Festival Fashion

Summer is just around the corner, which means music festival season is finally in full force. 

Say hello to months of Instagram-worthy venues, the hottest headliners in the industry and the most fun you can have under the sun.

Music festivals are hubs of self-expression, from art to appearance. Make sure you’re hitting the right notes when it comes to your weekend wardrobes. You definitely don’t want to dress against theme or get denied at security for unacceptable accessories. 

We’re here to give you the best “what to wear” tips for some of the most anticipated music festivals of the season. Let’s get rockin’.

All photos: Vivian Le

Models: Andie Round and Marcos Cazares Jr. 

Makeup: Katlyne Magana

Styling and Production: Ryan Harding

Stagecoach

Stagecoach became the Holy Grail of country music festivals in 2007 and has since hosted the biggest names from Nashville and beyond.

From April 26-28, headliners Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt and Jason Aldean will rock the stages at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, alongside other favorites like Cole Swindell, Luke Combs and Old Dominion. 

Stagecoach is all about honkytonk tunes, line dancing, BBQ and all the beer you can drink.

Find your wildly patriotic country side and saddle up – we’ve got the horses in the back.

Get the Look

Guys, take a cue from Stagecoach veteran Ashton Kutcher and go simple. 

A lightweight plaid shirt, like this one from RAILS, will keep you protected from the harsh desert sun without heating you up. Layer over a basic white tee and roll up the sleeves for peak cowboy style.

Blue jeans are a Southern staple and an absolute necessity at Stagecoach. We love this Rag & Bone Standard Issue pair for its classic faded blue wash. Make sure you pick a straight fit for roomy comfort – you’ll be thanking us after a few beers and ribs – and keep it secure with a Western-style belt (the bigger the buckle, the better).

When it comes to shoes, don’t feel limited to just cowboy boots. A tan pair of sturdy workboots, like Timberlands, work great too. Whatever you do, just don’t forget a trusty paisley bandana – it’s a Stagecoach must-have.

Get the Look

The all-American girl look is super easy to put together and looks good on pretty much everyone.

Start with a breathable plaid shirt – we recommend a slightly more feminine take on patriotic colors with pink, white and blue. Leave the top buttons undone and tie above the belly button for a flirty look or at the waistband for a more conservative style.

Pair your top with medium to light wash denim shorts for breezy comfort and easy mobility. Some light distressing adds a pop of interest to what might otherwise be a simple look. 

Get the Look

You don’t have to go full farmgirl to look like you’ve inspired a Luke Bryan song. 

This pair of Dr. Scholl’s ankle booties are Western-inspired while still being comfortable enough to support hours of standing in the audience of a show or shaking it up at the Honkytonk Dance Hall.

With legs-for-days Daisy Duke denim and a playfully-tied top showing off some midriff, you’ll definitely want to prep with self-tanner. Replace winter white skin with a sexy “sunkissed” tone to kick off Stagecoach’s summer vibes.

Electric Daisy Carnival

Electric Daisy Carnival, better known as EDC, is Las Vegas’ favorite rave. From May 17-19, thousands of electronic dance music lovers will celebrate this year’s theme, Kinetic Energy, under the Electric Sky.

EDC is about positive energy – and a lot of it. From pyrotechnics to carnival rides to interactive art installations, EDC establishes itself as one of the wildest and most fun music festivals on the planet. This year’s massive lineup includes Alesso, A$AP Rocky, Diplo, Deadmau5, and many, many more. 

It’s time to make PLUR your personal motto. Peace, love, unity and respect only from here on out.

Get the Look

Ladies, this year’s Kinetic Energy theme is all about using your body to create some electricity.

One-pieces are definitely the way to go for EDC since they’re easy to move in and will help to keep you cool. We’re obsessed with this lightning print one-piece from Volcom. Not only does it match this year’s theme, but it has sexy strapping details over the side cutouts and the deep v-neck. 

Layer your one-piece with an ultra-lightweight rain jacket, like this one from Hunter, as a coverup. You can never go wrong with a holographic print, especially at a rave. You’ll love the way you reflect off the thousands of bright, flashing lights at the venue. 

Keep accessories minimal. EDC has limits on what kinds of bags you can bring, so only take the necessities in an adorable tiny backpack like Kipling’s 3-in-1 Convertible Mini Bag.

White is definitely in this year and is a great complement to holographic fabrics. Throw on a pair of white boots, preferably made with a slick material for easy cleaning after, to round out the look.

Get the Look

Guys, take an athletic approach to the Kinetic Energy theme. The best way to generate energy is to get moving, so make sure you’re wearing something comfortable and loose fitting.

Start with a pair of boxing-style or basketball shorts. Opt for white, a wild print or a bright color. Anything holographic, metallic or shiny is also a great pick to play off the lights at the show.

Next, throw on an athletic tank. We like a breathable jersey-style mesh tank but you can also do cotton or moisture-wicking. The key is to keep yourself cool enough to be able to keep partying all weekend long.

The best thing about picking clothes for EDC is that you can get as crazy as you want. It’s a totally judgement-free zone, so don’t hesistate to go outside the box if you want.

Get the Look

When you’re considering accessories, plan a color scheme to revolve around.

Black and white are easy additions to any outfit because they work with even the most outlandish prints and fabrics. Stick to a neutral sneaker.

Black accented vinyl is must for backpacks. A clear backpack makes getting through security quicker and basically eliminates the hassel of digging through a bag to find something. We’re also big fans of this matching vinyl visor, which adds a cool kick to any outfit when worn backwards.

Another great way to express yourself with rave fasion is by pulling on a fun patterned sock. Happy Socks has a great selection of colorful options like this pair of bright Rolling Stone crew socks. Anchor the base color of the sock to your color scheme but don’t be afraid to have pops of different colors in the pattern.

Lollapalooza

If you like a little bit of everything when it comes to music, Lollapalooza is the music festival for you. From August 1-4 in Chicago, Lollapalooza welcomes artists across the genre spectrum, including alternative, punk rock, metal, electronic and hip-hop.

Headliners Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots and The Strokes are only the beginning of the fun. Lollapalooza also boasts some insanely delicious grub from one of America’s culinary capitals, tons of free swag and giveaways, and a handful of activities hosted by the festival’s sponsors.

Lollapalooza is one of the most eclectic festivals out there, so you have a lot of flexibility with how you want to deck out. Personally, we like honor Lolla’s medley of musical influences with some unique style combinations.

Get the Look

Festival season is the best time to find wild prints and brightly colored clothes. Take advantage of both in one look by layering.

A bright fabric for a boilersuit turns a utilitarian staple into your favorite versatile party look. Leave the top up, let it hang or tie it around your waist for a different look each time. Shorts are nice for the summer heat, but we also adore this longer ankle crop pair from BooHoo.

Neon animal prints are back and better than ever. Take on the trend by wearing a swimsuit or body suit with shorts or under a romper. Cheetah, zebra and giraffe prints are our favorites. Check out ASOS for some options.

Get the Look

To pay homage to the Lolla’s alternative rock roots, start with a pair of ripped black jeans. They’re classically cool and can be worn with just about any top or pair of shoes. 

Your shirt is the focal point of the look, so make it memorable. We recommend wearing a boxy revere shirt with short sleeves – get a similar one at ASOS – to balance out the heat from your black jeans. This style of shirt is shaping up to be a major summer trend for its comfortable, airy fit and its ability to dress up or down depending on the occasion. 

All that’s left is to lace up some sleek black boots for a refined rocker touch to round out the whole look. 

Get the Look

Don’t be afraid to add a pop of neon to your look, even if you’re already wearing a print or a bright color. Not only is a vinyl backpack a rad throwback piece – one that we’re super excited has come back into fashion – but it’s festival security-friendly. 

Mixing prints, colors and fabrics only makes for a more fun and interesting statement look. That’s why we love the new wave of dual-print shirts. With each side of a button down featuring a completely different visual, you get the best of two tops in one. And honestly, they just look really cool.

Lolla is a festival full of bold sounds. It’s time you started to be a little bold too. 

Woodstock

This year is the 50th anniversary of what was arguably history’s greatest music festival: Woodstock.

Woodstock was a weekend of peace, love and rock n’ roll that offered an escape from the social turbulence of the ’60s and celebrated hippie culture. Rock icons like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead graced the stage at a dairy farm in the Catskill Mountains of New York. 

Woodstock 2019 is a continuation of the original festival’s mission: to unite people and bring hope through three days of music and community. This year’s festival will take place August 16-18 and feautures dozens of the world’s most popular artists: Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Chance the Rapper, Imagine Dragons and Halsey, just to name a few. Santana, one of the original Woodstock performers, will also be returning. 

Here’s to the festival that changed it all.

Get the Look

Shoes were completely optional back in 1969. 

The original Woodstock was turned into a big, barefoot mud party when the rain rolled in. While we’re hoping it’ll stay nice and dry, we still think it’s a good idea to wear some shoes that are easy to kick off at any moment.

For the ladies, we recommend a wood and leather sandal like the Dr. Scholl’s Original. These were designed back in the ’60s, so they’re sure to add an authentic retro touch to whatever you wear. 

Guys, go for a cork and suede leather footbed sandal like the Dr. Scholl’s Fin. Not only is the pair comfortable enough to stand in for hours, but they have a total hippie vibe.

Get the Look

Flower power was all the rage at the original Woodstock, so put a modern twist on your throwback-inspired outfit by choosing a floral print shirt. Make it more casual by undoing the top couple buttons and feel free to throw a brown vest over to look like you’ve stepped right out of the ’60s. 

Jeans are classic Woodstock style. You can’t go wrong with a good bootcut, but you don’t need a more flared hem to look the part. If you’re wearing skinner or straighter jeans, just cuff to slightly above the ankle. Either look works great with a retro sandal and a pair of circular sunglasses.

Get the Look

There are so many options for channeling your inner hippie or rocker chick, so we tried to combine them into one.

A printed mesh top combines sexy and sweet, which is why this blouse from Volcom is the kind of thing we dream about. Pull the rutching strap to crop if you want to show off a little more skin.

When it comes to jeans, the bigger the flare, the better. Look for a pair that’s as close to bell bottom as you can get. Not only does that scream ’60s, but it lengthens the leg and fits the Woodstock vibe in any color.

Feel free to go wild over accessories. You can do Joplin-inspired chunky jewelry, circular shades, a flower crown or our personal favorite, a wide-brim wool or felt hat to protect your face from the sun.