After a break from Ireland’s live music scene, it’s beyond exciting to know that these events are back in business – but what the hell do we wear to festivals now? Sarah Magliocco has the answers.
After a break from Ireland’s live music scene, it’s beyond exciting to know that these events are back in business – much to the relief of the workers, artists and organisers as well as the attendees – but it raises a somewhat panic-inducing question that many of us have not have to consider in quite a while: what the hell do we wear?
Back in 2019, “festival fashion” was in full swing and is a full on fashion genre of its own. Flower crowns, fringed waistcoats, glitter and gemstone makeup and bucket hats dominated the trends spotted at every festival and concert across Ireland.
The vibes were effervescent and a little bit edgy, mixing sequin bikini tops with strappy BDSM inspired body harnesses, topped off with cropped fur coats and thigh-high boots straight out of a Berghain afterparty.
However, the pandemic gave us all an opportunity to consider our own personal tastes to the fullest degree. Some of us reconnected with our teenage emo roots while others found a love for a more wholesome existence, adopting cottagecore and bohemian fashions.
We’re seeing the disposal of the “festival fashion” uniform in a big way at live concerts and festivals. While influencers and fans of the elaborate will of course always go all out with their festival looks, a more pared-back and idiosyncratic approach to fashion was seen at music mecca Coachella this year.
Many celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber donned simple jeans and t-shirts, pared back plaited hairstyles and oversized hoodies for their outfits – a complete departure from the bedazzled hot pants and feathered capes of Coachella’s past.
Whether you have spent years honing your own unique wardrobe, or need some help and encouragement figuring out your fashion vibe, here’s my advice on what styles to lean into during festival season – looking at up and coming trends that can work in tandem with your personal taste.
Maximalism
Instagram inspo: Tara Kumar @tarakumardj, Oyindamola Animashaun, aka Zeda the Architect @oyinza, Lucinda Graham @lucinda.graham.studio & Greens Are Good For You @greensaregoodforyou.
Maximalism is one of the biggest trends we have seen emerge since the pandemic ended. After years of athleisure, people were ready to emerge from their post-pandemic stretches of social solitude with a fashionable bang.
There are an array of different types of maximalist dressing, from high end fashion girly maximalism to Y2K princess maximalism and many more, but if colours, textures and quirky accessories give you joy, this is the aesthetic for you.
When it comes to festivals, playing with colours that clash, like combos of blue and orange or purple and green are a way to stand out from the crowd. Something as simple as a pair of tracksuit bottoms can be turned into a statement by adding a colourful crop top, clashing coloured faux fur coat and Spice Girl style platforms.
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A rainbow hued crochet cardigan can make the simplest little black dress stand out, and combining different textures like knitwear and nylon, tulle and crochet and silk and denim can make a more subtle impact while still being intriguing to look at.
If you have an 80’s tracksuit, add a furry crop top underneath, or pair a maxi dress with an embellished jacket – just make sure the maxi dress isn’t quite trailing on the ground at a festival!
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For a concert, renting a statement piece from an Irish rental platform, like a pair of Amy Lynn metallic trousers or Twentyfall feathered top from Greens Are Good For You, let you make a temporary commitment to an expensive statement piece in an affordable way.
Indie-rock
Instagram inspo: Amy Valentine @amyvalentinex, Madeline Pendleton @madelinependleton & Helen Anderson @helenanderz.
Tumblr-era fashion is back with a bang, so dust off the denim shorts, band t-shirts and bullet belts.”Indie-sleaze” style is remerging,, with old Lana Del Rey album covers and Pixie Geldof circa 2010 the main inspirations.
Leather jackets, denim shorts, patterned tights and band t-shirts are back, but not exactly how they were previously iterated. Instead of a leather biker jacket, try an oversized leather coat or slouchy blazer.
Rather than polka-dot tights or tights with illusion high-high hold ups (we all remember those, right?) try seamed fishnets or 70s psychedelic swirl print tights in black.
Band t-shirts and denim, corduroy, or leather shorts are the perfect foundation, but you can also do a plain coloured t-shirt in a moss green or white for a contemporary feel.
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The accessories are what make this look, giving it a grungy, clashing vibe. Layered necklaces are back: try a cluster of well-layered silver necklaces that all gather at varying lengths above the bust line, a mix of plain chains, gems and charms. Top the look off your battered Doc Martens or a loose oversized shirt if the weather doesn’t allow for leather.
Boho
Instagram inspo: Blathnaid Devilly @bedelic, Lorena @little.reveries & Kailan @k.aila.n
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Bohemian style includes a medley of genres, from cottagecore to classic hippy to fantasy fairy. Hippie and psychedelic culture influenced the 1960s and early 1970s when many iconic and infamous music festivals were founded, including Woodstock and Isle of Wight.
If hippy is your everyday aesthetic, then you certainly don’t need to be told what to wear, simply pull from your colourful wardrobe and go, but if bohemian elements are something you want to bring in to your wardrobe, and feel that a festival is the perfect setting to be brave enough to try something new, then read on.
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Bohemian looks are often defined by their ability to mix and match textures, like a linen top tucked into a short silky shirt, paired with a knitted cardigan and waterfall of cascading necklaces in a mix of beads and metal.
Irish knitwear artist Sarah Rud makes an array of cropped knit jumpers and matching leg warmers via Depop, so adding one of her sets to a simple prairie dress and finishing the look by adding more bracelets, bangles and rings than you normally would is a great place to start.
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Alternatively for a less feminine outfit, try some baggy trousers from Ekeko crafts with a sheer mesh bodysuit, chunky boots and silver accessories for a darker take on hippy style. If fairyish, whimsical aesthetics are more your scene, colours like brown, green and lilac combined are a great way to emulate the vibe.
Just keep your textures mixed and don’t be afraid to play with the volume of garments, like a balloon sleeve or billowy skirt.
Rhinestone cow-girl
Instagram Inspo: CMAT @Cmatbaby, Lindy Lenix @lindylenix
With the rise to fame of Irish pop-country musician CMAT and the likes of Harry Styles encouraging his fans to wear cowboy hats and flares, a glitzy, Dolly Parton-esque aesthetic is appearing increasingly at festivals and concerts.
At CMAT’s set at Body & Soul, the crowd was awash with cow-print, denim-on-denim and cowboy hats, as attendees chose to pay homage to their favourite artist with their festival fashion look. CMAT herself committed to her personal look, with a purple cowboy hat, cream skirt spray painted with pink hearted, and fringe-lined shirt.
Adopting this look is simple, as yee-haw pieces like cowboy boots and denim jackets have been available on the highstreet and online for months. If you don’t want to splurge on a pair of cowboy boots for a festival for fear of the mud, Koi Footwear do a decently affordable pair with a platform to elevate you an inch or two to better see you favourite artist without the fear of overspending on shoes that might get wrecked.
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Vintage shops will have a selection of denim jackets, including fringed styles, if you don’t already have one to pull from your wardrobe. A sparkly night out dress or 70s inspired trouser is the perfect pairing without looking too much like a costume.
Casual cool
Instagram inspo: Keelin Moncreiff @kee_mon, Bibi Buttun @bibibutton & Alexa Morgan @almorgann
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The cool-girl aesthetic changes its defining characteristics every few years, but right now a less is more, devil-may-care approach to layering with 90s accessories is the way to go.
Spotted at Body & Soul in their droves were combos of floaty floral wrap dresses paired with chunky Dad runners – try the New Balance 530s or Nike Monarchs – and accessorised with slicked back buns, tiny hoop earrings and skinny scarves. It’s a very London inspired approach to style, combining traditional and contemporary pieces together, a mixture of vintage, high street and designer.
For festivals comfort is key, so team some baggy technical or cargo pants with a t-shirt and old boots, or oversized dungarees over a bikini top or crochet long-sleeve cardigan. Summer mini dresses with Crocs and fisherman hats is another awkward but winning styling combination – as is adding a waistcoat or boyfriend coat to any look.
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Pair the floaty little mini dress from ASOS or Zara that you already have in your wardrobe with a unique jacket from an Irish vintage shop like Nine Crows, Ani Vintage and Dublin Vintage factory to achieve the look, finishing it all off with a canvas tote bag or – if you dare – with a Y2K mini handbag with a designer monochrome.
Pop culture princess
Instagram inspo: Lauren Hope @laurenn_hope, Grainne Binns @grainnebinns and Ebony Mai @eb0nymai
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Bubblegum pink, Y2K inspired dressing isn’t going anywhere. With huge pop culture moments like the Free Britney movement, Beyonce releasing new music for the first time in six years, and the return of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, there are new waves of inspiration for fans of entertainment media.
The look is more digital than nostalgic, with utopian elements that reflect the idea of technology and celebrity culture combining. So much of what we consume of pop culture is done through a screen, so it’s no wonder that style snapshots featuring iPod nano hair clips and motherboard print tops are increasing in popularity.
This physical but digital style is the perfect new take on the Y2K aesthetic, as that era was so heavily peppered with new tech developments and tech used as accessories, like flip phones and bedazzled Nintendos.
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For a relaxed take, Irish brand Subtle Poison has rolled out the perfect pair of iridescent pink flare trousers, which can be teamed with an oversized t-shirt with a motif of your favourite icon – H&M and PLT currently both have ones featuring Britney.
For a more dressed up approach, try a metallic pleated miniskirt (here’s one from ASOS) with a sweet babydoll top, finishing the look by clipping any old mobile phone or music device to your bag as a useless but finishing accessory – and lets be real, who doesn’t want a flip phone as a prop for photos.