Festival Fashion: What to Wear and What to Avoid
As busy college students in the Bay Area, we tend to spend most of our time working, studying, or filling our schedules with extracurriculars and internships. But when it comes to finding a weekend off to splurge on a fun activity or a trip with friends, music festivals have become the go-to. This widespread attraction allows students to let loose and create once- experiences, seeing their favorite artists while dancing their stress away. With so many California music festivals every year, like Coachella, Outside Lands, and BottleRock, festival clothing has turned into an exceptional creative genre of fashion, one that many college students wish to explore but don’t know where to begin.
Entering the world of fashion and finding new ways to express your own personal style can be very intimidating, causing many to stray away from broadening their wardrobe and going beyond their comfort zone. From my own personal experience, I get intimidated going out in public wearing something outside of my typical style. However, upon attending my first music festival, I quickly realized that this chaotic setting was the perfect place to explore the craziest sides of my outward expression.
Festivals are a time to let your creativity go wild and to try on something you wouldn’t wear regularly. When looking for pieces to make your festival outfit, an important thing to look for is a bright splash of color. Consider finding pieces with bright colors and unique patterns to create an outfit that will stand out in a crowd and make your outfit one of a kind. Neon pinks, oranges, and greens are popular choices for body suits and matching two-piece sets, which will make your outfit pop in a crowd full of people. Try playing around with different color palettes you wouldn’t typically go for on any normal day out and see what sparks your imagination.
Reflective pants, skirts, and tops can also spice up your festival fit when transitioning from day to night performances. Festivals often last all day and night, so when the sun finally goes down, and the flashing lights and lasers illuminate the stages, reflective clothing will ignite your daytime fit into a beaming night fit. While you party the night away listening to your favorite rave performances, you’ll be shining bright for the whole crowd to see. Another great option to catch the flashing lights of the performances is finding something with sparkles or shimmer, bringing your rave fit to the next level. Any clothing that can reflect the flashing lights will enhance your festival experience.
Playing with texture and color in your everyday fashion can be daunting, so festivals are the perfect opportunity for students to experiment with different fabrics outside their daily wardrobe. There are no limits to what you could wear to a festival, so testing out mesh tops, faux leather pants, and knitted crochet sets can all be amazing choices when experimenting with your unique fashion taste.
Comfort is another important factor when dressing for a music festival. Festivals can go from one morning to the next, so finding outfits that will last you throughout an extended period of time is essential when putting together your festival attire. With this in mind, make sure to wear items that aren't too tight or heavy, allowing you to stay cool and comfortable as you enjoy the show. Finally, to tie your look altogether, accessories are an imperative step when assembling your festival garb. Jewelry like bracelets, necklaces, and waist chinese will add even more sparkle and depth to your outfit; but it doesn’t stop there. Finding trendy bags and backpacks to hold your belongings can complement your ensemble, so you don’t lose your small possessions. Colorful fanny packs and reflective water packs are popular festival and rave essentials that you can continue to use for your upcoming future festival weekends with friends.
Overall, finding the perfect festival ensemble should be a fun and creative experience, giving you and your friends the perfect opportunity to go out of your comfort zone while exploring the world of fashion, color, and accessories. There are no limits to what you can and can’t wear to a music festival, so you can never choose the wrong outfit.
