@MissBigelow
Outside Lands attendees refine the festival look.
Before the 10th anniversary edition of Outside Lands, @MissBigelow was prepared, somewhat gleefully, to declare the sartorial death of those ubiquitous floral headbands and Woodstock-homage blanket wraps worn by festival attendees in the foggy outer climes of Golden Gate Park.
But after three thrilling days roaming amid tricked-out park grounds of this joyful musicfood-fashion-art bacchanalia with tens of thousands of revelers, she realized how premature her presumed death knell was.
Floral crowns — paired with an unwieldy array of styles ranging from glitter makeup, cat ear headbands, flowing caftans, faux fur jackets and bro-style sports jerseys to unwisely bared midriffs and a smattering of worn-one-toomany times furry animal zip-up onesies —were on glorious, Technicolor display.
This year, blanket wraps were edged out by the time-honored rock ’n’ roll bandanna — also a Burning Man crossover that proved practical as winds whipped up Playa-esque dust clouds — and a snazzy Outside Lands-issue varsity jacket emblazoned with an embroidered bison (a festival symbol), that sold out by Sunday afternoon in spite of its $125 price tag.
“This is my freak flag,” enthused Oakland musician Enon Gaines, as he unfurled his scarf from his forehead. “It’s full of color, patterns and designs like music notes and nature elements. Though it’s tattered and worn, I love the beauty in its destruction from everyday wear.”
Another bandanna-believer was the festival’s resident “rock chick,” Danielle Madeira, who is concert presenter Another Planet’s vice president of special events. While attendees channeled a flower-power vibe thanks to EssEff’s 50th anniversary Summer of Love celebration, @MissBigelow didn’t catch Madeira traipsing the grounds in a flowing, boho caftan.
“The bandanna is a fashionable way to pull back your hair and efficiently absorb the sweat,” she said backstage, decked out in a monochrome palette of high-tops, a vintage varsity jacket and skinny jeans accessorized by an industrial belt key clip holder from which dangled a variety of ultimate-level access passes.
“The floral headband just isn’t my style. If I was that artistic, I’d be onstage or watching the concerts in a cabana,” she said, with her signature throaty laugh. “I’ve always been the person backstage making it happen. I just try to look like I haven’t been here for five days straight, worn and torn.”
From early morning to late night during the festival, Madeira was on-site connecting media, VIPs and security and coordinating post-concert parties. Her phone was constantly abuzz with last-minute asks, favors and repetitive queries on how to enter the park.
“Not many people ask me for fashion advice,” she joked, belying her inherent “I’m with the band” backstage style. “The key is utilitarian and sexy at the same time. You’re in a tight space with a lot of people, so you can’t carry a big bag. You need a light jacket with deep pockets to carry all your things (wallet, ID, money, lip gloss). Then be able to walk a thousand miles through three different climates in one day.”
Those micro-climates resulted in a fashion of layers, as defining of this festival as its glorious music, gourmet fare and eclectically artistic acts. Tank tops swathed in sweaters or light jackets ruled midday while the sun played hideand-seek. But when that orb sank, easily packed puffers and headgear were de rigueur as the city’s famous atmospherics unleashed their foggy fury.
“If you lined up festival attendees from Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits without any discerning background, they’d all look the same,” noted Another Planet Executive Vice President Allen Scott. “People at Outside Lands love expressing unique style and individual bling. But they layer that with plaid shirts, hats and jeans. Everyone at Outside Lands knows the drill for Golden Gate Park in August.”