trendingFIONA

What could be better than a hot summer day spent with your best friends, cold drink in hand while you get to see all of your favorite bands perform? My gut reaction is to say: almost nothing. But what if it’s just a little too hot, and the fabric of your top is itchy? Or what if there’s a blister on your heel before the sun is even close to setting? What if the grass is muddy and seeping into your sneakers, or your fashion tape starts coming undone? Or what if—worst of all!—your outfit doesn’t encapsulate the rock-star-girl aura you were going for?

If you’re not picking up on a small ounce of sarcasm, then maybe you’re in the wrong place, but the struggle at the heart of it all is real—how do we the fashion-lovers balance cute and comfortable when it comes to putting together looks for festivals (or any long, potentially sweaty day)? I’ve been staring down this exact dilemma for a few weeks now as I consider outfits for Gov Ball this weekend.

After much consideration, I think I’ve boiled the formula down to three simple rules that, when applied to any outfit, will ensure a full-proof day of cuteness and comfort. So let’s talk about it!

A Shoes-Up Mindset

The first step in building any outfit is considering the outfit’s central purpose. In this case, we need to be comfortable. We will be cute, but we will build that cuteness around our comfort. And an uncomfortable shoe will ruin any day, let alone a long one spent on your feet. So when we’re putting together an outfit for a concert, we’ll start with the shoes.

A heel is obviously a no-go. As a heels-lover, it’s hard for me to admit, but at a festival, you’re spending the day outside on the dirt and grass with limited time to sit down. So flat shoes, or platforms if you’ve got a good pair, are the move. A cool sneaker, a chunky platform, or a lug-soled boot are all good options.

On top of comfort, weather has to be a consideration. A rain-show can be unbelievably fun, as long as you’re prepared. And as Kate Moss taught us with her Glastonbury look, a utilitarian boot can be the chicest styling of all.

Building your outfit around the right pair of shoes can make or break your day.

Choose the Right Fabrics

My three rules for festival fabrics: breathable, comfortable, and resilient. The first two are pretty self explanatory.

Fabrics like leather can get so uncomfortable on a hot day, while something like linen or cotton will keep the air flowing and feel softer on your skin. Similarly, low-quality fabrics (I’m looking at you, SHEIN) can trap heat, get itchy with long wear, or even fall apart.

Which brings me to my third point: fabric that’s resilient. Obviously, you don’t want to be wearing something that’s going to fall apart as the day wears on. But more than that, you want a fabric that won’t show lots of wrinkles, and isn’t going to show obvious stains when you inevitably sit on the grass or someone spills their beer on you. Things like cheap polyesters are tricky, along with anything satin or silky.

Something like a matching set made of cotton or breathable knit can be so stylish and comfortable, especially if you go for a darker color like a rich chocolatey brown or a deep vibrant shade that won’t show wear-and-tear as the day goes on.

Prioritize Personal Style

The pitfall I think it’s easiest to fall into when building a festival outfit is going too outside of the box. And let me be clear—I don’t mean that you shouldn’t go crazy with your outfit. What better opportunity to be ultra-creative with your clothing? What I do mean is that you shouldn’t forget about your personal style—about the aesthetic you feel most aligned and comfortable with—when putting together these outfits.

Stepping too far away from the style that you love for yourself most will inevitably lead to discomfort throughout the day, and frustration with the way you look in photos you take.

Let me be clear! Be creative. Have fun. Step out of the box of your day to day style! But keep who you are in mind when putting together your outfits. For me, this means steering clear of anything ultra-flowy or hyper-feminine. When I first started crafting these outfits, I had a Daisy Jones-esque vibe front of mind. Something sheer and flowing, reminiscent of that outfit she wears for the final concert they do in the show. But there’s one thing I know about myself when it comes to my style: that I feel best in structured pieces. I’ve trialed and erred enough to know that if I were to wear that flowy outfit, I wouldn’t feel like my best self. No matter what you wear, you’ll look beautiful—duh. But consider what pieces tend to make you feel like your best self. There’s no need to waste time with self-consciousness on a day that should be full of nothing but fun.

When it comes to festival or concert dressing, there’s really only one thing that matters: that you feel good in what you’re wearing. These are just guidelines to make it easier to get there. As always, take what you love and leave what you don’t—and have the most fun ever seeing your favorite bands live, because there are few things in the word more special than experiencing live music. Especially when you’re experiencing live music in a cute outfit.