Festival Outfits and Trends for the Season (2024)

Once a year, every year, our obsession with festival style is in full swing. Even if we aren't headed to the desert for Coachella, a single music festival does not a festival season make. Spring and summer are overflowing with art and music events, and we've got your packing list covered with the nine biggest and best festival outfits.

We tapped fashion experts Robin Chrétien and Erikka Wang for insights to curate our list. Plus, we found out what festivalgoers are searching for in order to really hone in on the top trends of the season. You'll see some familiar festival favorites — western wear, itty-bitty skirt sets, and rhinestones galore — as well as classic spring trends reimagined and set to a larger scale, including crochet and retro glam.

Countrycore

America has embraced its country roots. It's all about cowboy hats, Western embellishments, and the kind of flashy cowboy boots that allow you to dance your butt off and run between stages. Let's say you wanted to put together a cowgirl festival outfit of your own, lean into the extra of it all and be sure to have at least one statement piece.

Shop Similar: Akira Lover Girl Cowboy Hat

Crochet Sets

When it comes to festival season, you can't go wrong with a matching crochet set. After all, crochet is fashionable, breathable, and will keep you cool in the desert heat. Plus, crochet is so versatile. You can go sultry with a midi set in a wide knit, or take a sportier approach with a shorts and crop set in a closer knit.

Shop Similar: Princess Polly Leah Knit Set

Mesh Dresses

Another lusted-after festival look is the mesh dress. You can go for a beachy open knit or opt for something a bit more sparkling like a rhinestone-studded micro-mail.

Shop Similar: Anais Rhinestone Mesh Long Sleeve Mini Dress

'70s Glam

Y2K fashion returned with a vengeance, and so did another decade: the '70s. Flower child wide-leg pants, embellished belts, and crochet cut-out tops are all staples for this trendy festival outfit. Pick a single style or go all out by embracing three or four at once. We might even add a Cher-like head scarf to be '70s from head to toe.

Shop Similar: Free People Driftwood Farrah Embroidered Flare Jeans

Cowboy Boots

"Cowboy boots and Coachella go together like PB&J," says Wang. "The latest iteration of the Western boot harkens back to the ongoing popularity of Y2K’s trends. Beloved by the era's brightest stars, this wardrobe staple piece can skew casual cool or embrace the ultra-extra of festival fashion." And notice that this is different from countrycore because you pair non-country clothes with country boots.

Shop Similar: Azalea Wang Maitia Black Embellished Western Boot

Ultra-Distressed Shorts

Denim and crystals are always a hit for festival season. "The more distressed, the better," says Chrétien. When shopping, Chrétien recommends looking for shorts that feature "embellishments and rips that give an authenticvintage feel."

Shop Similar: Robin's Jeans Destroyed Denim Shorts

Barely-There Pastels

For many — us not withstanding — festival season is a great chance to show some skin. The barely-there maxi dresses from above are softened by shades of bubblegum pink and periwinkle. For a truly leveled-up look, match the shorts, bra, or bodysuit worn below your top layer.

Shop Similar: Line & Dot Wandering Crochet Dress

Corset Tops

The corset tops for festival season are not your average Victorian corsets. Instead of romantic satin and velvet, festival season is all about edgy club kid-inspired buckle-and-strap corset tops.

Shop Similar: Poster Grl My Type Underbust Corset

Ultra-Low-Rise Jeans

While many Millennials still wake up sweating from nightmares of low-rise jeans, the super low-rise jeans of festival season have a few styling-saving graces. They're baggier than low-rise jeans of the past, which means they're actually comfortable to wear (we know, we were shocked, too). Plus, the distressed and embroidered details are more akin to the '90s than Y2K styling.

Shop Similar: Levi's Low Loose Women's Jeans