Last Updated on 23 March 2026 by Colette
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When it comes to deciding what to wear to a festival – basically anything goes. Nothing is too wild, too colourful or too sparkly! You really can’t get it wrong.
Dressing for festivals can be a lot of fun – and whilst comfort and practicality are always going to be important factors, my girls especially enjoy planning their festival outfits each summer.
Tips for choosing what to wear to a festival
Plan for the weather
First and foremost you need to consider what the weather is going to be like. A couple of years ago, at The Big Feastival, Chloe and I wore sequins on the Saturday when it was absolutely roasting – we were so hot that even my eyelids were sweating and in the end we had to go back to the tent to get changed. Equally, if it’s going to be cold or wet, you need to think about that too – probably even more so. If the forecast is wet, then good quality waterproofs are going to be key (I treated myself to a neon orange poncho specifically for festival season!) – along with wellies or sturdy walking boots (which to be honest are my go to festival footwear anyway).
If it’s warm and wet, considering wearing shorts – bare legs will dry faster. If it’s colder, then quick drying sports leggings will win over jeans as there really is nothing worse than heavy wet denim. (Waterproof over trousers are also worth considering). Wet weather means you probably need to pack extra options in case you need to get changed out of wet clothing – but take care not to over pack.
Think about what’s going to be comfortable
Whatever you put on, you’re going to be wearing all day – there’s going to be lots of walking, lots of standing and lots dancing – and probably quite a bit of sitting on the floor too (we carry sit mats for this). You don’t want to be wearing anything that is uncomfortable as that’s a sure fire route to spoiling your day!
Make sure you’re not wearing anything that rubs or is too tight – and also think about making sure you’re not too hot / too cold! Don’t forget that once the sun goes down, the temperature can drop quite significantly so layers are key – you’d be surprised how much warmth you can get just from sticking on hat!
Once you’ve got the comfort bit sorted, you can start thinking about the style!
Check for a theme
Lots of festivals will have a fancy dress theme – this isn’t something you have to dive head first into if you don’t want to – I hate fancy dress personally so tend to avoid it but we have worn fancy dress accessories before as a family of foxes at Just So Festival. If you fancy getting dressed up, then you can go the whole hog or just add accessories which nod to the theme – it really is up to you.
For a simple but stylish nod to the theme, try adding a custom enamel pin to your jacket, hat, or bag. It’s a small touch that can still show off your personality and match the festival’s vibe without needing to go all-in on fancy dress.
Think about what’s already in your wardrobe
Rather than going out and investing in a whole new outfit for a festival – think about what you’ve already got in your wardrobe that you can work with. You really don’t want to be wearing brand new clothes for hanging about in fields all day. For me, my staple basic is sports style leggings that I know are comfortable, will dry quickly and wash well after the event. My girls often wear denim shorts as the basis for their outfits. For Dave and Ben, they stick to shorts or jeans. We found at Y Not festival and Tramlines that band t shirts and old festival tees were really popular.
Consider buying second hand
Once you’ve thought about the basics of your festival outfit sorted, it’s worth thinking about shopping second hand. We have previously bought Chloe an awesome Topshop sequin dress and some gold Zara leggings from Vinted, this year we picked up a sequin bandeau top, new jeans and a smiley denim jacket for Amy – all costing just a few pounds each, looked absolutely amazing and minimised the environmental impact of our festival looks!
Plan full outfits ahead of time
Don’t just chuck a load of clothes in a bag and hope for the best – plan your festival looks ahead of time and then pack them separately in labelled plastic bags. This might sound a bit of a faff but it means your outfits are much easier to find when you’re trying to get dressed each day but, perhaps more importantly, those plastic bags will give your festival outfits a little extra protection from the elements! The main reason for planning full outfits ahead of time though is that it means you know you’ve got everything you need – without carrying too much extra stuff.
Don’t pack for choice
Whilst I’m not saying don’t take spare clothes, I am saying don’t pack for choice – plan those outfits and stick to them. Yes, take spare clothes in case anything gets too wet or dirty, but don’t take loads of extra outfits for choice as you’re only taking up more space in the car and giving yourself even more stuff to lug from the car to the campsite – when it comes to packing for a festival, the less stuff you take the better!
Accessorise!
My favourite way to get a look festival ready is with accessories – Amy has a gorgeous bright orange feather headdress from Freckles and Freesias and Chloe loves to add vintage sunglasses to her look. Glitter, face paint and face gems are all great ways to add a bit of festival fun to your outfit!
Don’t forget a bag
Dave and I tend to carry a backpack between us so that we can carry sit mats and extra layers (and for festivals like Camp Bestival that allow you to take your own food and drink, it means we can pack snacks and beers to take into the festival site). It’s worth checking with individual festivals what their polices are on bags as some won’t allow bigger bags on site so a bum bag or cross body bag will mean you can keep your bits and pieces handy (money, phone, sun cream, glitter) whilst keep your hands free for drinks and dancing! I also highly recommend a lanyard for your phone if your outfit doesn’t have pockets – these have been a game changer for Chloe and I this summer!
Have a look at these posts next for more festival content!
What food to take to a festival
How to save money at a festival
What you need to know about volunteering at festivals (and tips from people who’ve been there!)
I’m going to share a post of ideas of kids’ festival outfits soon so keep an eye out for that!
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