First Time Festival Fashion

So you’ve you decided to go to your first festival. You see yourself striding into the VIP tent à la Cara Delavigne, flowing tresses, bronzed limbs, the perfect cut-off denim shorts and statement shades – what could possibly go wrong? Cut-price Sienna Miller circa 2004, that’s what. Or worse, Lindsey Lohan’s leather waistcoat and white maxi dress pairing at this year’s celeb-tastic Coachella festival.

Festival are like Christmas, or Halloween. All sense of decorum suddenly goes out of the window – it’s the office Christmas do, sure why not roll out that glittery bodice, it’s festive right? Halloween party? Yes! Finally the chance to squeeze yourself into that black lurex catsuit that’s been festering at the back of your wardrobe. This seems like acceptable behaviour – it isn’t. The same applies to festivals, this is not the time to invest in a job lot of novelty print sundresses, camel-toe inducing denim hotpants or oversized neon sunglasses.

Festivals call for restraint and planning. An outfit that doesn’t scream festival virgin or wannabe hippy. Keep it simple and avoid the gimmicks. Stalwart of the festival-scene Agyness Deyn is an advocate for the perfect pair of cropped jeans, cool enough for sunny days, warm enough to keep you dancing late into the evening when the temperature drops. Try frame-denim.com to see some of this season’s most versatile styles, Reese Witherspoon was recently spotted out and about sporting a pair of their Le Garcon jeans. Just whatever you do, avoid white. Being practical doesn’t mean dispensing with style though and when you’re trying to pack light not knowing whether to expect sweltering heat or a Glastonbury mud bath, layers are the way to go. British collection Charli are known for their simple cuts, muted colours and softly draped fabrics, stock up on their trapeze style Tuula tops available in three shades then wrap up at night with this sunset-hued shawl from contemporary cashmere tsars, Oyuna.

If you want an all-rounder dress to make you feel a bit more glamorous and a bit less like you’ve spent the last three days dousing your hair in dry shampoo and frequenting a port-a-loo, this strappy dress by Temperley is your new best friend, available in lemon, fuschia or black. For a more dramatic evening look, Charli’s coral Iris maxi dress will give a splash of colour and sophistication to your festival wardrobe.

Just because you’re going to a festival, doesn’t mean you need to reinvent your entire style, resist the temptation to raid the racks of high street chains promising to ‘give you the festival look’ and instead splurge on separates you can mix and match or dresses that have a life beyond a field in Reading. And whatever you do, stay away from those ‘ironic’ heart-shaped sunglasses.