Festival season is in full swing and while we’re all enjoying letting our hair down, lolling about in sun-drenched field with friends, drinking, dancing and eating and detaching ourselves from reality every other week, you’ll still catch most of us stressing about our outfits.
What on earth should you wear to a festival? Festival style is a tricky beast, that’s for sure. It’s got to strike the perfect balance; prioritising comfort without compromising style. It’s got to see you through the possibility of experiencing four seasons in one day (because good ol’ British weather), navigate questionable sanitation facilities and ensure you look stylish in all those tagged photos. It’s got to work really, really hard, and getting it right can be the difference between having an OK festival experience or having an amazing one.
What should I pack for a capsule festival wardrobe?
Because for events like this, the best clothes are the ones you don’t have to think about, the ones that feel just as good as they look – so all you need to worry about is having a great time. This is my guide to doing it in style, where I’ve addressed the most common dilemmas, and no, you won’t find any flower crowns around here…
Which shoes should I wear to a festival?
When it comes to festivals, get your footwear right and the rest will follow. Whether you’re at a laidback event or something a little wilder it will undoubtedly involve a lot of time spent on your feet, dancing, standing, walking from stage to stage.
Lug-sole boots are one of the biggest trends of the last few years and they also happen to be the ideal festival companion. They go with everything – jeans, shorts, dresses – and will see you through whatever the weather.
If you’re blessed with glorious sunshine (hopefully all festivals are going to be as sunny as Glastonbury!) and no prospect of mud, it’s time to slip on some Birkenstocks. Beloved for their orthopaedic footbed, the brand is firmly on the fashion radar thanks to recent collaborations with a string of designers like Valentino and Proenza Schouler.
Two-strap chunky sandals tick all the practicality boxes – ultra-lightweight, washable – while clogs are currently enjoying a moment in the trend limelight. If the chill sets in you can simply add a pair of woolly socks. But if it’s forecast to be a washout, don’t fight it. The gorpcore movement means rubber boots are actually bang on trend, either knee-high or cut at the ankle, with chunky soles.
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Which bottoms should I pack for a festival?
Looking for inspiration for what to wear on your bottom half, but want to avoid denim cut-offs?
You’ve probably noticed the recent resurgence of black leggings – in fact, you may have spent a large portion of the last two few wearing them almost exclusively. Pandemic comfort dressing plus our unending love for loungewear has led to them becoming a must-have wardrobe staple.
It’s easy to see why; they can be dressed up or down with ease while offering a level of comfort that’s just not provided by even the best-fitting pair of jeans, especially in summer. This is what makes them great for festivals.
The current preferred style is pimped with slits or zips at the hems, allowing you to tailor the size of the ankle opening to your preference. Or, you can’t go wrong with a pair of funky flared ones. Invest in a pair now and I promise you won’t look back.
Elsewhere, cargo trousers and utility styles are big news. With a loose fit, they’re comfy too: sport a fitted tank up top for balance. If you’re feeling extra brave, take the Y2K route and go low rise.
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What’s the best bag to wear to a festival?
There was a time, not so long ago, when the bum bag was ridiculed. But no more. Gucci began the resurrection in 2017 with its quilted Marmont ‘belt bag’ (a rose by any other name), which was proof, if ever we needed it, that everything comes back into style eventually. And thank goodness, because it’s practically perfect for festivals.
Whether you wear it crossbody or belt-like around your waist, go for leather or nylon, opt for cleans and minimalist, bright or neutral – it doesn’t matter. Compact, secure and easy to wear, it’s a real do-it-all, hands-free accessory – and you’ll need those hands for holding drinks.
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The bag just needs to be big enough to fit those practical but very necessary essentials – don’t forget your SPF!
Festival bag essentials
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What kind of jacket should I wear?
The wisest packers among us will know that even though the weather may report soaring temperatures, there’s no guarantees it’ll actually stay that way, so the odds are you’re going to need a jacket at some point during your festival experience.
Look no further than a lightweight quilted one. Inspired by U.S. label Frankie Shop’s sell-out khaki green ‘Teddy’ coat, the style has become ubiquitous, and you’ll find a rainbow of versions across the High Street right now. Lightweight but warm – the style is inspired by Army liner jackets – it’s well suited to festivals as it can be easily carried around when not in use. If you want something a little more luxe, look to this season’s It bombers.
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It’s best worn oversized, which allows you to layer up as much as you like underneath if the temperature dips without feeling and looking like a marshmallow.
Which style of hat should I pack?
A hat is an essential ingredient to successful festival dressing. It’s multifunctional: it protects you from the sun and the rain and allows you to cover up your unwashed hair a couple of days in.
But you don’t want to be carrying around a wide-brimmed sun hat (you know, the one that never fits in your suitcase when you go on holiday so you have to hold it, baby-like, for the entire plane journey).
Grab yourself a cap – yep, a simple baseball cap. It doesn’t need to be fancy, any will do. Or, if you’re going for a streetwear vibe, stick on a bucket hat.
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