Putting together the perfect outfits to wear at a music festival can be a tricky task. You want to wear something chic and festive that brings out the best of your personal style.
Yet, you also have to make sure you’ll be comfortable enough for the physical activity that music festivals demand. You’ll be on your feet basically the whole time, walking the grounds of the festival and dancing to your favorite artists.
It will be hot and sunny, so you’ve gotta be ready for that- or will it? What if it rains? It certainly rained at Woodstock.
These tips will cover how to dress so that you’re as comfortable as possible and offer festive style ideas to try out. Combine the two, and you’ll be dressed and ready to head to the show!
Dress For Comfort
Comfort has to be a priority when dressing for a music festival. That doesn’t mean that you can’t be stylish and expressive with what you wear. It just means that you’ve got to be mindful about how the outfit you put on is going to perform. If your shoes are making you miserably uncomfortable, are they really worth the style points?
Start With Footwear
It’s already been mentioned, but you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your feet. One Coachella goer calculated an average of seven miles of walking per day for three days in a row. That’s 21 miles — getting into marathon territory.
Considering the importance of your footwear choice, you might want to set a few pairs that will work and base your outfits around them. That way, you’ve covered arguably the most crucial item straight away.
What Shoes To Wear
- Beater sneakers are your friends.
They don’t have to be totally beaten up, but whichever you choose, you’ve got to expect that they could see some abuse. That means leave your designer sneakers behind and choose something you don’t mind getting dirty and stepped on.
- Boots made for walking.
Boots are a good option because they’re stylish and rugged. Just make sure you’ve broken them in and are confident that they’re not going to hurt your feet after a few hours.
- Shoes with insoles are here to help.
These are cheat codes for festival footwear. Utilizing a comfortable insole is an effective way to make sure that your shoes will be kind to your feet for the duration of the festival.
Just make sure that you’ve tested them out beforehand: sometimes insoles, especially if they’re thicker than the ones you replace, can cause friction between your foot and the shoe that wasn’t there before.
What Shoes Not To Wear
- Flip flops, sandals, and other open-toed shoes are a no-go.
Sure, they’re comfortable in other situations, but even if you can’t spend a whole day on your feet in them, your feet will most likely be filthy at the end of the day. Dust, dirt, and grime will cake to your toes like you wouldn’t believe. Not to mention the likelihood of getting your toes stepped on in a large crowd of people.
- Leave your heels at home.
By now, this one should be self-explanatory. Even though heels might tie your outfit together perfectly, it’s simply not worth it. Anyways, we’re starting with footwear, so you won’t even have to worry about pulling your outfit together with heels.
If you absolutely must: Snap some photos with your heels on before you head out in something more suitable.
Accessorize To Make Your Style Practical and Comfortable
The following accessories fit the bill for a music festival with their practicality and the style they can add to your outfit. You don’t need to wear all of them at once; instead, pick accessories based on your needs.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are an accessory that is sure to add a flashy look to your outfit. They’re also essential for long days in the sun. Any kind of sunglasses you want to wear are appropriate for a music festival, but it’s a perfect chance to wear an over-the-top pair that you usually leave at home.
Bag
A bag is a good chance to add a stylish element to your outfit through the detail of accessories. It’s also going to be super practical to carry your music festival essentials, such as sunscreen, wallet, water, extra layer, etc. A crossbody bag is stylish for both guys and girls and is the ideal size for carrying around all day.
Hat
Wear a hat to keep the sun off your face, whether it be a baseball cap, brim hat, bucket hat, or something fun and funky like a cowboy hat. The sun is our best friend, but it’s also trying to kill us. Hats are an integral part of sun protection.
Bandana
A bandana is a stylish accessory that fits the bohemian look and has several uses. Wear it around your head to keep sweat or hair out of your face, wear it to keep the sun off the back of your neck, or wear it over your face to protect from dust or germs.
Moisture-Wicking T-Shirt
This one is especially useful for those who tend to sweat in the sun. Wear a moisture-wicking t-shirt so that you’re not stuck in a soaking wet shirt once the sun goes down. Things can turn from hot to cold pretty quickly if you’re all wet.
Raincoat / Poncho
Perhaps a raincoat or poncho will throw a bit of a hiccup into your festival outfit, but in the event that it rains, you’re better off safe than sorry. Throw one in your bag just in case, or leave it in the car at the very least.
Inflatable Pool Float
You might not exactly wear an inflatable pool float, but since we’re talking about accessories to keep you stylish and comfortable at a music festival, it’s definitely worth noting.
If you’re camping at the festival, bring along a FunBoy inflatable to sleep and lounge on. They’ve got several designs that will make your campsite an absolute vibe that will be the highlight of your Instagram stories.
Dress For the Vibes
Denim
You can’t go wrong with denim. Denim jeans, cut-offs, jackets, and shirts are a reliable festival-ready choice. It’s easy to style regardless of what you wear with it and will hold up well in a mosh pit.
Fringe
Wear something with fringe for a classic bohemian/hippie look that is perfect for music festivals. Think of what they may have been wearing back in the 60s during the dawn of the outdoor music festival.
Let loose with a fringe jacket, vest, or even pants — just beware that if you choose something made from leather or suede, it could get pretty hot.
Belt
A leather belt is an accessory that can add a lot to an outfit. It’s a great addition to a festival fit, especially if you have one with details like studs or a flashy buckle.
Wild Patterns
A music festival is a great time to wear clothes with wild patterns. Floral romper, psychedelic shirt, polka dot pants, cheetah print vest, a tie-dye beach towel worn as a skirt — it’s all on the table for a music festival. Now is your chance to mix several crazy patterns and remain on-trend the entire time.
Dress How You Want To Dress
Here’s the thing about dressing for music festivals: There’s no right or wrong way to do it. You go to the festival to have a blast, enjoy the magic of live music, embrace camaraderie between music fans, and express your best self as you soak it all in.
You don’t have to fit into the crowd, but you totally can if you want to. You don’t have to wear anything out of the ordinary from your day-to-day outfits, but if you feel like it, you can go as wild as you like.
This may sound rude, but here’s the truth: Nobody really cares what you wear. There will be thousands, maybe tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of people all there to watch people on stages who are not you. There is absolutely no pressure to dress a certain way or meet some kind of standard or prerequisite.
So you do you. 24/7.
It’s All About a Good Time
The suggestions above include ideas for being comfortable throughout the festival and suggestions for the top pieces you can incorporate into your music festival outfit that fit the exciting and carefree vibe.
Use it as a starting point to come up with a music festival outfit that is both comfortable and expresses your unique awesomeness. Then all that’s left is to own it and enjoy the party!
Sources:
Music, peace, love and the weather – Woodstock 1969 | The Suburban
How Many Miles You Walk At Coachella And Calories Burned | Elite Daily
Sun protection using hats | ARPANSA.