Hi friends! Although I haven’t had too much experience going to concerts before moving to Memphis, I know that when I have gone, one distinction I make between festival fashion and everyday fashion is the wow factor of the outfit. Going to a festival or concert is an excuse to think outside of your normal comfort zone when it comes to outfit choice, and since the event is only a few hours, the outfit needs to be absolutely perfect, because there is no going back once you choose it. With Rites of Spring and festival season upon us, I’m here to bring you a guide to the perfect festival outfit! Let’s get started!
Picking Out an Outfit:
1) Theme: A big part of coming up with a festival outfit is where the venue is located. Rites of Spring will be held outside, so whatever outfit you end up with needs to be weather appropriate and doesn’t necessarily have to be centered around a specific theme. Some concerts or festivals have specific themes that are fun to dress up for. Sometimes the artist wants the audience to dress up in a certain way, or the venue dictates the concert-goers to dress a certain way, like a rave. Always check beforehand to see if the venue of the festival or concert has a certain theme; although you don’t have to dress for the theme, coming up with an outfit is always more fun if a theme is involved!
2) Comfort: the worst mistake you can make when going to a festival fashion-wise is wearing clothes that are too hot for the venue. I’ve made the mistake once or twice of wearing too many layers and not being able to transport them when I have to take them off, or wearing high heels to a place where I’m standing for most of the night. Be realistic about what the venue is going to be like; Rites is going to be in a tent outside in the middle of April, so you probably shouldn’t wear a sweater or clunky boots. Also take into consideration the physical comfort of your clothing, and make sure you don’t wear anything that won’t be comfortable to dance and move around in.
3) WOW factor: Like I said earlier, concerts and festivals are an excuse to dress a little bit different than you normally do. Whether that’s showing more skin than usual, or rocking a crazy pattern or a crop top, festivals are a great opportunity to get outside your comfort zone and experiment with some crazier fashions.
2015 Festival Trends:
Bucket bags
Crochet
Fringe
Wide-brimmed hats
Sneakers or ankle boots
Fanny packs
Denim dresses & rompers
Cold shoulder blouses
Mirrored sunglasses
Where to buy festival clothes:
High end: If you’re willing to splurge on a few key pieces for a concert or festival, these stores are a great option. You can find a great mix of high quality on-trend pieces and timeless classics that are on the more expensive side, but will last you for longer than just the one festival.
Urban Outfitters – (they do not have an official festival shop, but the aesthetic is similar!) http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?id=W-SUNSHOP&cm_sp=WOMENS-_-L3-_-:W-SUNSHOP#/
Free People – http://www.freepeople.com/the-festival-shop/
ASOS – http://us.asos.com/Festival-fashion-Festival-clothing/vyl6l/?cid=7662
Cost effective: if you’re looking for something for Rites of Spring or a concert and don’t want to pay a ton of money for something you’ll only wear once, definitely check out these options to find a cheaper alternative to a high-end festival item!
H&M – http://www.hm.com/us/hm-loves-coachella
Thrift stores – Melrose Thrift (https://www.etsy.com/shop/melrosethrift) is a good example of an online secondhand shop that sells clothes that would be great for a festival. However, it would be just as helpful to hit up your local thrift store to find great festival options. They might not necessarily have the specific trends you’re looking for, but they will have cheaper items that will be just as good!
BooHoo – http://www.boohoo.com/usa/looks/festivalshop/icat/festivalshop
Hopefully these tips help you find a totally amazing outfit for Rites of Spring and any other festivals you may attend, and remember to always be cute!