This weekend is what we have been waiting for collegiettes, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival is finally here. We are going to be dancing in Earlham Park drinking Pimms and listening to some of the hottest artists of the moment, ranging from Taylor Swift and Muse to Florence and the Machine and Rita Ora.
The only aspect left to plan is what to wear, something I think we can all agree is of the upmost importance. A cool festival wardrobe is essential to not only our Big Weekend experience but also our Instagram feeds. Many of you will have been planning your festival attire for months but for those of you that are a bit behind or need a bit of fashion inspiration, the HC UEA team have compiled some festival style staples inspired by Coachella. According to the celebrity trends at the Californian music festival, this season’s style is the gypsy/ folk look.
Here are six style staples that can help transform you from a library-bound hermit into a festival fashionista…
A Festival Hat
From straw trilbies and fedoras to panamas and big felt floppy hats, a trendy piece of headwear can instantly add a touch of folk fashion to any outfit. Every style icon worth remembering was spotted donning one of these at Coachella so head to Topshop, ASOS or H+M and pick yourself up the perfect festival hat.
Big Sunglasses
Sunglasses are obviously an essential for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, considering it is late May and the sun is shining. The size of your sunnies however is up to you and this season Coachella seems to suggest that the bigger they are the better. Not only do they protect your eyes and face from harmful rays but they look pretty freaking cool.
Denim Shorts
Denim shorts have been a style staple since festivals began for not only their comfort and practicality in the scorching heat but also their talent for showing off tanned legs. This season’s Coachella was a sea of denim hot pants, ranging from beaded details and strategically placed holes to embroidery and frayed hems. Step into any clothes shop in Norwich and find an extensive selection of festival appropriate denim shorts.
Gypsy shirt
In order to perfect the festival folk look a gypsy shirt is essential. Coachella 2015 witnessed many a gypsy shirt being sported by the hottest of celebrities and fashion bloggers. These shirts are available everywhere but the coolest are the ones that have been customised by yourself, add some beading, embroidery or even a bit of colour to really make it your own.
Satchel Bag
This is most definitely a must have for a festival. Lugging a ginormous handbag around with you or carrying a cute clutch might look great but in terms of practicality they are awful. A small cross shoulder satchel is a perfect festival bag: you can fit all your necessities in it and you don’t have to worry about losing it or getting robbed in the crowd.
Ankle Boots
Despite the fact that sandals are incredibly tempting and can be a cool addition to a festival look, we recommend ankle boots or any sort of shoes that have support for the tops of your feet. You are going to be in a crowd of crazy fans dancing and drinking so you will definitely need comfy shoes that will protect your feet if your toe gets trodden on.