Today marks Day 1 of the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Annual Festival. It’s that time of year when music fills the air and your spirit comes to life with fresh style. But there’s much more to festival attire than neon catsuits and colorful rain boots. In fact each festival has it’s own signature look that sets it apart from the rest.
From hipster chic at Pitchfork to just plain fairy weird at Electric Daisy, fresh hip-hop looks at Rock the Bells, Coachella’s breezy boho looks and Bonoroo’s mud-drenched threads, we’ve explained the style at the season’s hottest festivals. Check out our breakdown and see what festival look best suits you.
Coachella: California Dreamin’
If you
If you spot a floral bandeau top, denim hot pants and brown leather boots paired with a blossoming flower headband, you know you’re at Coachella. Dreamier than other festivals, the fashion at Coachella reveals the softer side to rock ’n’ roll. Paisley and floral prints run amuck on effortlessly chic sun and maxi dresses, tank tops, shorts, and pretty much any fabric that can cover the body. Whimsical dresses, crop tops, denim jackets and multi-colored shorts are the rage on the desert-flocking folk. And on their sand covered feet, festivalgoers opt for Converses, ankle boots and wedges at the sunny gathering.
Style Tip: Our favorite Coachella look is scuffed up American flag tank top over a dusty pink bikini, white shorts, tan fringe sued booties, gold sunnies and a floral headpiece, of course.
Electric Daisy: Rave God(dess)
Alongside killer
Alongside killer mainstage acts, folks run around in druggy styles that signal a ’90s rave. A cosmic carnival that birthed acts like Deadmau5 and Skrillex houses party kids rocking everything from orange face and body paint and mesh tank tops to athletic jerseys and drenched sweatbands. (This is where jocks go to party.) Electric Daisy is a place where gender becomes blurred by neon lights and smoke – both boys and girls rock eyeliner, bell-bottoms, go shirtless or sport t-shirts with obnoxious sayings. One of the biggest rave scenes in music has also become a great arena to experiment with your eccentric side. Get your freak on!
Style Tip: Think Ke$ha then start with body paint and let nature run it’s course.
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival: Down and Dirty
Dirty never
Dirty never looked so good. Grungier and not as glamorous as its festival cousins, Bonoroo is the kind of place where you can rock Hunter rain boots with a ripped t-shirt, denim shorts and sweater tied around your waist. The authentic heel-free folks let their free-spirited aesthetic out in Tennessee as baggy floral tops are paired with black bras and floor length skirts are married with denim vests and cowboy boots. Sweat and dirt are must have additions to any Bonoroo chic wardrobe! Love it or not, they’ll definitely both be at the outdoor party.
Style Tip: Have fun with your style and play with unusual parings. Couple a muted nightcap dress with a bold bandana, shades, brown fedora, and green leather boots.
Pitchfork Music Festival: Urban Hipster
Fashion
Fashion watching at Pitchfork will leave you wondering if all the cool kids in New York’s Brooklyn have left their borough for Chicago? Amongst the indie rockers in Chi-Town are gyrating hipsters usually wrapped in plaid, fringe, and vintage denim shorts. (think hipster at the beach) With their identity hidden behind Ray-Ban sunglasses, the casual-cool attendees and artists usually rock muted colored jumpsuits, Free People skirts, lace shorts, vintage leather accessories, and hot-sox that have had everything from precarious plant motifs to Van Gogh art embroidered on them. The retro, bohemian look is usually crowned with a braided headband or a floppy straw hat.
Style Tip: Hit up the closest flea or vintage shop, grab any oddly mismatched items and pair them with a leather headband and boots.
Rock the Bells: Fly Girls and Guys
Hip-hop
Hip-hop inspired threads and R&B tony looks blossom at the Rock the Bells festival. Jay-Z chic ensembles of thick gold blinged-out jewelry, feisty t-skirts, rugged jeans, Nike kicks and baller shades cover head bopping attendees. Expect to also see a variety of eccentric printed jeans, wide brimmed caps, and sheer shirts. Of course the trending style here is the traditional hip-hop uniform; you can’t go wrong with a jersey or tank top, shorts, and some rundown sneakers trek from the a stage where an ‘80s pioneer was rocking to another where a new jack is spitting.
Style Tip: Keep your look simple with jeans and your favorite t-shirt. It’s also a great excuse to buy a cool new and colorful pair of kicks.