Music festival season has arrived. Whether you are a concert buff, extreme music lover or just go to enjoy the party, music festivals fill parks and stadiums by the thousands. I personally believe everyone should experience the insanity of these overpriced multi-day concerts at least once. If the underlying confusion of the outrageous outfits has convinced you otherwise I can understand why but I want you to know you can look the part without going over the top.
Coachella Arts and Music festival takes place in southern California for two weekends, April 13,14 and 15 and then the following weekend April 20, 21 and 22. While it shares some of the same main artists as Ultra, it has a slightly different feel. There are more adults and it’s a mix of electronic, Indie, rock and rap. There are also a handful of celebrity sightings at this festival. Last year celebs such as Katy Perry, Paris Hilton and Usher all jammed out. Coachella outfitters are more casual. Females in a lot of lace and neutral colors with the guys in tanks and cutoff jean shorts.
To get the perfect Coachella look think fashionable hippie whose outfit was right off of the shopnastygal website. Ways to try this trend include fringe, denim and tassels. Shirts where the bottoms are fringed, fringed boots and fringe purses are all cute. Think of denim in an unoriginal way like as a vest, shirt or dress. Fringe and tassels usually look best in browns like copper and camel.
Crochet and lace are bound to be included in many outfits. Crocheted shorts and vests are my personal favorites. But rather than a cropped crochet vest try a longer one. To pull off that grungy yet girly look add a touch of lace to your outfit. This can be lace inserts, headbands, tops or dresses. Mix and match the lace with a tougher material like leather or suede. The Coachella look is essentially effortless, yet, put together, appearing like you just threw together this super trendy Cali look without looking like you put too much time and thought into it.
Over 80,000 campers will gather in Tennessee for the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 7-10 . For those of you wishing you could have attended Woodstock with your parents, this music festival is for you. This four-day festival is unlike the others because you literally camp out and spend the night in a tent for the duration of the festival. These concerts not only draw in the music junkies but the nature lovers as well. As much as I love music festivals I love my showers more and I don’t know if I could bare the miles of must.
If you are brave enough to attend Bonnaroo, you must know that this festival’s style defines the phrase anything goes. With unshowered hair, oily skin and barely any make-up, people fight through their homely appearance and somehow pull together wild outfits. But since you know you’ll be extremely hot and dirty you have to plan your outfit accordingly. Lighter materials, sleeveless tanks with bathing suits, and headbands to hide the greasy hair. Tons of color and prints that don’t necessarily go together and would look atrocious on any normal day but they work for this festival.
Prints such as tye-dye and geometrics are fun and can be paired with almost any color short. Shorts may also vary from jean to high-waist to ripped to patterned. I really like a high waisted pair of cut-off shorts with a frayed bottom. The objective of your Bonnaroo outfit is to layer multiple prints, textures and styles into your outfit. You can’t go wrong with adding the American flag into any part of your outfit. American flag on your shirt, shorts or bandana are all awesome.
Accessories are key for Bonnaroo. Adding multiple types of bracelets always add something original to an outfit. Just pick several bracelets that you have gathered over the years and pile them onto both wrists in a way that looks best. Once again this works best if you put items together that normally wouldn’t be together like a studded bracelet and a string bracelet. Backpacks are also key accessories. Some may go for the good old JanSport but I think tribal print or leather backpacks will look best. And don’t forget your face paint and henna! Any down time from the concert may be used to decorate your body in all kinds of designs which adds a “do it yourself” vibe to your outfit.
Whether you’re fist pumping to the beat in Miami, dancing to the music in California or waving to the Indie Rock in Tennessee, choose an outfit that is both fashionable and durable and have fun!
Miriam Wolf can be reached at msantell@spartans.ut.edu.