Picture this: It’s 2010, the girls are wearing neon prints, long chunky necklaces and clubbing in office-chic dresses. The drinks are running warm through your body, “Like a G6” is blasting on the speakers and your lipstick needs some fixing in the bathroom. So you make your way through the crowds in heels, stilettos, even. You can’t look hot in the club without heels, right? Well, club culture is changing and heels are no longer staples.
For some millennials, the replacement of heels with sneakers at the club is more than a cultural change—it’s a death sentence. Gen Z clubbers have taken to TikTok to express their opposition against the claim that club culture is dying just because its fashion is changing.
This recent debate took a head when TikTok user Rae Christine posted a video claiming club culture is dying because girls aren’t sporting heels and “dressing up” anymore.
“Part of the thrill of going to the club is dancing on the couch in your heels,” she said. “You gotta figure out how to strengthen those ankles.”
Wearing a neon green tube dress and white wedges, Christine faced some roasts in her comment section. Comments joked that her shoes were “orthopedic” and “lemon peppa steppas.” Christine, who said she is 34 years old, falls into the category of a millennial, otherwise known as someone born between 1981 and 1996.
In response to Christine’s videos, younger TikTok users are posting clips poking fun at her video, dressing up like her or sporting random wedges they’ve dug up in their closets. One video is captioned, “POV: You see me at the club with the CORRECT attire on,” with the user dancing in a green dress and white heels with multiple straps.
In short, Gen-Z is coming after Christine because they’re taking a stand against the notion that club fashion has to look a certain way and that heels make up a majority of the vibe. Though clubbing is certainly enhanced by fun style and funky outfits, its actual sentiment is deeper than that.
Clubbing is a legitimate subculture that has withstood the test of time for over a century. Though European ballroom dancing inspired clubbing, its modern art was brought to life through the American jazz scene of the 1960s. Throughout the 1970s-80s, queer communities introduced funky colors, bright makeup and edgy looks to underground raves. Disco icons like Donna Summer and the Bee Gees became staples, transitioning into a music scene saturated with synths and electronic sounds in the 80s. Queer bands like Culture Club and the Pet Shop Boys are staples of this era.
As electronic music transformed, clubbing became more and more popular in America. Millennials like Christine remember a special era of raves and partying reflective of shows like Jersey Shore. Electronic tunes infused with pop music reflected clubbing as simply a natural part of every youth’s life. Smartphones weren’t a thing, Spotify didn’t exist and socializing was integral.
The years of 2010-2014 marked a fun era of hit songs like “Selfie” and “Take Over Control” streaming on iPods. Eventually, the onset of COVID and the rapid advancement of smartphones meant going out on the weekends was no longer a staple. The socialization of club culture is now intimidating for those who grew up in the digital age, leaving many millennials nostalgic for a time that came and went so quickly. Even Gen Z youth feel they missed out on the climax of party life.
Rather than focus on the fashion of club culture, Gen Z-ers and some Millennials are emphasizing the need to bring back the music of club culture that focuses on fun pop elements with electronic rhythms.
TikTok user Danisha Carter responded to a podcast featuring another user, Tinx, where she lamented about the dying art club culture. Carter danced on a table in her background to examples of “ungroovy” current top 40 tunes that perfectly describe why good music is so crucial to keeping club culture alive.
It seems the need for “danceable” music is the simple solution to clubbing. TikTok user Jemaree posted a chart of trending U.S. songs, none of which were ideal for dancing. Like Carter, he emphasized the need to revive pop songs from the 2000s.
If speakers were booming with songs reminiscent of artists like Pitbull, LMFAO and Daddy Yankee, club culture would thrive. Nowadays, it seems many songs reflect a more somber, melancholy sound—what Carter called “sad girl” music.
The future of club culture doesn’t seem all bleak, though. “Boom Clap” artist Charli XCX is bringing back some nostalgic beats with her newest album, “Brat”. The songs reflect rave-like sounds, with one song literally called “Club Classics”. It’s been met with pretty positive reviews and might just be the hero we need to bring back our partying ways.
In the meantime, fashion is still a key element to clubbing, especially when coupled with the rhythm and flow of intense and funky songs. Though Christine is facing backlash for her video, she’s also making bank with apparel brand Akira, appearing in a recent commercial for a new launch of clunky stilettos. Of course, she sported her neon green dress too.
What do you all think? Is club culture on its way to the graveyard, or is there still hope? Let us know on social media or in the comment section below!
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