No rules: a love letter to festival fashion
By Florenne Earle Ledger published 30/05/2024
Festival fashion is an alternate world where anything goes. I love how festivals are a space where everyone feels excited and compelled to be an extravagant version of themselves and find ways to wear items at the back of their wardrobe for the last year.
It’s not often that we stop worrying about judgment and feel free to wear whatever we want with no care, which is part of what makes festivals so great. Whilst Coachella has turned festivals into too much of a fashion show, the sentiment behind having fun with fashion is one I can get behind.
Our users agree! I caught up with three Wherers about how their daily style compares with their festival outfits to explore what it is about festivals that ignites an urge in all of us to step out of our fashion comfort zone, no matter who we are.
Meet: Eleanor
Job: Merchandiser for Childrens wear brand
Fave festival: Lost Village
Eleanor makes festival outfits using pre-loved clothes found in charity shops.
Meet: Harriet
Job: Sustainability Coordinator
Favourite festival: Glastonbury
Meet: Charlotte
Job: Mechanical Aircraft Technician
Favourite festival: Reading
Describe your daily style compared to the festival version of you. How different/similar are they, and why?
Eleanor: My daily style is generally smart-casual. Nothing too daring, but well-put-together, classic pieces. I try to make conscious buying decisions, so most of my clothes are timeless items that I can keep re-wearing for years. I see festivals as an opportunity to play dress up and experiment with fun prints and shapes that I would otherwise not have the opportunity to wear.
Charlotte: I generally like to dress for comfort and practicality but I let myself have more fun with my festival outfits. I love getting involved in fancy dress, especially if there’s a theme.
Harriet: I like to think my festival style is a lot more fun than my regular style. I have a lot more confidence when dressing for a festival, wearing outfits that I would never choose for day-to-day life. However, I still love colour in my everyday dressing and will typically not buy things just to wear at a festival.
My mum is one of my ultimate festival outfit inspirations. Her most iconic look is a sparkly bum-bag adorned with a loo roll.
When planning outfits for a festival, what's your main priority?
Eleanor: My outfit planning comes from the creative process of giving a second life to clothing. My main priority is to make something that is unique and makes me feel cute! When I'm at a festival, the goal is to maximize happiness and fun, there is a sense of adopting a festival alter-ego, being free-spirited, non-conforming, and careless, which is exactly the approach I take when I make the outfits.
Harriet: Practicality definitely plays a part – I always see the nicest jumpsuits and playsuits for festivals but we all know they aren’t the best for the long drops! I will normally plan my outfits as close to the festival as possible as it can be heavily dictated by the weather – I’ve had the two extremes of a very wet and muddy Glastonbury one year to extremely hot and sunny the next.
Comfy footwear is also non-negotiable, and I will always have a pair of wellies to hand just in case.
I also try and plan my outfits with ‘what would Kate Moss wear’ in mind – the photos of her at Glastonbury in the noughties are iconic.
Charlotte: I try to plan for all weather, so lots of light layers with waterproof footwear. I still like to look nice, but I do that through basics and accessories.
How do your priorities change for daily styling and festival styling/outfit planning?
Eleanor: When styling everyday outfits I consciously avoid drawing attention to myself, I want to get on with the day without people noticing me much, but when choosing festival outfits this is an irrelevant factor, I will be in my little bubble of festival fun and everyone else there will be in theirs!
Harriet: I am a lot more organised when it comes to festival dressing. I normally plan most outfits on the day for normal life, and this can change depending on where I’m going or how I’m feeling, however packing space and lack of a mirror means I normally try on and plan all my outfits for a festival at home, with a few back up options in case of emergency.
Charlotte: I tend to think about what will be easier to go to the toilet in a portaloo in!
Compared to most of our daily lives, festivals are a more free, fun and accepting environment where there’s no place for judgment. It feels like you’re in a bubble separate from reality, surrounded by like-minded people having fun with no cares.
It was great to chat with Eleanor, Charlotte, and Harriet about how they plan outfits and how their style changes around the festival season. What about your style? Join the conversation on our socials and let us know your thoughts.
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