The Ultimate Guide to Men's Rave Outfit Ideas

By:Samuel De Koning

Key takeaways

A large part of rave culture is based on fashion.
There is normally no strict dress code for raves, but this often depends on the people organizing the event or the venue.
Your outfit should be a reflection of you, your personality and your style.
The most important thing to remember when putting together an outfit is to be yourself and wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Steer clear of uncomfortable footwear, excessive layers and expensive designer clothes.
Accessories are key among rave-goers – things like fanny packs, earplugs and glow sticks are popular choices.
Most rave outfits will be wild and full of color.
Remember that the main thing is you should be doing what makes you happy. Go out there and have some fun!

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Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat.

When Fatboy Slim, Riva Starr and Beardyman wrote this song back in 2013, they pretty much covered everything to do with the rave lifestyle.

But unfortunately, they missed out something quite important, so it really should go something like this:

Eat. Sleep. Desperately try and put together a new, innovative, exciting and original outfit that makes you stand out and hasn’t been done a million times before. Rave. Repeat.

Definitely not as catchy, but infinitely more accurate.

Luckily for you, we feel your pain. That’s why we’ve put together some tips and tricks for you to use as inspiration for men's rave outfit ideas and to finally answer the question: what do guys wear to raves?

So, let’s get started.

What is the dress code for a rave?

Fashion is a big part of rave culture, and one of the main themes of any rave is embracing who you are and what makes you unique. So naturally, fashion plays a big role in allowing people to express themselves at raves without fear of judgment.

The outfits at raves can vary wildly depending on the organizer and the theme. They can range from casual outfits that wouldn’t look out of place in any day-to-day environment to the most intricately made, wild and colorful outfits you could imagine.

So in answer to the question “is there a dress code for a rave?” the answer is yes: be yourself.

If you feel at your most comfortable in a pair of jeans, trainers and a baggy T-shirt, then that’s what makes you, you.

But if you feel at your best and most confident in a full neon suit with hand-made angel wings and a full face of elaborate makeup, then you do you.

What should you not wear to a rave?

There normally aren’t any strict rules on what you shouldn’t wear to a rave, but again this will depend on the organizer or even the venue.

However, there are a few things that you would do well to steer clear of for practical reasons:

1. High heels

We get it, high heels are fierce.

You feel tall and powerful, your legs look phenomenal and they can give you a huge confidence boost.

But when you’re on your feet dancing for hours at a time, high heels – or any high-platform shoes for that matter – suddenly become your worst enemy.

So our best advice is to choose footwear you know you’re going to be comfortable in. Alternatively, if you really want to make a stylish entrance, then just bring along some comfy shoes to put on after you’ve wowed everyone with your full outfit.

2. Lots of layers

Layering is a great way to create a unique style, but it’s worth remembering that raves are infamous for being hot and sweaty, with hundreds of people in the same space dancing and moving.

That means that if you have too many layers on you can easily overheat while you’re dancing.

3. Expensive designer clothes

As we just mentioned, you’re going to be in a crowded space with a lot of people.

So if you’re wearing your best, most expensive clothes, then the best-case scenario is you’re going to leave with them drenched in sweat.

But there’s also a high likelihood that you’re going to have drinks spilled on you, dirt kicked on you if you’re in an outdoor venue and any number of other potential ways to ruin your clothes.

The last thing you’ll want to worry about is ruining your favorite shirt, so it’s best to leave the fancy stuff at home.

How to build the ultimate guys’ rave outfit

So you’re off to a rave.

You’ve got your friends, you’ve got your tickets, now you just need to figure out the fashion.

A rave is the perfect opportunity to let loose and go a little bit wild with your outfit choice. Your outfit should not only make you feel confident but should also be a reflection of who you are as a person, as well as your own personal style.

You’re going to be swimming in a sea of color, so it’ll be hard to make yourself stand out. But half of the fun is trying, right?

So now we know what you shouldn’t wear, let’s take a look at how to build your own outfit.

1. Start with the basics

The first thing you should be thinking about is the base layer. Grab a simple top, some simple bottoms and a pair of comfortable shoes.

You’ll want to keep the bottom layer quite tight-fitting so that you can easily layer over all of your extra bits and accessories.

To really stand out, try making your bottom layer as colorful as possible, maybe even try some neon clothes for that extra kick of color.

2. Now it’s time to layer

This is where you can start getting really wild and creative.

We’re talking sequined straps, fishnets, string tops. Basically anything that catches your eye and makes you feel confident.

If you want to get really creative with it, you can either buy or make some rave wings that will make you stand out amongst the crowd.

But remember what we said earlier – while layering is common and a great way to show off your creative side, don’t overlayer and end up overheating.

3. Accessorize

No rave outfit is complete without some accessories.

Try some neon bracelets, glow sticks, rainbow bandanas, glitter, face paint or makeup – anything that fits the rave brief and makes you feel comfortable and confident.

LED lights are also a popular option. You can get a number of different accessories with built-in LEDs such as ties, glasses, gloves or even shoelaces.

Glow-in-the-dark jewelry, sprays or face paint can also be a fun way to jazz up your outfit and really make you stand out from the crowd. This is your chance to get as creative as you want to be.

You can even mix fashion with utility and wear a colorful fanny pack that you can use to keep your valuables and a bottle of water in.

4. Ear protection

Raves are loud. There’s no getting away from that – but that’s just one of the many reasons why we love them, right?

They’re perfect for losing yourself in the music and the beat, but that’s just the thing – you want to lose yourself, not your hearing.

Most live music events like raves or concerts can reach noise levels of around 120 decibels. But according to CDC, consistently exposing yourself to any noise level above 70 decibels can cause noise-induced hearing loss.

That’s why earplugs are the perfect solution to help protect your hearing.

Earplugs such as Loop Experience allow you to take your world of sound into your own hands by letting you fully feel the beat of the DJ without having to compromise the health and safety of your ears.

Our Experience earplugs are comfortable, stylish and can help you to reduce noise levels by up to 18 decibels thanks to a patented acoustic channel and mesh. This allows the earplugs to filter sound equally across all frequencies, meaning you can still hear every lyric, beat and drop with crystal clarity, but without the ringing in your ears the next morning.

Loop earplugs also come in a small carry case that can easily slip into your pocket, your bag or even attach to your keychain. And with our range of colors and our seasonal collections, you can match your earplugs to any outfit – making them the perfect rave accessory.

Get yourself rave-ready

Rave fashion is an amazing way for you to express yourself and have some fun with your outfit.

But remember, raves are all about being yourself.

So if you feel best in a white T-shirt and blue jeans, then that’s what you should be wearing. If you feel good in fishnet leggings, a crop top and a pair of neon sunglasses, then shine bright and go own that dance floor.

Raves are a place of no pressure and no judgments – just music, dancing and community.

And if you’re ever worried about keeping your ears safe in loud environments, Loop earplugs are a perfect, innovative solution that not only looks good but feels good too.

With Loop Experience, you can feel at one with the music – without the banging headache.

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