifted. Altogether, the outfit gives hints of dark academia, matching the cover art from “dried flower,” a Wave to Earth single from last year.

Rye, another USF student, wore a slightly monochrome ‘fit. Playing around with textures, she paired an off-white corset from Beverly & Beck with a maxi-skirt from Pacsun and Mary Jane dupes from Walmart. Accessory-wise, Rye wore a golden heart locket, a gold watch, and the same fan-made bracelets that Tristan received. While Yuki opted for a dark, academic look, Rye went with an airy, elegant style, trying to match the satiny vibes of the jazz-inspired music. Wave to Earth’s color palette is somewhat soft and simple, filled with the same earth and muted tones that she noted in other fans’ outfits. Aside from a dazzling outfit, Rye said her concert essential was water, a must-have item to battle the Floridian heat. 

Kendra, a local student, opted for a light and breezy look. Breaking this outfit down from head-to-toe, Kendra wore a simple black bandana along with a warm-colored Verdusa Women's Tie Front Long Sleeve Blouse from Amazon. The color palette matched with the album cover art from Wave to Earth’s debut EP, wave 0.01. She paired this eccentric print with a basic black maxi skirt, which brought all the attention to the blouse. However, some stand-out accessories were her teal pendant, gold piercings, Coach Jes Signature Crossbody, and the can of Liquid Death that kept her hydrated throughout the night. With temperatures in the high 80s, that certainly came in handy. Finally, like a typical Floridian, she wore open-toed, cream-colored sandals–not the best for a mosh pit, but Wave to Earth’s calming lo-fi music doesn’t call for any of that. 

Lining up last for the VIP meet-and-greet, Dilahila, a 29-year-old model based in Florida, wore an understated look. A long-sleeve black top saved her shoulders from the beating rays of the summer sun while a simple denim mini-skirt cooled down this look. She accessorized with two necklaces: a heart pendant made from rose quartz and a dainty silver charm, as well as bracelets, bangles, rings, and her trusty prescription glasses. She needed to be able to see the band performing, of course. Freeing her hands from the burdens of a wallet and keys (a concert-goer's two worst enemies) was her everyday purse: a brown-and-white leather bag. On her feet were rolled-down white socks and shiny leather ballet flats with two straps for security; not the most comfortable concert shoes, but Dilahila didn’t seem to mind as she sat and enjoyed the show from the comfort of the bar in the back. Her laid-back ‘fit reflected the “cooler older sister” persona that I picked up on after meeting and spending the duration of the concert with her.