After seeing the rich and famous sunning themselves in achingly cool garments at Coachella, whilst we hugged our duvets and textbooks, it is now our turn to wow other people with our festival fashion choices. At festivals, conservative dressing isn’t really the done thing. You can afford to bare your belly, and wear feathers in your hair, to dress like you raided a glitzy dressing up box from the 1940s or simply strut about in a bikini and doc martens. It’s a great time to try out new trends that you were too shy to try before. However, try not to drown in mud, get sunburnt or overdose.
Yep, I said it. You aren’t going to get many chances this year to wear next-to-nothing with it being socially acceptable, and this is coming from the girl who was turned away from revs for wearing a leotard, so go wild! Take the chance and wear this pair from Topshop (pictured £30). I’d pair thiswith a crop top as they are back in fashion again this year! I was so happy that crop tops became acceptable to wear again for the first time since the early Noughties a couple of years ago, so make the most of it, who knows how long Anna Wintour will smile upon our midriffs? I’d pair these shorts with a black crop top; I have one from boohoo.com that has a tribal embellishment around the neck.
Usually the reserve of mad cat ladies, stereotypical feminists and artists, these have been spotted on this year’s ‘it girl’, Cara Delevigne, amongst other A-listers and American apparel aficionados. They are comfortable and perfect, paired with a bikini or a bandeau, and you can unhook the straps for some sneaky between-concert sunbathing. Cara is in a pair from River Island (pictured £35). The great thing about them is that they look on-trend without looking like you’ve tried too hard.
MAXI SK
IRT
These have been a staple for the past few summers, and what is good enough for Nina Dobrev is good enough for us. I love how she wore hers with a bandeau and flowers in her hair, a bit like boho on acid! Look on ASOS for the best maxi skirts, they have everything from colour blocking to bright flowing numbers (pictured £30) and even aztec prints. The pink bralet from New Look (pictured £16) would capture the bright neon trend that many pulled off so well at Coachella, and it is slightly more forgiving than the tiny one that Nina wore. If you’re feeling daring, scour the shelves of Claire’s for cheap clip-in feather hair extensions.
You’re probably going to be tramping all over the site, from your tent to the stages to your tent again, and it’s England so who knows what the ground will be like underfoot. Be prepared for a deluge. I am sworn off wellies and managed to survive the whole of Reading last year in my tatty old pink Doc Martens. If you can afford them, they are so comfy once broken in and they last for ages. You can get them in all sorts of eye-popping colours too. I’m personally lusting after the Harrie Boot (pictured), but at £100 they are a bit pricey. Tell your overdraft that they are a great investment though! Make sure to break them in before your festival though, or you’ll be suffering with blisters and bleeding feet the whole time. If you’re fixated on wearing wellies, though, these high-heeled crocodile print wedge wellies are pretty cool. Team with knee-high socks to avoid chafing!
RACHEL’S TOP TIP
“For festivals I’m all about the fringed and funky gladiators, they look amazing and keep your feet cool as you dance around. If the weather is typically British -wet- I always opt for a pair of Allstars. They are so comfortable, can handle being dirty, and come in an array of colours to match any fancy dress.”