The grown-up’s guide to festival outfit ideas
Whether you’re heading to Glasto or browsing food trucks at Wilderness, we’ve got your style covered
Festival season begins in earnest this week as 135,000 of us descend on Michael Eavis’ farm in Somerset, seeking great music and even greater memories at Glastonbury. The rest of the country will follow suit with festivals of every kind – now a summertime activity that’s considered as crucial to our collective social calendars as tuning in to watch Wimbledon.
Whether you’re bound for dancing in the fields of Worthy Farm, taking your kids to Camp Bestival or intellectually prepping for poetry readings at Wilderness, the matter of what to wear for your weekend in the mud can be as daunting as it is appealing. Here are our festival outfit ideas for enjoying the season in style.
Your Glasto go-to
To survive a long weekend down on the farm, comfort is key. Glastonbury-goers can expect to walk more than 30 miles over the four-day festival, so invest in decent festival footwear. And with a heatwave on the way this year, a well-chosen pair of festival walking sandals is a sound idea. A sturdy pair of Tevas will go with everything from a loose sundress to a chambray jumpsuit.
The long way for Latitude
Suffolk’s dreamy Latitude festival unfolds around a lake, with yoga practice and poetry readings as intrinsic to the event as its headliners. Accordingly, a breezy festival dress is perfectly at home here. Opt for a lightweight fabric – cotton is ideal – and a punchy shade. For those who prefer to keep their shoulders under wraps, something more structured like a shirt dress works well. If it’s damp underfoot, team with ankle-length wellies or tough worker boots.
The best(ival) shorts
Camp Bestival is a family affair, with a toddler in a wagon trolley as much an accessory as a pint of craft cider. To partake in such festivities, shorts are key. For an up-to-date look, opt for a tailored pair. City shorts worn with a bright slogan tee is the ultimate pared-back outdoors ensemble. Denim shorts that fall close to the knee are also worth consideration – think of them as a grown-up alternative to cycling shorts.
Green for Green Man
The Brecon Beacons’ achingly cool indie extravaganza attracts a cult following. It’s also notoriously soggy, making a decent anorak in the festival’s signature shade the perfect item. One part heyday Liam Gallagher, another part Scandi sartorialist, a khaki parka is a spot-on choice. This oversized style by Kin is a great option – wear it over anything (even a party dress) and squeeze it into your bag when the sun shines.
Wilderness chic
If the Oxfordshire music-meets-food-meets-arts-meets-wellness festival was an item of clothing, this crisp broderie anglaise top would be it. Occupying the middle ground between whimsical countryside chic and polished city dweller, the shirt looks great with everything from jeans to a printed skirt. Hexagonal shades and free-flowing locks will make for a fitting accompaniment. Go forth and frolic.
Reading to rock
For big-budget headliners and the die-hard alt-rock elite, the only way is Reading. Embrace your wild side with leopard print, opting for simple shapes if possible. This crew-neck style is a dream for untamed party-goers. Add black denim and a flash of red lipstick.
