Courteeners at Utilita Arena, Cardiff: What Men Should Wear

Courteeners play Utilita Arena on Saturday 7 November, the second of six arena dates on a tour that opens in Leeds the night before. It's named after God Bless The Band, the best-of that came out at the end of August, so expect the songs everyone already knows the words to.

Anyone who has been to a Courteeners gig knows the dress code without being told. Overshirt, straight blue jeans, a Harrington or a suede jacket, low suede trainers. It comes out of Manchester indie and the football terraces, it suits a long night on a sticky floor, and I have no quarrel with it. My only advice is to change one piece of it, so you still look like yourself in a room full of the same outfit.

Doors, support acts and what time you get out

Doors are at 6.30pm and the show ends at 10.40pm, and the venue lists both as approximate. The Guest List and The Lathums are on first. There are no published set times, so if you want to see both support acts you need to be inside early, and that means a lot of standing before Liam Fray comes on.

Look at your ticket before you plan the outfit. In a seat you can wear the heavier coat and the nicer boots. On the floor you are dressing for heat, for being leant on and for four hours on your feet. Either way you walk out on Mary Ann Street, a few minutes from the middle of town, on a Saturday night.

The bag rule, the cloakroom and getting in

The arena allows one small bag each, no bigger than A4, which it puts at 29 by 21 by 15 centimetres. Anything larger gets turned away, and the cloakroom won't take it either. If you're arriving with an overnight bag, the venue points you to Stasher, which you need to book in advance.

Most men will go with no bag at all and four pockets, which is another point in favour of the overshirt. The arena is cashless, cloakroom included, and the FAQ gives two prices for leaving a coat (£3.50 an item in one place, £4 in another). There's no readmission, so whatever you walk in with stays with you until the end.

Navy, denim and stone are the safe half of the outfit, and that's fine. The other half is where you get to choose. A tobacco suede jacket or an olive cord overshirt does more for a plain outfit than any logo on a T-shirt, and both look better once they've been worn a bit.

Start with the overshirt

At a gig like this the overshirt does more work than anything else you wear. It's a jacket in the queue at half six and a shirt on the floor at nine, and it has the pockets your phone and card need. Cord in brown, green or cream is the classic version. A brushed check is the one to pick if you like a pattern, and I'd always rather see a check than another plain navy.

Wear it open over a plain T-shirt or a thin crew neck. Buttoned to the top it starts to look like a work shirt.

Choosing a jacket: Harrington or suede

The Harrington has been the terrace jacket for decades, and it's still right for this. It's short and light, and it zips up for the walk to the arena and comes off without a fight on the floor. Navy or black is what most of the room will have on. Stone, grey or a bold tartan lining is how you make it yours.

The other route is brown: a suede or cord jacket with a collar. It's warmer and a little more grown-up, and it looks better with some wear in it, so check second-hand before you pay full price for a new one.

Straight blue jeans and a crew neck jumper

Jeans first. A straight leg in a mid-blue wash that just reaches the top of your trainers is the right shape here. Skinny looks like 2010 in this crowd, and very baggy denim buries the shoes, which are half the point.

Under the overshirt or the Harrington, a lambswool crew neck in a colour that isn't navy. Burgundy or bottle green both go with denim and brown suede, and lambswool is thin enough that you won't cook once the floor fills up.

Trainers, boots and the bucket hat question

Sambas and Gazelles will be on a lot of feet, because a low suede trainer with a gum sole goes with everything above. If you want to stand apart from the crowd, go for the same shape in green, tan or navy from a brand nobody else is wearing.

Desert boots are the alternative. They're warmer in the queue and look a bit sharper in the pub afterwards.

As for the bucket hat: leave it at home. It's a summer festival hat, and in an indoor arena in November it spends the night in your hand or your back pocket. If you want something on your head for the walk in, a beanie folds into a pocket.

A small bag, if you bring one

If your jacket pockets are shallow, a small crossbody worn across the front keeps your phone, card and keys where you can feel them, and it's nowhere near the A4 limit.

The whole outfit in one line

An overshirt, straight blue jeans, a Harrington or a brown suede jacket, low suede trainers or desert boots, and no bucket hat. Then pick one of those and make it the piece nobody else in the room has.

Going with someone who wants the women's version? It's here: Courteeners at Utilita Arena, Cardiff: What to Wear.

Stock and prices change week to week, so if something catches your eye, don't leave it until Friday.