Picture this. You’re standing in a crowd, music thumping through your chest, sun beating down, and everywhere you look there’s someone wearing something that makes you think, “I need that outfit.” Festival fashion has become something way bigger than just throwing on denim shorts and calling it a day. It’s turned into a full-blown movement where personal style, creativity, and comfort collide in the most spectacular ways.
The festival scene in recent years has transformed into a runway where everyday people become trendsetters. Let’s be real, what happens at Coachella, Glastonbury, or even your local music fest doesn’t stay there anymore. These looks spill onto city streets, influence what brands stock, and basically dictate what we’re all going to be wearing for months to come.
Cowboy Boots Making Their Grand Return
Western-influenced fashion dominated at Coachella 2024, with cowboy boots becoming one of the most fashionable footwear choices. Honestly, I didn’t think cowboy boots would make such a massive comeback, yet here we are. Festival attendees perfected classic boho dressing by pairing it with a contemporary edge using chunky boots and western boots. You’ll spot them everywhere from metallic silver pairs to classic brown leather, and they work with basically everything.
The best part about this trend is its versatility. Cowboy boots are sturdy yet stylish, perfect for navigating festival grounds, and many choose pairs with unique embroidery or detailing to make footwear a focal point. They pair just as well with flowing maxi dresses as they do with denim shorts or even leather pants.
Gender-Fluid Fashion Breaking All the Rules
At Coachella 2024, diversity and inclusivity took center stage, with gender-fluid looks gracing the festival grounds. This isn’t just about women borrowing from menswear anymore. One of the most exciting trends in festival fashion is the increasing use of gender fluidity, with ravewear pioneering this years ago and streetwear finally catching up. Men confidently sporting crop tops, women rocking oversized hoodies with combat boots, mesh tops and kilts worn by everyone regardless of gender identity.
Mesh tops, kilts, pashminas, wide-leg trousers, and transparent clothing are being worn by men and women alike, with style and self-expression gaining momentum over traditional duality. It’s honestly refreshing to see fashion finally embrace what so many of us have been doing for years anyway.
Sheer Fabrics and See-Through Moments
Here’s where things get interesting. Over the course of both weekends at Coachella 2024, sheer and see-through looks were trending at the festival, worn by some of the biggest stars in music and more. Sheer fabrics became a major player in festival fashion, with Florence Pugh kicking off the trend in a big way in 2023 in a neon green mesh catsuit.
Think flowy chiffon dresses, translucent tops, and see-through skirts that you layer over vibrant swimsuits or funky bralettes. The sheer trend has no intention of going away, with influencers expecting people to wear Instagram-famous brands to festivals. The vibe is sexy without being over the top, and surprisingly comfortable when you’re dancing in desert heat.
Metallics and Holographic Finishes Everywhere
Metallics are no longer reserved for New Year’s Eve, with silver, gold, and holographic finishes dominating everyday outfits in 2025, including metallic pants, voluminous jackets, and rainbow-colored accessories. I’m talking full metallic looks, not just accents. Both on runways and the festival circuit, gold is the metallic of the moment, achieved through brushed gold knitwear, standout embellishments, or molten liquid-like fabric.
The beauty of this trend is how adaptable it is. You can wear it casual with a slouchy tee underneath a silver bomber jacket, or go full throttle with coordinated metallic sets. Honestly, under festival lights at night, these outfits look absolutely magical.
Psychedelic Prints Making a Comeback
Everything’s about clashing colors, swirling prints, and optical illusions, with psychedelic prints becoming one of the biggest nods of festival season and now officially streetwear staples for everyday wear. We’re seeing kaleidoscope coats, neon-print joggers, and tie-dye everything making serious waves. Combining tie-dye and acid wash prints with more sophisticated pieces gives way to an unexpected put-together look.
These aren’t your parents’ hippie prints either. They’ve been reimagined with modern cuts and unexpected color combinations that feel fresh rather than dated.
DIY and Upcycled Fashion Taking Center Stage
As sustainability impacts fashion across the board, streetwear in 2025 is seeing a wave of upcycled, DIY, and bespoke styles starting vibrantly in festival culture, with patched denim jackets, hand-painted denim, embroidered vest tops, and repurposed vintage items screaming individuality. Let’s face it, nobody wants to show up wearing the same thing as five other people.
Festival-goers unleash their inner designers, crafting one-of-a-kind ensembles from hand-painted denim jackets to intricately woven friendship bracelets, with personalized fashion taking center stage. It’s about telling your story through what you wear, and there’s something deeply satisfying about creating your own look from scratch or giving old pieces new life.
Statement Accessories and Maximalist Vibes
Festival fashion has always known that accessories are half the fun, with bold sunglasses in otherworldly shapes, rainbow-colored lenses, and accessories growing bigger, brasher, and more fantastical as city style shifts towards maximalism. We’re talking chunky chain necklaces, oversized sunglasses, bucket hats in wild prints, and layered jewelry that jangles when you dance.
Chunky metallic jewelry and bulky belts are major sources of inspiration for festival outfits, with these being smart Coachella purchases that will be worn long after the festival finishes. The philosophy here is simple: more is more. Nobody’s playing it safe anymore.
Crochet and Handmade Textures
Crochet tops, dresses, and bags became very in vogue in 2024, with the style having a handmade, artisanal feel that’s meant for festivals, and these pieces are breathable yet stylish. There’s something about crochet that just screams festival season. After some time away, crochet is back, with dresses, jumpers, matching sets and handbags perfect for any British festival due to temperamental weather and for creating a stylish boho-chic look.
The texture adds visual interest, and honestly, when it’s hot outside, you’ll appreciate how breathable these pieces are. You can support small businesses by buying handmade pieces that nobody else will have.
Micro Shorts and Daring Hemlines
Despite their length, micro-shorts are surprisingly comfortable, and if there was ever a time to try a daring trend, it’s at a music festival, with leather pairs complementing leather boots or breathable knits that let you move around. I know what you’re thinking – aren’t those uncomfortable? Surprisingly, no. Micro shorts are trending for a reason, being iconic, flattering and made for main characters, paired with halters or graphic crop tops.
They give you freedom to move, dance, and basically live your best life without feeling restricted. Pair them with statement belts, knee-high boots, or even cowboy boots, and you’ve got an instantly festival-ready look.
Oversized Everything and Comfort-First Mentality
Flashback fashion to the 1990s has been creeping into mainstream wardrobe and made its way to the mainstage, with baggy pants becoming a top choice worn by both men and women in environments where comfort is key, paired with crop tops or cut-off tees for the epitome of cool and laid-back. Gone are the days when festival fashion meant suffering in uncomfortable clothes for the aesthetic.
The oversized trend extends beyond just pants. We’re seeing oversized graphic tees, baggy hoodies, and relaxed-fit jackets everywhere. Oversized graphic tees with vibrant graphics and artistic designs are in high demand, paired with biker shorts or denim skirts for a good balance of relaxed but fashionable dressing. It’s giving effortless cool without trying too hard.
Neo-Boho and Vintage-Inspired Looks
The essence of bohemian fashion has been reimagined with contemporary flair, giving rise to Neo-Boho Chic, an eclectic style that seamlessly blends free-spirited bohemian aesthetics with futuristic elements. Boho style featuring floaty co-ords and stitched accessories is easy and effortless, with an 83 percent spike in search interest. This isn’t your typical flower crown situation anymore.
Think flowy maxi dresses with modern cuts, fringe details on leather jackets, and vintage band tees styled in fresh ways. Street style stars took the Chloé approach to outfit building by pairing breezy layers of frills with flared jeans as a retro reminder that seventies bohemia is firmly back on the cards for 2024. It’s nostalgia meets innovation.
Bold Belts and Statement Hardware
Statement belts, a big 2025 fashion trend, bring even the simplest outfits to the next level, with stamped metal belts paired with maxi skirts and white tanks for effortlessly cool approaches, or fringe and corset styles layered over mini skirts. Belts have become way more than functional accessories. They’re now focal points of entire outfits.
We’re seeing thick leather belts with oversized buckles, chain belts worn over dresses, and corset-style belts that cinch waists and add drama. They transform basic outfits into something Instagram-worthy instantly. The hardware trend extends to boots, bags, and even jewelry, with chunky chains and metal details appearing everywhere.
Festival fashion has evolved into something that celebrates individuality above all else. The biggest trend at Pitchfork Music Festival is personal style, from chain mail to chrome cowboy boots, with many patrons showing out in DIY and locally-made outfits reflecting the city’s intrinsic artistry. It’s no longer about following strict rules or copying what celebrities wear. It’s about mixing trends that speak to you personally, experimenting with unexpected combinations, and having the confidence to wear what makes you feel amazing. What did you discover about your own style reading through these trends? Would you rock any of these looks at your next festival?
