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Candid OnlineFestival Fashion

Every festival goer has been there, refreshing the festival page religiously with your heart skipping a beat each time the page loads. All sat hoping that this time, it would finally greet

you with open arms, granting you access to your much desired festival ticket. Then the standard festival count down begins; the release of the line up, the reluctant buying of sleeping bags and tents you know you’ll probably just leave at the festival and finally the packing of the

essentials.

No wait, who are we kidding? The majority of time before you actually head off to the festival is just deciding what do we wear!?

Something about festivals just screams out, ‘this is secretly a fashion show, bring your best clothes or miss out’. The only thing is, it’d be totally impractical to wear your best dress,

highest heels and brightest tan, so how exactly do we master the ‘festival style’ of looking effortlessly chic without worrying about the high chance of cider spills and mud splats?

The main thing to think about is practicality. Will your brand new feather clad gladiator sandals endure being trampled on in the huge crowds and possible downfall of rain? Or just how

flattering will that strapless maxi dress be when you’re jumping up and down in crowds? Whilst we all do want to look our best at festivals, we can sometimes lose sight of what you’re really going to the festival for; great live music, amazing atmosphere, and a chance to have a few

ciders in (hopefully) sunshine.

Around this time of year, every magazine will be emphasizing on festival fashion. Yet with every festival comes a different style, so be careful you don’t get the two confused. For

example, you don’t want to be wearing your nice dainty floral playsuit that would be perfectly suited for pop festival V to die-hard rock fest Download, where it’ll probably get manically

ripped to shreds in their many moshpits.

First rule, wear things knowing there is a possibility they’ll get ruined. One thing about festivals is that they’re unpredictable, the weather being the main culprit for fashion malfunctions.

Massive sympathy to anyone in an all white outfit when a thunderstorm strikes, we all know how pointless white clothing is when wet, and no one really wants to see what colour bra

you’re wearing. Also be prepared for spills, from ketchup to drinks, especially in the crowds. If you plan on wearing something that cost over £40 to a festival, I’d think again, maybe it’s best

to save that for a well respected garden party.

The most important thing about dressing for festivals is to dress for comfort! Playsuits always seem the go to outfit for festivals, but just think of how much of a nuisance they are when you

need to go to the ladies room. Although always think of the pros and cons for each piece of clothing you wish to take to your festival. With limited bag space, you need minimal clothing

that enables you to mix and match to create new outfits daily. For example, pick shorts that’ll

go with multiple tops or leggings that’ll do the same, you’ll be thankful with your minimal packing as it won’t weigh you down as you plod to your tent on the first day.

Mainly though, dress for fun. Bring your own unique style to the festival, there really is no other opportunity other than a festival where you can wear comic glasses and fluorescent tutu’s

without receiving extremely questionable looks. So dress fashionably, drink responsibly, and just have an amazing experience!

Victoria Reed

5 August 2011