Ensure you – and your clothes – survive summer festivals

THE NIGHT OF THE STONE ROSES in the Phoenix Park, I spent sunset swaying to Waterfall on the shoulders of a stranger and woke up the next day with no sunglasses – my treasured Chloe’s, my all-time favourites. During Paolo Nutini in Marlay Park I made friends with a girl at the chip stand and gave her my Barbour jacket, because she was lost, crying and shivering. At the Kings of Leon in Slane Castle, now a distant memory, the only thing I remember is coming home without my Hunter wellies, lost in the midst of reckless moonlit dancing.

Yes, there is something about warm, sun-drenched festival weekends, the intoxication of balmy air and nostalgic music that causes you to let your guard down. While you’re sun-soaked and caught in the moment, your expensive belongings are all in danger of total ruination.

Hard-learnt lessons eventually call for sartorial adjustments, which you get better at figuring out the older you get. No festival, no matter how small or tame, can be survived now without a shoulder bag with a solid steel clasp and a jacket that doesn’t hold much sentimental value – no Barbour and absolutely no real suede, it turns to cardboard after a weekend of torrential rain pouring on it. There is still a crumpled beige biker jacket abandoned in my wardrobe, filthy from Knockanstockan grass stains and that has seen far brighter days.

Fresh from Forbidden Fruit last weekend – accessorised with a new pair of (cheaper) sunglasses – my challenge for the rest of the season is to embody festivals with a whole new attitude. I have vowed not to spend the morning before I head off to the next one stuck in fitting room queues and ringing Zara to find out if their new poplin tunic has landed in store already – the tunic can wait until festival season is over and it’s guaranteed to come home in one piece.

In the weeks ahead I’ll be digging deep, recycling what I already own from underneath my bed and bringing back straw hats, mirrored sunglasses and maybe even my gingham sandals, while the rest of my friends rock black velvet chokers and off-the-shoulder sleeves. I’d only come home without the choker.

So, go forth and root! We all have a stash of summer dresses somewhere that, whether we realise it or not, transcend trendy, modish whims, and that can be worn to death with the right accessories.

Ear cuffs and pom pom embellishment have replaced fringed headband obsession for spring/summer 16. I’m also feeling a return of the festival minimalism – so don’t ever rule out the enduringly cool appeal of skinny jeans, which now seem refreshing when spotted in a crowd of Levi’s ripped above the knee.

Body & Soul festival is my next stop. Hope to see you there!

While you’re caught in the moment, your belongings are in danger of ruination