You know the look we're talking about. The look of a man who stands on a stage in front of thousands of people and transports them to another dimension with some of the most iconic music we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. When you are front and center, you have to have impeccable style. You have to project who you are and what you are about simply by your appearance. Having the right look can do that for you. Of course, if you want to have the look of a front man you have to start with discovering your own personal style, and then find a good brand for concert outfits.
Of course, you don't want to just copy your favorite rock-and-roll legend's rock clothes, as it would never work for you the way it works for them. Hell, the whole point of wearing these unique pieces is to pull together a look that is so unapologetically you that there is no way anyone else could pull it off. But to be able to do that, you will have to find the right rock-and-roll-focused clothing brand that speaks to you. Luckily for you, that is right up our alley, and we compiled a list of our favorite brands that will keep you Living on a Prayer and rocking the perfect concert outfit.
Best overall
John Varvatos
- Mixes rock with every day
- Fashion designer with a love for rock and roll gives a wearable look
- No longer owned by Varvatos so who knows what the future holds
We love a good rock star and their music. So if you want to wear the clothing to make you look like a rock star, who better to buy clothing from than a guy who loves rockers as much as us? John Varvatos credits his early obsession with rock and roll as the inspiration from his entrance into the fashion industry. Shopping his namesake brand, you can easily see the inspiration and where his love of music comes into play.
Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Velvet Revolver, Chris Cornell, Dave Matthews, The Roots, and Green Day have all been featured in his ad campaigns. But while you're shopping for some high-end, rocker-inspired clothing, put on Spencer Sutherland's Alive and you'll never feel more so.
Best for the front man
Wornstar
- Created by the industry
- Hand stitched
- Customer service can be difficult to get ahold of
You probably won't find two people more suited to start a rock brand than Wornstar's founders, Stephen and Sylvia Jensen. With the former being a rock-and-roll art director and photographer and the latter a stylist and designer for the community, they know what they are doing with making their frontmen and bandmates look the best they can look. With a background in performing and designing in the rock 'n' roll arena, they know what works best and have created clothing that not only looks great but is comfortable and movable while you are rocking your face off.
One of the aspects of Wornstar that makes it unique among the rest of the competition is the do-it-yourself focus. Not only does it hand-stitch, hand-make, and hand-distress many of the products, but it will even offer the same service for your own personal garments you already own. Got a big show coming up and need your old leather jacket or favorite denim to look like part of the Wornstar ensemble? It has you covered.
Best for the dandy
The Kooples
- Fun and unique looks
- Accessible pricing
- Not all of it feels rock and roll, some feels more runway and streetwear
The Kooples is a French company founded by three brothers in 2007, with a focus on making the world a more fun place. While rock and roll is big on bringing injustices into the light, it also loves to party, and The Kooples wants to combine the chaos of the world with style, beauty, and a sense of humor. It has become known for its Dandy Rock silhouettes and is one of the most recognizable rock brands in the industry.
While the rest of fashion tries to fall in step with the current trends, The Kooples works to showcase an unrelenting commitment to chaos and unimpeachable classic style. If you're planning on shopping this brand and finding your next favorite looks, turn on King Krule’s Easy, Easy.
Best for the underground
The Cast Clothing
- One-of-a-kind looks
- High-quality leather
- Very niche looks even for the genre
Born on NYC's iconic Lower East Side, this brand is a small family-owned business centered on non-conformity and a do-it-yourself ethos that allows it to break away from the typical fashion-first business and embrace a you-first business and create a truly unique look that speaks your soul into existence. Celebrating the birthplace of punk music and showing through its designs, it is a gem in The Big Apple, which specializes in the best leather jackets.
It has perfected The Ramones style biker leather and has other pieces inspired by Elvis and Green Day. You can even custom design a jacket with The Cast and choose your hardware, lining, and leather, bringing your dream rocker jacket to life under total control. Best song to listen to while shopping the site: The Velvet Underground's Run, Run, Run.
Best for the rebel
Straight to Hell Apparel
- Wide range of products from shoes to ties
- Accessible pricing
- Lower quality than others on the list
Rock 'n' roll was born out of rebellion against the stuffy and oppressive eras that came before it. The anthems we drive, work out, and rock out to today called out injustices in the world, and the impact that has on us today is still palpable. Straight to Hell found this ethos in the song Combat Rock from The Clash and now uses it as a reminder every day to stick to your ethics and stay strong in your separation from what everyone else is doing.
Straight to Hell offers everything from your everyday looks to stunning stagewear where you can wear your soul on your sleeve, literally. It focuses on classic styles and aesthetics while embracing progress and inclusivity, making it one of the best combinations of vintage and rebellious. What do you listen to when shopping this brand? Well, Combat Rock, of course.
Best for the Rolling Stone
Phix Clothing
- Unique designs
- High quality
- Escalating prices
Phix Clothing is one of our favorite brands right now. It's a British label making bold designs inspired by the glam years of Bowie and Marc Bolan and the mod era of The Rolling Stones. Phix has a great price point for a boutique brand and is an awesome source for print shirts and statement jackets. Be sure to hit the brand up again when the Fall collection hits, and its incredible Jagger and Richards style coats arrive. Listen to Bowie’s Oh! You Pretty Things and browse the site for new fits.
This is no fast-fashion brand. Every season it brings unique looks in limited-size runs, which means it runs out quickly, and there is even less of a chance that others will ever have what you have. That also means that every piece is highly coveted and resold at high prices. Sometimes even double what the original wearer paid for the garment.
How we chose
There are many brands that claim to be the preferred look for some pretty influential front men, but what we are looking for is more than simply stage wear. We looked for those brands that bridge the gap between those looks that made the musicians look great under the bright lights of the stage but also could make you look just as incredible on the street. The above brands are the ones that you can integrate into your wardrobe while you go from boring everyday man to rocking your face off.
Whether you're standing on stage with a bass, melting people's faces off with an electric solo, calling out injustice with your deep lyrics, or screaming your adoration in the crowd, these brands will help you keep your inner rocker alive. Shake off the stuffy feelings of today's fashion and embrace the chaotic uniqueness of a brand inspired by the innovation of rock 'n' roll.
