What to wear to When We Were Young: Las Vegas sits at 26°C (79°F) by day and 14°C (57°F) at night in October, on arena grounds, with a low chance of rain. That means a light base with one warm layer you can carry, cushioned trainers or a low boot, and a bag small enough for the gate rules. The crowd leans punk, alt and goth, so anything that survives the day reads as right.
When We Were Young Outfits: What to Wear
The complete style guide to When We Were Young in Las Vegas, United States. 26°C (79°F) by day, 14°C (57°F) at night, on arena grounds.
17 October (exp.)Next edition
26°C / 14°CDay / night
arena groundsGround
NoCamping
60,000Crowd
Original photography by Festival Style Guide showing the conditions this kind of festival is dressed for. A photo specific to When We Were Young is on the way.
More about When We Were Young: the festival, the crowd and the conditions
When We Were Young takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, usually in October, US autumn. It is a 60,000-capacity festival, running 1 day across arena grounds with no camping on site.
A one-day time machine to 2007: black skinny jeans, studded belts and eyeliner, in Nevada daylight that shows no mercy to a full fringe.
Days sit around 26°C (79°F) and nights fall to 14°C (57°F), a 12-degree swing that most first-timers underestimate. Rain is unlikely, which is the one thing you can plan around.
Below: the 10 outfits that work best at When We Were Young, what the crowd actually wears, and the practical rules, bag size, footwear, night layers. That decide whether the outfit survives the weekend.
Ranked for this festival
The 10 best outfits for When We Were Young
October weather, arena grounds, and the punk / alt crowd. Every look is shoppable.
Look 01
DIY Punk Budget-friendly
Cut it, safety-pin it, wear it three days running.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (punk and alt), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor.
- Topscropped or cut-up tee shop
- Shortstartan trousers or ripped denim shop
- Bootslace-up boots shop
- Jewellerychain belt and chokers shop
- Hairtemporary colour spray shop
- Jacketsstudded leather jacket shop
Look 02
Indie Sleaze Budget-friendly
2008 flash photography energy: leather, skinny denim, smudged liner.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (alt), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. At 26°C (79°F) keep it to the lightest fabrics in this look and skip the heavy layer.
- Jacketscropped leather jacket shop
- Topsvintage band or slogan tee shop
- Shortsskinny or straight black jeans shop
- Sneakersworn-in high-tops shop
- Sunglasseswayfarers shop
- Makeupsmudge-proof black liner shop
Look 03
Corset Drama Investment piece
Structured top, soft bottom. The silhouette that owns every front row.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (goth and y2k), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor.
- Topscorset or bustier shop
- Shortstulle skirt or wide cargos shop
- Bootslace-up platform boots shop
- Jewellerylayered chokers shop
- Makeupgraphic liner shop
- Bagsmini shoulder bag shop
Look 04
Dark Romantic Mid-range
Lace, leather and a parasol. Black in 30°C is a lifestyle, not a mistake.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (goth), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor.
- Dresseslace or mesh maxi shop
- Jacketslongline black coat or shrug shop
- Bootsplatform boots shop
- Jewellerysilver crosses and chokers shop
- Makeupmatte black lip and liner shop
- Hatswide-brim hat or veil shop
Look 05
Y2K Revival Budget-friendly
Low-rise, baby tee, butterfly clips. 2003 with better sunscreen.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (y2k), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor.
- Topsbaby tee or halter top shop
- Shortslow-rise cargo or micro mini shop
- Sneakerschunky retro trainers shop
- Sunglassestiny tinted shield sunglasses shop
- Hairbutterfly clips and mini braids shop
- Bagsbaguette shoulder bag shop
Look 06
Field Grunge Budget-friendly
Glastonbury logic: layers you can trash, boots you can hose down.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (alt), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. At 26°C (79°F) keep it to the lightest fabrics in this look and skip the heavy layer.
- Topsband tee shop
- Jacketsoversized flannel or denim jacket shop
- Shortsshorts over thermal leggings shop
- Bootsrain or combat boots shop
- Hatsbucket hat shop
- Rainpackable rain shell shop
Look 07
Metal Uniform Budget-friendly
Battle jacket, black tee, boots. There is no other correct answer.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (punk), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor.
- Topsblack band tee shop
- Jacketsdenim battle jacket with patches shop
- Shortsblack jeans or shorts shop
- Bootssteel-toe or combat boots shop
- Earplugsearplugs (front row is loud) shop
- Bagssmall black backpack shop
Look 08
Street Heat Mid-range
Fit-first: silhouette, sneakers, one loud piece.
It is the outlier pick here, which is exactly why it photographs well against When We Were Young's usual crowd. Right for concrete, crowd crush and a very long queue.
- Topsoversized graphic tee or jersey shop
- Shortsbaggy denim or cargo shorts shop
- Sneakersstatement sneakers shop
- Hatsfitted cap or beanie shop
- Jewellerycuban chain shop
- Bagscrossbody sling shop
Look 09
Kawaii Layer Mid-range
Layered, colour-clashed and accessory-maximal. The Asia festival main character.
It is the outlier pick here, which is exactly why it photographs well against When We Were Young's usual crowd. Right for concrete, crowd crush and a very long queue.
- Co-ordspleated skirt set shop
- Topsgraphic layering tee shop
- Sneakersplatform sneakers shop
- Hairclips, bows and mini buns shop
- Bagsplush or charm-covered bag shop
- Glittersticker gems shop
Look 10
Camp Utility Mid-range
Built for five days in a tent: pockets, layers, and nothing dry-clean.
It speaks the same language as the line-up (alt), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor.
- Shortscargo trousers with real pockets shop
- Topsmoisture-wicking tee shop
- Jacketspackable windbreaker shop
- Bootsbroken-in boots shop
- Campingheadtorch and power bank shop
- Earplugsearplugs and eye mask shop
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When We Were Young dates to 2030
Expected dates come from the pattern this festival follows; confirmed dates come from the organiser. Check the official site before booking.
| Year | Dates | Status | Outfit guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 October 2026 | expected | 2026 outfits |
| 2027 | 16 October 2027 | expected | 2027 outfits |
| 2028 | 21 October 2028 | expected | outfit guide |
| 2029 | 20 October 2029 | expected | outfit guide |
| 2030 | 19 October 2030 | expected | outfit guide |
The dress code, decoded
The dominant aesthetics at When We Were Young are punk, alternative, gothic and Y2K revival. That is the visual language of the site, the stages, the merch, the crowd photos, and outfits that speak it look intentional rather than borrowed.
There is no enforced dress code. What the crowd rewards is a look that survives 1 day of arena grounds without you having to protect it.
What people actually wear: one good layer over a light base, because the temperature halves after sunset.
October weather at When We Were Young
| Typical daytime high | 26°C (79°F) |
|---|---|
| Typical night low | 14°C (57°F) |
| Day–night swing | 12°C (22°F) |
| Rain risk | Low |
| Ground | Concrete and gravel |
| Sun exposure | High, little natural shade |
What shoes to wear
Best option here: Cushioned trainers or a low boot. You are on concrete for ten hours.
Avoid: brand-new shoes, heels, and anything you have not walked 10 kilometres in.
You will walk between 15.000 and 30.000 steps a day at a festival of this size. Footwear is the only part of a festival outfit that can genuinely end your weekend, so it is the one place to spend money and break things in beforehand.
After dark
Once the sun goes down it drops to 14°C (57°F). The standard solution is a layer that lives in your bag all day: an oversized shirt, a light puffer or a fleece. If you are travelling back into town, factor in standing at a shuttle stop or station in that temperature for half an hour.
Rules that catch people out
- Bag size. Most festivals of this size cap bags at roughly A4 or require a clear bag at the main stages. A belt bag plus a small crossbody clears almost every policy. Check the official rules before you buy anything bigger.
- Chains and studs. Long chains, spikes and metal-heavy accessories are refused at some gates. If a piece is central to the look, have a backup.
- Glitter. Biodegradable only at a growing number of festivals; plastic glitter is banned outright at several. It is also, practically, the hardest thing to remove from a tent.
- No camping. You are travelling in and out each day, so the outfit has to survive public transport at both ends, and a cloakroom is not guaranteed.
What not to wear to When We Were Young
- Heels of any kind. Grass, gravel and crowd crush. Platform boots give the height with a surface area that works.
- Brand-new shoes. Ten hours on concrete in unbroken-in soles is the most reliable way to leave early.
- Your good bag. Beer, mud, being sat on. Take the one you would not mind losing, with a zip.
Packing checklist
- Two tops per day (one gets ruined)
- One layer for the night
- Earplugs
- Refillable water bottle
- Portable charger
- Sun cream or SPF stick
- Baby wipes
- A bag with a zip
Frequently asked questions
Start with the weather: 26°C (79°F) by day, 14°C (57°F) at night, low rain risk, on arena grounds. That points to a light base with one warm layer you can carry, plus broken-in trainers or boots. Style-wise the crowd leans punk, alternative and gothic.
Typical night lows are around 14°C (57°F), a drop of 12 degrees from the daytime high. Most people manage with one light layer.
Cushioned trainers or a low boot; the site is concrete and gravel. Expect 15.000–30.000 steps a day.
No formal dress code. Wear what survives the day; the crowd is broad and nobody is checking.
Festivals this size usually limit bags to around A4 size, and some require clear bags at main stages. A belt bag plus a small zipped crossbody clears almost every policy. Always check the official rules for the current edition. They change year to year.
The reliable formula here is a tee, a light overshirt and broken-in trainers, with a beanie and a small crossbody bag. See the full list of men's outfits below.
Yes, but bring biodegradable glitter. Plastic glitter is banned at a growing number of festivals and is close to impossible to get out of a tent, a car or your hair. Face gems are the lower-effort alternative and survive sweat better.
When We Were Young normally takes place in October, running 1 day in Las Vegas. Exact dates are announced by the organisers each year at whenwewereyoungfestival.com. Check there before booking anything.
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