What to wear to summer festivals
Do’s and don’ts to help all of us look fresh and feel confident as we get our party on
PHILADELPHIA — Festival season is in full effect.
But these unabashed months of dancin’ (and eatin’) in the streets brings with it fashions rooted in a certain sheer, ethereal creativity that we’ve seen bomb. Terribly.
Because — well, let’s face it — very few of us can rock Daisy Dukes, college sweats, and fluffy Christian Louboutin boots with Beyoncé Knowles panache. But I can almost guarantee some aspiring fashionistas will try.
So to help avoid festival fashion’s most common pitfalls: too much skin; too, too much cleavage; too, too, too much booty and — gasp — way too much hairy chest, I’ve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts to help all of us look fresh and feel confident as we get our party on. After all, festival fashion knows no age, does it?
Daisy Dukes
The short shorts that take its name from Daisy on “The Dukes of Hazzard” remain a cheeky part of the festivalgoers’ wardrobes. The good news, said Alisa Frederico, personal stylist and owner of Dressing Jane, is that waistbands are now trending higher so they hide love handles, folds and other problem areas. Also, Frederico said, the diversity in styles of shorts this season offers a variety of lengths including at or below midthigh.
Don’t: Spend the day pulling your shorts down and out of creases. Put your shorts on and walk around your place. If you have to pull your shorts down two or more times, find another, looser alternative.
Do: Make sure your shorts completely cover your tush. “If you are comfortable with the front of your leg showing and not the back, throw on a kimono or duster,” Frederico said.
Crochet
If Urban Outfitters display windows are any indication crochet anything and everything — we are talking tops, dresses, skirts, pocketbooks — are still giving us light, airy and musthave. This year, however, thanks to the bold-hued inspiration of the late 1980s and early ’90s, the soft neutral ivories and taupes have been replaced with reds, greens, mustards. And we can’t ignore the appliqués bringing these pieces floral life.
Don’t: Wear crochet tops with wide stitches without the proper foundation or layering. Not only do knits itch in peak summer heat, you don’t want to mess around and expose a nipple.
Do: Invest in good undergarments. They can make the difference between adorable and trashy. I like spandex camisoles. (They are always on sale at The Gap.) And for these times, says Sabir Peele, founder of fashion, lifestyle and marketing outfit Men’s Style Pro, “The bralette still reigns supreme.”
Going shirtless
This is for the fellas. Unless you have abs like Idris Elba, don’t do the festival scene without a top. You will either end up looking like A) a live lobster B) assault the world with your hairy back or C) do both.
Don’t: Wear shapeless Fruit of the Looms. They are boring and chances are if you found it in the back of your drawer, it’s stained. Also, be mindful of what’s on your shirt, the wrong phrase or picture can turn a seemingly nice guy into a lout.
Do: Believe it or not, Peele said, basketball jerseys are back, so go for it. Apparently, says Peele, we can thank the Sixers’ playoff runs. Also, thanks to “Black Panther” and our continued love of all things Ankara, expect to see even more African-inspired prints on men in the form of dashikis (and women too, for that matter).
Throwback track suits
I’m slightly obsessed with vintage Adidas track suits. Oh, how I want one in red! While they
remind me of the Golden Age of hip-hop they can cause us to err on the side of costume. So ...
Don’t: No matter how much you feel the urge to break dance, wear your zip-up jacket and pants in one sitting. You will run the risk of heat stroke, and looking like a backup dancer in a Run-DMC video. But if you pair your two-piece with cute little bandeau underneath, all bets are off. Do: Feel free to treat your track suit like a cute set of separates,
says stylist Susan Padron. Pair your bottoms with a cropped T or lace-up body suit, And the jacket will go great with a pair of, well, Daisy Dukes. “The trick,” Padron said. “Is to find subtle ways to make your vintage pieces modern.”
To romper or not to romper?
There used to be a time where women over a certain age didn’t wear shorts. Thank goodness those days are over. But a romp- er? The onesie is a tougher call because of its inherent fit problems. Too small and they pull. Too big and you swim in them. But when worn just right they are the perfect transition piece for a daytime concert to nighttime after-party.
Don’t: Wear a romper that’s too heavy on the prints and in dizzying polka dots, too many stripes and loud flowers. Let chicness of the one-piece speak for itself and accessorize well.
Do: Go one size up. Women often need extra room in the hip and butt area. Remember something has always got to give and it shouldn’t be your pants when they pop from the pressure of an all-in-one.
The fanny pack
Hands-free is everything at an outdoor dance party as you need your hands for dancing, texting and, most importantly, taking selfies. Pocketbooks are too easy to lose. The fanny pack is the answer.
Don’t: Overstuff your fanny pack. All you really need are your keys, a lipstick, a slim pouch for your licence, a credit card and some cash, your cellphone and maybe a charger.
Do: Opt for a fanny pack in a cool neutral and one that doesn’t show too much dirt (all that touching will leave it sticky and dirty). Think black, tan, camouflage (my favourite), even millennial pink.
Shoe issues
I’m one of those people who plan my outfits around my shoes. Festivals, with all of the walking and walking and walking — did I say walking? — totally makes this type of thinking a must.
Don’t: Pull out the strappy stilettos, or even wedges for that matter. Those shoes are made for sitting and you never know when you will find yourself sinking into a grassy surface. We also suggest you stay away from the basic flip-flop too. They don’t provide enough arch support.
Do: Rock Converse, Sperry Top-Siders, or a pool slide. And for optimal cuteness, I say add a pom-pom. In fact, add pom-poms to everything.