We see this question all the time! What should you wear to a music festival? If you’ve Googled festival outfits or if you’ve checked social media pictures you’re probably wondering how you should dress at a festival and maybe how to avoid sticking out in the crowd.
The pictures you’ve seen may look really intricate, thought out, and maybe kind of intimidating. So what should you wear to a festival so you’re not sticking out like a sore thumb?
The biggest rule for us is comfort. Festivals can be long days and they’re more of a marathon than a sprint. Yes a lot of people like to go all out and dress up, but there will be just as many people dressed in a t shirt and shorts or pants. If you are not comfortable wearing a crop top or a kilt don’t! You will not stick out like a sore thumb if you wear a t shirt and pants or shorts. Festival families are generally the least judge mental groups out there. We’re all there to let loose and enjoy ourselves - we’re not going to judge what that looks like for you. There’s not really any guidelines on how to dress at a festival.
That being said regardless if you’re choosing to dress up and plan a whole wardrobe or if you’re going relaxed and comfortable here’s some must have tips for dressing for the festival:
- Think about where you’ll be in the crowd. A cute Instagram worthy dress is amazing if you plan on hanging out on a towel or under a bungalow. But if you plan on being in a rowdy pit you might not want to be focusing on making sure your underwear isn’t on display if you hit the dirt.
- Your shoes can be cute - but they should probably be comfortable. Most festivals involve a lot of walking and standing. If you don’t have comfortable and durable shoes you’re bound to regret it the next day. Closed toed shoes are helpful in the pit. And after almost losing some shoes in the pit we tend to stick with shoes we know will stay on in a crowd. It’s really going to depend on where you are in the crowd how much you need to protect your feet.
- Protect your skin! If you plan on wearing a more revealing outfit make sure you are keeping up on your sunscreen application! Not just to protect your skin, but man can those tan lines be brutal! Consider how you need to plan for sun exposure with your outfit.
- Plan for the weather. Ponchos are easy to throw in a pocket or your bag in case it rains. You also want to possibly pack some extra layers in case the temperature drops at night. Especially if you are camping!
- Be mindful of state and local regulations. Some states may not allow some of the festival gear you’re looking at wearing. And some of them have strict regulations on any nudity (planning on wearing pasties for a top might not be the best idea).
- You’ve decided you want to dress up - now what? Check out some of the pictures from the festival you’ll be going to for some inspiration. You might also want to check out groups on social media for your festival. Sometimes you’ll discover theme days, deals on cute clothes, and fun ideas.
- Be comfortable! This is honestly the most important thing you can keep in mind when planning your festival outfits. If you’re not comfortable you won’t be able to enjoy yourself as much!
Pro Tip - old festival and concert shirts can lead to fun conversations with new festival friends. If you aren’t sure what to wear old shirts from your favorite shows are always fun!
Don’t worry - nobody ever shares their post festival - we got beat up in the pit - pics. You’re bound to look better than half of us leaving at the end of the day anyways!