Festival Fashion: The Basics

If you’re gearing up for your first festival, or just looking for some new inspiration, then you’ve come to the right place! Festival fashion is a huge topic nowadays so to make sure anyone can feel prepared for their first festival/rave I’ve provided the basics for you below. This post is just a general overview of festival fashion. If you’re looking for something more in-depth, head over to the Outfit Guide where you’ll find a comprehensive list of festival fashion brands.

“What do you wear to a rave?”

This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions that I get when I’m either telling people about raves/festival or just talking to my friends about what I’m going to wear to the next show. When I was preparing for my first rave I really didn’t know what to expect or what to wear, so I wore leggings and a tank top that was tye-dye and called it square.

Turns out, that’s totally A-OK.

Wear anything that you want to a rave! Even snuggies are totally acceptable! I tell this to everyone, especially people that I’m convincing to go to their first rave. Wear whatever will make you feel the most comfortable. Yes, very generic but let me just say, if you’re uncomfortable it’s a waste because no one really cares about what you’re wearing. They just want you to have a good time and to spread the good vibes!

I won’t leave you hanging though. Below is a great jumping off point for any rave baby or fellow artist that just has some inspiration block.

Festival Fashion Trends

‘Nantz (No Pantz)

This is an easy option for any girl that’s looking for something easy but comfortable and cute. The no pants look is essentially any t-shirt that’s oversized (personally I’m 5’7″ and wear an XL in most shirts). This look can be worn tons of ways, but I recommend trying fish nets or some type of hoes to do the outfit up a little more, and I always recommend some rave bottoms or shorts to go under. Combat boots or sneakers are a great option for this look as well- not to mention they’ll become a future festival shoe staple for events/festivals to come!

The Rave Baby

I consider this anyone that’s looking for super ‘ravey outfits’ like rave bras, or just those of us that are decked out in gear. These looks are super diverse and usually take a little planning to get everything to match, but always are so cute. For beginners, I recommend going for outfits that have a color or theme that can translate throughout the outfit. A cute top/bodysuit (usually paired with some glitter or pasties), with some cute rave cheeky bottoms and some platforms are what I would consider a basic ‘rave baby’ outfit.

Kandi Kids

Kandi Kids are those beautiful people at festivals that have TONS of beautiful perlers, kandis, necklaces and cuffs. Although if can vary what they’re wearing underneath, a Kandi Kid will have enough kandi on them for you to notice. I always recommend going up and talking to these people- I’ve met some really amazing kandi kids in my rave lifetime and it all just starts by say hi!

Cargo Pants

Cargo pants are really making an entrance into the festival game and there’s no complaints coming from me. I personally love the looks that have a badass pair of pants with them because that’s what I’m personally more comfortable in. You can get these kinds of pants from anywhere like Dollskill, Amazon or even just go to TJ Maxx and they’ll have some too! I usually go for a smaller top when I’m wearing pants, like a crop top or bikini-esque top. I also will pair these outfits with a pair of either platform boots or sneakers. Whatever works best for the overall outfit!

The Snuggie

Snuggies are probably the easiest way to stay comfortable at a festival. Although I don’t recommend them for during the day, they’re AMAZING at night. You can stay warm while you’re walking from stage to stage. You can also pull the top off and tie it around your waist if you get hot in the crowd. Snuggies also make for a great ‘group outfit’- because really, who doesn’t love a good snuggie? I’ve found these at tons of different places, but personally, I just go for the ones on Amazon. They usually have reviews so I can see what the quality is of the snuggie before I buy!