Conan Gray finds Heaven in 80s fashion

As the opening synth of “Fainted Love” filled the Kia Forum Friday night, the sold-out crowd screamed as the curtain dropped, revealing Conan Gray decked out in head-to-toe patent leather. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter’s performance in Los Angeles was part of the third leg of “Found Heaven On Tour,” which promotes Gray’s third studio album.

“Found Heaven” is an 80s-inspired pop rock album influenced by the sound of musicians like David Bowie and Elton John. On tour for this album, Gray not only transports his fans back in time through his sound but also through his retro-inspired outfits.

Taking the stage in LA, Gray donned a bespoke black-and-white two-piece set designed by Lacey Dalimonte. Dalimonte is an LA-based fashion designer who has created one-of-a-kind pieces for artists like Chappell Roan and Lady Gaga, in addition to working as Madonna’s Leather Specialist.

While the color scheme and pattern of Gray’s “Found Heaven” ensembles vary from night to night, the overall design remains relatively consistent. Gray’s 80s-inspired costume is composed of a lace-up front corset vest and matching wide-leg pants. Paying homage to the material associated with many iconic performers like Freddy Mercury and Billy Idol, Dalimonte crafts these pieces out of hand distressed leather.

To accessorize these custom pieces, Gray often adds a pair of fingerless leather gloves and a guitar pick necklace. The teardrop-shaped pendant, which features a star motif, is the official “Found Heaven” logo. For Gray’s performance at Madison Square Garden earlier this month, Dalimonte adorned Gray’s usual cropped vest with an assortment of blue, red, silver and gold laser-cut logos hand-linked together. As Gray danced around the stage in New York, the light reflected off of the metallic teardrops, creating a stunning visual.

The “Found Heaven” teardrop motif is also featured in red on Gray’s encore ensemble. As a part of Gray’s false encore, he returns to the stage at the end of each performance in a new shirt to perform “Bourgeoisieses,” “Maniac” and “Alley Rose.” Like his best friend Olivia Rodrigo on her “GUTS World Tour,” Gray’s encore outfit includes a simple white tank top printed with a unique phrase every night. These tops usually feature a witty play on the spelling of Gray’s song “Bourgeoisieses.” For his LA show, Gray’s encore top said “In-N-Out BurgerJesus,” honoring this popular California chain.

To encourage fan participation in this part of the “Found Heaven” tour, Gray sells a tank that says “Burger Jesus” on his official website. In addition to creating DIY versions of this top, “Found Heaven” concertgoers emulate Gray’s 80s-inspired looks by wearing leather jackets and star-patterned clothing. Many fans’ outfits also call back to Gray’s previous albums, such as wearing red “Superache” merchandise or sweaters to represent “Heather,” a hit song from Gray’s first studio album, “Kid Krow.”

By establishing a retro-inspired vibe through the musicality and visuals of “Found Heaven On Tour,” Gray not only pays homage to his 80s inspirations but also unites modern concertgoers in a nostalgic quest to find Heaven.