Falling for Festival Fashion

I first noticed flower head bands in post-Ultra instagrams, but before long, they were on display in windows at Free People, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. Not long after that, I noticed them splashed in multiple summer style magazine spreads. The popular hippie-cute flower head band trend swept girls across the nation, especially those in attendance at this summer’s music festivals.

            Throughout the summer months, influential powerhouses Elle, Glamour, and Teen Vogue regularly updated social media with snapshots of the most stylish fans and celebs in attendance at festivals. Posts included summer style staples such as the infamous flower head band, fringed cross body bags, braids and tribal prints.

Whether it was Coachella, Bonnaroo, or the Governor’s Ball, it was paramount that each festivalgoer dressed the part. Before the peak of festival season, freelance writer Catherine Garvin wrote an article for the Huffington Post emphasizing the mid-calf cowboy boots, tribal prints and bikini tops that were soon to be sported throughout the nation’s wildly popular music marathons.  Teen Vogue published “30 Street Shots From The Lollapalooza Music Festival” within hours of the festival’s end. The series of snapshots showcased girls adored in high –waisted shorts, crop tops, denim vests and combat booties. Also spotted at Lollapalooza was Nordstrom’s pink and purple Volkswagen van and their marketing manager, Brandy Malcolm, adorned in ray bans and a floral print (thank you Instagram). And for those who could get a highly coveted ticket to the best shows, pinterest offered virtual shopping, with many girls creating entire boards dedicated to festival style. Summer music festival style has taken pop culture by storm; gears (and attention) shifted from the stage to the style of every young music enthusiast.

            SJU students (and fashionistas) Laura Kim and Demetria Michailides were in attendance at Firefly in preplanned festival ensembles. Laura (left in the pic) sported high waist denim shorts paired with crop tops and fringed detailing and overalls with bandeaus and bikini tops throughout the three-day stint. She accessorized with white Ked’s, snapbacks, sunglasses, studded button downs and (duh) floral head crowns. “I was inspired by the West Coast music festival, Coachella, which is really popular not only for the music but for the fashion that people wear at the festival,” said Laura, who did her shopping at Urban Outfitters, Tobi.com, and local thrift shops. Demetria donned a knitted Forever 21 crop top paired with a pair of Charlotte Russe white high waisted shorts. “I wanted to wear a cute, fun outfit to go with more of the modern hippie-type look because of the genres of music I knew would be there,” said Demetria. The mash-up of boho, modern hippie and hipster did not surprise Demetria, but a combination of our three favorite colors certainly did. “I saw American Flag apparel, which I would expect at a country concert but our flag was very present at this festival,” said Demetria.

            The festival style that seemed to permeate summer fashion beyond the music scene has made appearances in designers’ pre-fall collections as well. Tribal print after print can be seen in J.Crew’s fall looks and BCBG released an autumn line of fringed accessories. Our denim obsession has only multiplied since HerCampus writer Katie Gentile wrote a love letter to chambrays in the spring along with the rest of the fashion world. So don’t rid yourself of those festival pieces just yet ladies; keep the old-school overalls close and your music festival memories, closer. 

HerCampus SJU Festival Style Take-Aways (aka rock these looks on Hawk Hill this fall)

-Color! Music festivals are filled with fun color; keep the spirit alive with a new, bold lipstick shade.

-Denim days don’t end when the dog days do… rock the chambray to class,  distressed vests on the weekends over a crop top, and classic

jeans anytime. 

-Accessorize head to toe, day and night, with nude, neutral colors, and fringed out everything!

-Prepsters love prints so keep ’em coming: printed pants are sure to please in the classroom, during chapter and on date night! 

Most importantly Hawks, remember that every single moment in life is a fashionable one. Dress accordingly. 

xx

Taylor and Carolyn