By Lauren Zazzara
Features Assignment Editor
Music festival season is in full force, and with it comes festival fashion.
Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest are full of denim, flower crowns and fringe as street style at festivals is documented on blogs and websites.
The free-spirited vibe that comes with festivals is inspired by the days of Woodstock.
Now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s a perfect time to embrace the festival trend. Of course, as with any trend, the key is to use it in moderation to avoid a costume-y look.
Distressed denim is always popular at music festivals. If someone isn’t wearing a sundress or a maxi skirt, it’s likely that she is wearing a pair of high-waisted, distressed shorts.
These are so easy to translate to campus, because as long as they are a decent length, they can be paired with any top and will be comfortable for class. Try heading to a thrift shop and buy a pair of high-waisted jeans, cut off the legs and use some scissors to rip holes and pull out the threads.
In the fashion world there is debate surrounding floral crowns. Of course, the world’s time would be much better spent deliberating conflict in the Middle East or the poverty crisis, but flower crowns have a stigma attached to them because they are seen on nearly every head at every festival, making them predictable and a bit wannabe-hippieish.
But festival fashion is about comfort so that goers can enjoy the music (or class) in comfort. If one is most comfortable with a wreath of flowers cradling your head, then she should wear a flower crown with pride.
Fringe is a great way to add a bohemian touch to an outfit. A suede jacket with fringe hanging off the sides and sleeves would be a great statement to a jeans-and-T-shirt outfit. Or, try fringe on a backpack or a bag big enough to hold your books. Many tank tops now come with fringe hanging off of the hem. But avoid going overboard—one item with fringe per outfit works best to avoid looking like you walked through a paper shredder.
Native American-inspired headdresses and Indian bindis have also made appearances at festivals, drawing criticism for wearers’ lack of reverence to these items’ cultural significances. These items were not meant to be worn as an extra accessory at music festivals, so it’s important for festival goers to respect other cultures and leave these items to those who understand their importance.
Sometimes, people go too overboard when choosing their outfits for music festivals. The point is to enjoy the music, but if one is wearing platform, lace-up boots or a super short dress that the wind is blowing up every five minutes, she will be distracted by her outfit and miss the point of the festival— to meet new people and discover some new bands.
The same goes for class. Comfort is key in class so that students can focus on learning and not what they are wearing.
