Stuck for ideas for your festival fashion this year? We've gathered some practical tips as well as some popular aesthetics for the summer.
No one has the same festival fashion preferences. You may be someone who opts for comfort in order to fully enjoy a whole day walking around, dancing and singing. But others chose to go all out and show off the extravagant outfits they've been planning all year.
However you choose to dress though, the following are a few essentials to consider when it comes to comfort, trends, weather and location.
Festival clothing basics
A festival isn’t always about crazy outfits and glitz, and you certainly don't have to go out of your way to drop a month's rent on an outfit you'll only wear once. There are a lot of simple items that can be made to work, and are a much friendlier price.
You can usually find coloured shorts or animal print tops for the same price as any regular item of clothing. Pieces like these have a little more something to add to your outfits. This applies to plain clothes as well, if you feel more comfortable in your favourite denim jeans and graphic tee then go for it! A simpler outfit works just the same.
The impact of a statement top or bottom
Something that helps you out if you're on a budget, have limited packing space or just don't want to put in too much effort, is investing in a few statement pieces that have unlimited outfit potential. A bedazzled pair of trousers, or top covered in sparkles and tassels can be paired with simple bits of clothing that you already own.
This not only makes your top or trousers the statement of your look, but also the option of what you pair them with is endless, so they can be worn again and again in different ways.
Dressing for comfort
Festivals can be an intense place to be especially for an extended weekend. Being on your feet continuously, heat, crowds, and uncomfortable sleeping, these are more than valid reasons to dress completely for comfort. At the end of the day no one is going to remember what you wore, people are enjoying their time too much (or will be too messed up) to notice.
For girls, go for some cotton shorts and a comfy bikini top or t-shirt, this will still make a great outfit but the best part is you don't even know you're wearing it, no itchy, tight or heavy clothing to slow you down.
Preparing for weather
You can't control the weather and this goes both ways. If the sun is beating down you are most likely going to overheat, but if it starts chucking it down, everything’s going to be cold and wet. It's best to prepare for these conditions, don't risk wearing your tiny skirt and crop top set when torrential rain is predicted for the whole weekend, you’ll be frozen and soggy.
This doesn't mean completely giving up on an outfit though, pack a waterproof or one of those clear ponchos so everyone can still see what you're wearing. If the sun is the issue make sure you have sun cream, or if you know you’re sensitive to the sun, wear long sleeves to keep the UV rays out.
The last thing you want is the weather to ruin the festival weekend you paid for, so be sensible, wrap up if it's cold, wear the right materials if it's wet, and watch out for the sun if it's hot.
What aesthetics might you see at a festival?
Hippie chic
A festival mainstay since the hippie subculture first emerged. Floral maxi dresses, knitwear and patchwork are comfy enough to spend a couple days camping in, so it’s understandable tbh.
Blokecore
Until last year, this was pretty much just how a certain type of lad goes to a festival. Footie shirts are super breathable, so great summer wear. Level up the bloke side of things with cargo shorts you can carry your essentials in.
Indie sleaze
The intersection of Tumblr girls and Lana Del Rey fans is where you’ll find indie sleaze. Existential dread made manifest, but cute.
Barbiecore
The girlies with the pinkest, loudest vibe are often the best ones to hang out with. They’ll have your back and usually have everything you need in their pink faux-fur purse.
70s casual
The Y2K aesthetic still has somewhat of a chokehold on the fashion world, but there’s a 70s revival around the corner too. Patterned browns and warm tones on dungarees, flares or bell sleeves.
At the end of the day, any festival is a great place to express yourself, let loose and have a great time with friends, you do it how you feel most comfortable. It’s always worth keeping the above tips in mind though to avoid stress or being the one soaked through.
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