Gear up for the summer festivals!
OK, let's be clear about something from the off. There is no fashion code for festivals. Yup that's right, nada, nothing, none. OK well perhaps even the Licklist fashionistas would take exception to you turning up in multi-coloured dungarees and pink wellingtons, but if '70s kids' TV presenter chic' (try saying that after a few Desperados) works for you then we're all for free expression.
Despite the 'everything goes' vibe however, there are a few tips that can help you to survive the festival and still come out the other side looking stylish:
Tip 1 – Brace yourself for the mud! This is definitely rule number one – can you really expect to attend a UK festival and not get muddy? Glastonbury and other festivals feature on the front pages of the newspapers every time the tents disappear under a foot of water, so turning up with only flip flops to protect your feet is not the wisest option. The good, old-fashioned wellie is not only essential, but you can now get them in a range of patterns and colours. And as the mud is a direct result of rain, pick up a pac-a-mac. You really do not want to be carrying a heavy coat around and these lightweight waterproof quick fix solutions are ideal as you can fold them away when they are not being used. Oh by the way - ignore some of the advice you might find out here in virtual land…a quick search will lead you to plenty of sites telling you to invest in some of this season's sandals instead of practical footwear. This might be tempting but you could well regret it afterwards.
Tip 2 – pack light! Unless you are on a campsite outside the main festival area then there is no way you will be able to get right up to your tent’s pitch. You will be parking a fair distance away and then walking the rest of it, carrying your tent, food and of course, clothes. This is something that you need to consider when packing everything before you go. You will only be there for a few days so do you really need to pack a whole suitcase of clothes? Think rucksack and go from there. Oh and if you're a bloke, make sure you pack enough in the way of underwear. There's only so long you can get away with turning the same pair of boxers inside out before the grass starts to die.
Tip 3 – Keep it practical! That maxi dress might be great for summer, light in terms of packing and look sensational on but is it really the best option? If the weather turns the bottom six inches of it are going to be coated in mud before you make it out of the campsite. Shorts and t-shirts are the order of the day for most festival goers, with maybe something a little warmer for the cooler evenings. Prints are now big news in fashion, whether you opt for vintage floral or something a little more ethnic. Most high street stores now have a range of summer shorts that will help you to keep up with this particular trend.
Tip 4 – Prepare for the sun, just in case! Okay, so you have packed the wellies and the pac-a-mac. This is a sure-fire way of making sure that you have at least one day where the sun is out and the temperatures goes off the scale. As festivals are on open ground there is little in the way of shade so make sure you take along a hat, sunglasses and sun-block – and use them! 70s style floppy sun hats are in fashion at the moment and can be picked up for very little money.
The good news is that virtually nobody will judge you by what you wear. They are all there for the music/atmosphere combo and as festivals attract people from all walks of life, your fellow festival goers' taste chips are not going to be engaged to the point where the 7 stone guy dressed as Superman is called up for transgressions against the trades description act. If you do want to stay on fashion message, then according Licklist's fashion department (recently opened and very much tuned into catwalk cool, we'll have you know), vintage is very much the order of the day for those who want to make a fashion statement. If you're from the North of England, you'll also be delighted to know that the advantage of vintage is that you can pick up items at charity shops for very little money and create the same look as someone who has paid a fortune for the designer version.
To finish, one of the golden rules of festivals is not to take anything along that you are not prepared to lose. Things do go missing and get damaged and if you have paid a lot for something, the last thing you need is to have it swiped from your tent or get ripped as you make your way back at the end of the day. Look at what the designer labels are suggesting then hit the high street – there are always cheaper versions of the same thing on offer.
Save the cash and use that to make the most of your time at the festival. &nb sp;