It’s that time of year again; you realize that your first festival is about a month away. So you’re “hitting the gym,” all your friends are posting #TBT pictures of themselves at Coachella, and everyone is trying to figure out if they want to go to Bonnaroo or Coachella this year, because the Bonnaroo lineup is “soooo amazing,” (but actually it is), yet the concept of Coachella is just soooo glam. Sure, every festival has a different vibe, but the one thing they all have in common is that they’re multiple days, meaning multiple outfits. The one thing that stresses me out the most is figuring out what the hell I’m going to wear at the festivals I go to. These are the festivals that I attend, listed from highest stress point to lowest stress point (outfit-wise): Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, Outside Lands, and Snowglobe Music Festival (it’s in the snow, so no one really cares about what you look like. You could look like a penguin and still, no one would give a shit).
Coachella is probably the festival I prepare for the most. After all, it takes place just an hour outside of LA, attracting the hottest celebs, men and women alike, and the population consists of about 89% models. With that being said, you don’t want to dress like a 15 year old who’s going to her first festival (think flower crowns and high-waisted shorts). You need to dress like you’re about to be approached by some fashion/music blog who wants to take your picture because your outfit is on FLEEK. Feel me? So, because I want to help you out, I’m going to give you a list of staple items that you are definitely going to want to wear to the Empire Polo Fields in April. Don’t worry, I’ll even tell you where to find these treasures.
Lets talk about tops for women. We get it, the 90s are back, and that decade’s been back for a while. That does not mean you MUST wear a crop top to complete your outfit. There are so many alternatives that won’t make you look like Baby Spice, even though that is kind of a cute look. Bodysuits are a great alternative, as are swing tanks, and vintage rocker tees. If you still insist on wearing a tight crop top, try pairing it with a kimono. You can never go wrong with a kimono. Here are some examples of what I listed above:
http://store.americanapparel.net/cotton-spandex-jersey-halter-leotard_rsa8312
http://www.nastygal.com/clothes-tops-tanks/cutaway-tank-gray
http://www.shopbackbite.com/collections/sale/products/metallica-and-justice-for-all-1994-tee
Now for bottoms. You really can’t go wrong with bottoms. Yeah it’s a bit obscene when you see a girl’s butt cheeks hanging out of her shorts, but hey, it’s festival season. If you don’t want to be one of those clones you usually see running around festivals, here are some alternatives:
Wear a pair of distressed boyfriend jeans.
Overalls! For a vintage look that not everyone can successfully pull off.
Leather shorts. Or vegan leather, so that PETA doesn’t come after you.
A maxi skirt. Yes, you can wear a maxi skirt, look sexy, and not be mistaken for being Amish.
A two piece set! Tons of clothing brands have been coming out with two piece sets since last year and they are absolutely adorable.
Patterned bell-bottoms; they’re stretchy and pretty much yoga pants with a vintage pattern. Think Penny Lane in the movie “Almost Famous”.
Your festival look is almost complete, all that is missing is a pair of shoes. When it comes to shoes for your outfits, comfort is key! Converse, Doc Martens, and Vans are all great options for your needy festival feet. Lots of girls wear cute little booties, but to be honest they get very hot. However, they do look great, so if you can deal with the heat, then go for it. And lastly, you’re going to need a festival bag. A crossbody purse will do if you’re going in and out of the festival, and hanging out in the VIP area or backstage. In other words, they’re not that functional since they’re usually small and cannot hold all your necessities. My go-to festival bag is a leather backpack I found at a thrift store in San Francisco. They’re easy to find online, and there’s such a variety on this style of backpack style. Trust me, backpacks are the way to go. Here’s pretty much the perfect festival bag for Coachella, found on NastyGal’s website: http://www.nastygal.com/product/rio-grande-backpack
Hopefully you have some ideas of what to wear (and what not to wear) to Coachella after reading this article. Don’t worry, if you’re still lost, check out the pictures below for some more outfit inspiration. Happy outfit planning, and happy Coachella!
Article by Annapurna Kreaden
***None of the photos used in this article are property of Bass Feeds The Soul and belong to their respective owners***