The Fashion Behind “Stan” Culture

Photo from npr.org

In the world of “stan” culture, the phrase “if you know, you know,” is used for almost everything — especially when it comes to the fashion that adoring fans love. For fandoms all across the world, the admiration for artists goes further than just a playlist. More often than not, the styling and aesthetics of fans’ favorite artists transcends onto the listener.

So, have you ever wondered how to seek out other “stans” in the world? If so, you’re in luck. VALLEY has put together a list of some of the most prominent fandoms and the fashion trends they love to wear to show their dedication and love to their favorite artists.

Pharbs and Doc Martens

Known on the internet as Pharbs, fans of Phoebe Bridgers are no strangers to Dr. Martens. Commonly referred to as doc martens, Bridgers and her fans seem to not get enough of the stylish boot.

If you ever find yourself at a Phoebe show, there is a 99.9 percent chance that everyone in the crowd will be wearing some variation of the classic shoe. The indie rock singer regularly sports various styles of this brand, thus it has become a staple of being a pharb.

The 1975 Fans and “The Box”

Many bands and artists have a signature logo or symbol — The 1975 might be the epitome of this. The four-piece band from the U.K. is built heavily on aesthetics and visuals, the box being one of them. Seen in album covers, music videos and set designs, the box is a visual symbol of the band. There even is a reference to the box in one of their songs, “Give Yourself a Try.”

Amongst stans, many have decided to tattoo the box on their arm. Members of the band also have the box tattooed on them, thus increasing the popularity to do so. Along with tattoos, fans also sport clothing and jewelry that incorporates the box in some way.

Harries and Pearl Necklaces

Pearl necklaces have certainly made a come back in fashion, could Styles be the catalyst for this? Known as Harries, fans of Harry Styles are recognizable thanks to pearl necklaces. In recent years, the Brit has accompanied his stylish on and off-stage looks with pearl and beaded necklaces — something his fans have deeply taken notice of.

Harries have created many variations of pearl necklaces. Some fans spice the accessory up by including beads that spell out phrases common to the fandom, such as Styles’ slogan, Treat People With Kindness.

Swifties and Cardigans

Perhaps one of the biggest merch drops to date, the Taylor Swift “Folklore” cardigan had all Swifties enchanted. Fans who were able to get their hands on the iconic cardigan can feel like they are right out of “Folklore.”

The cardigan has become so popular, that there are now five different styles, with hopefully more to come!

K-pop Stans and Phone Case Decor

If you’re a K-pop fan, you should know a thing or two about photocards and their connection to phone cases. One of the many unique things about K-pop artists is that they include little selfie cards, known as photocards, inside their album packages. Fans collect and trade these cards, but, they also love to display them through their phone cases.

Fans enjoy putting their favorite member of the K-pop group inside clear phone cases with stickers and other accessories to match. If you are trying to find fellow K-pop stands in State College, keep an eye out for people’s phone cases, you never know what you might find!

Are there any items in your closet or accessories that are reminiscent of your favorite artists? Share your photos on Instagram by tagging @valleymag!

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