What initially started out in the sixties as frumpy message and tie-dye T-shirts, pastel crochet dresses, and worn out bell-bottom jeans to groove under the hot summer sun, has evolved over the decades to reach a plethora of styles incorporating elements of boho-chic, rich hippie, glam rock, mixed in occasionally with hip-hop vibes and even athleisure elements.
Let’s face it: festival fashion is as diverse as the musical acts lining up the numerous stages popping up all over the world during the summer, from Coachella, the magical California place that jumpstarts the whole season, to Montreal’s Osheaga. So what’s destined to be hot and immortalized on TikTok these next few months? Let’s take a deep dive into the upcoming trends.
The Classics: Crochet, Tie-dye, and Denim
These three elements are staples of festival clothing, and they never, ever, go out of style. Just check out vintage images from past festivals! You can mix and match them to create different looks, from cozy and cute to edgy and cool. For example, you can wear a crochet crop top with a tie-dye maxi skirt and a denim jacket for a laid-back vibe. Or you can go for a tie-dye bikini top with wide-legged jeans. It all depends on your mood of the day. And the weather. Oh, Canada…
Thanks to the miniseries Daisy Jones & The Six on Amazon Prime and, well, Miley Cyrus, who loves to channel that mythical rock & roll decade, 70s fashion is slated to have a major revival. Think wide-legged jeans in various shades of fading paired with shrunken T-shirts — an ode to 90s fashion — crochet and knit tops, boho ruffles and cascades of lace à la Stevie Nicks, the ultimate queen of seventies style.
Fields of Flowers
Flowers started flowing around the time Lana Del Rey broke out, in 2012, shown regally wearing her floral crown in the ‘Born to Die’ video and in her numerous concert performances. Fans quickly followed in adapting the resplendent look. It kind of felt tired after a few years, but it’s making a glorious comeback for the 2023 festival fashion season. The reason? Flowers are synonymous with summer, and they’re an ideal print for layering and detailing. Plus, when you put together a lot of botanical prints they have that Old Hollywood vintage flavour, elevated to high fashion status by Gucci and spot-on for festival season. Nice!
Sparkles and Sequins and Everything Shiny
Sequins are another must-have for festival fashion. Nothing says party like some sparkle and shine, right? Sequins can make any outfit more fun and festive, and they also catch the light to create magical effects under the spotlights or the hot midday sun. Go all out sparkly with sequin shorts, a onesie, or a long form-fitting dress. Wear them all with platform sneakers for a more casual look that can take you from morning till night — and even into a mosh pit!
T-shirts with sparkles are another great way to add more shine, will staying comfortable. Or you can indulge in some serious bling by adding jewel stickers to your makeup or loose glitter, to get that Euphoria makeup look. You can even add body glitter gel on your arms and legs for added shimmer.
It’s Always About the Accessories
Despite the current fascination with quiet luxury, festival season is not the time to switch over to demure, minimalist clothing. You need and want to stand out in the crowd and be ready to party on the field! And accessories are the finishing touch that will add more personality and fun to your look. Some of the essential festival accessories include oversized sunglasses, tie-dye and denim bucket hats, and you’ll also want a bag that you can carry for hours to hold all your festival essentials. For jewelry, think large flowers (again), beaded necklaces and chokers, and brightly coloured feather bracelets.
Shoes? Stick to basics like Vans slip-ons, Converse platform canvas models, and Nike Dunks (high or low). Oh, and the classic cowboy boot will add loads to style to a fringed skirt or sexy denim micro-shorts.
If you’re not feeling the hype for a super colourful look or something too elaborate, two items that will give you loads of style during your music festival weekends are the utilitarian nylon parachute or cargo pants, and the mesh transparent dress. Plus, they’ll also look amazing for pool days in the city. Sheer is super popular right now — just think of the ‘naked dress’ trend on all those red carpet events in the last two years.
So there you have it: some of the best festival fashion trends for summer 2023 from Fashion Beauty Runway. Celebrate festival season and just wear what makes you feel great. That’s the key to enjoying fashion!
