Here’s What To Wear To A Festival – Whatever The Weather Decides To Do

The music, the mud, the many, many hours spent trying to locate your tent are all part of the fun of festival season, as, of course, is getting dressed up. If this isn't your first rodeo, you'll probably have a pretty good idea of your festival alter-ego, whether that means a cowboy hat and cut-offs; a band tee and tie-dyed bucket hat or a leather waistcoat and diamanté-studded denim. If not, keep reading for our expert guide on what to wear to a festival.

First of all, what to pack. This obviously depends on whether you're going to a day festival, where you might only need a cross-body bag to store all your essentials, or camping in the fields of Worthy Farm, come rain or shine, with the great and the good at Glastonbury. Before the latter (or any festival where you'll be sleeping beneath canvas), you'll want to invest in a proper rucksack - the last thing you want to do is kill your street cred by dragging a wheely suitcase across a working farm, seriously.

Rucksack secured, you can start planning your outfits. But remember, less is more. Clara Amfo, BBC broadcaster and seasoned Glasto-goer, has a golden piece of advice: ‘You have to treat a festival experience like you’re going on a mini holiday. Be as light and as nimble as you can,' she tells Grazia. So instead of over-packing, stuffing tops and mini skirts into every side pocket until they're fit to burst, check the weather forecast (very important) then put some time into thinking about your looks. You want to create a capsule where, ideally, all your outfits go with one or two pairs of shoes (and, doubly ideally, include pieces that can be interchanged day by day).

Speaking of shoes, and this next statement might prove controversial, hiking boots will serve you much better than wellies if you're attending the kind of festival where you're walking for hours (and hours) on end. Yes, your legs might get a bit muddier and, yes, Kate Moss always wears Hunters, but, trust us, your heels and baby toes will thank you by day five.

What is the best thing to wear to a festival?

There's no right or wrong answer, although white jeans, sweeping maxi dresses and anything dry-clean only are items of clothing that are probably best avoided for obvious reasons. The pieces that you'd normally take on a hot-weather holiday are a good starting point (e.g. that crochet mini dress and those printed trousers), but you'll want to mix in practical items, too, like tank tops, sports shorts and, naturally, a raincoat so that you're prepared for all eventualities.

The raincoat

Even if the weather forecast is clear skies, it would be tempting fate not to pack a waterproof, especially as, when the sun eventually goes down, it can be a long walk back to your tent with bare arms. Choosing a lightweight raincoat that you can tie around your waist, preferably in a neutral colour so that it will go with all your outfits, is one of the best decisions you'll make this festival season.

The tank top

If the past few years on the circuit are anything to go by, festival dressing seems to have taken on a more pared-back vibe of late (good news if you don't necessarily want to buy anything new). Take Hailey Bieber's lo-fi cropped tank at Coachella (sidebar: we're copying her plaits for those greasy hair days towards the end of the week), which could be paired with cargo pants, cut-offs or a linen maxi skirt depending on your mood.

The sports shorts

In case you haven't noticed, retro sports shorts are trending (just in time for the Olympics, but also festival season). Adidas' Firebird shorts are dominating my algorithm at the moment, especially the tomato red shade that would look great with a wafty embroidered blouse or a band tee.

The hiking boots

As previously mentioned, a sturdy pair of hiking boots will probably serve you better than wellies if you're going to be walking long distances. Specialist brands who major in technical footwear to go the distance, like Salomon, Merrell, Sorel and The North Face, are safe bets. Oh and don't forget to pack several pairs of thick hiking socks.

The cross-body bag

As well as securing a reliably big rucksack, you'll need a cross-body bag that means you can go hands-free. Uniqlo's viral style is the perfect festival plus-one, but you can also bag hard-working styles at COS, Weekday and Urban Outfitters.

The accessories

When it comes to festival accessories, you could do a lot worse than following Lisa Bonet, who wore a straw cowboy hat to a film premiere in 2001. Swap the flared jeans for a denim mini skirt or even a festival playsuit - the wedges for a pair of walking boots - and you're ready for any summer festival. Other low-effort but high-impact outfit additions? Cord necklaces and bandana scarves.

The sun protection

Adwoa Aboah had the right idea a few years ago at Glastonbury, wearing a fuzzy bucket hat and blue shades to shield herself from the midday sun at Worthy Farm. A soft bucket hat or baseball cap that you can tuck in your back pocket until it's needed is ideal, as are statement sunglasses that will take any look from zero to hero.

If you want a curated festival edit that you can add to basket immediately, Grazia's Gavi Weiss has done the hard work for you:

Julia Harvey has been the shopping editor for Grazia for the past two and a half years, overseeing and editing all things shopping for the title from trend pages, gift guides and the best things to buy now in both print and online. Having previously worked at other women's magazines, Elle UK, Glamour and British Vogue, Julia has gained over eight years experience within the fashion industry in graduating from Nottingham Trent University with a First Class degree in Fashion Communication and Promotion.