Festival season is upon us, which is great news for those who love festivals, and less great news for those who love live music, outdoor drinking and fresh air, but whose stomachs turn at the thought of the camping part. If only there was a way to experience the good things without resorting to the bad. And there is – it’s called a day ticket – only then you have to leave Gate D to catch the last train, just as your favorite song starts.
While for some festival goers the camping is the worst part, for others the packing is the hardest part. Even the most seasoned packer can struggle to fit a weekend’s worth of looks into a backpack – but when the festival in question is Glastonbury, a five-day event spread across a 1,200-acre farm in Somerset, the stakes can feel even higher. And never more so than this year, when all weather reports point to an outlook so uncertain that even the most optimistic person will be tempted to leave their shorts, suspenders and flower crowns at home.
Since packing light is probably not an option, packing sensibly is the best choice. For broadcaster Jo Whiley, who has been attending Glastonbury for 40 years and presenting the BBC’s coverage for 27 of them, mixed weather is an excuse to dig up favorite purchases. A chronic overpacker herself, she suggests taking just enough to keep you warm and dry in all possible conditions. “I’m looking forward to giving my extensive range of macs and waterproofs a break,” she says. “I also have some nice Marfa Stance parachute bomber jackets that are coming out soon. Maybe this will be the year I wear my Hunter x Elton John boots that I didn’t get to wear last year because it was too hot and sunny.”
The most seasoned festival goers know it’s worth packing from the ground up. ‘Happy feet, happy festival’ is my own mantra, as someone who has spent the last twenty years bouncing around the fields in a selection of ill-fitting sandals, riding boots and wellies. While the current ‘cowgirl’ trend will undoubtedly result in a glut of cowboy boots this summer, boots really are the best option when rain is in the forecast. Granted, they’re heavy, clammy, and useless to dance in, but it’s hard to overestimate the length and depth of mud generated by 200,000 people moshing in a field. According to data analysts MediaVision, searches for “boots” have increased 199 percent recently. While knee-length boots will keep you driest, ankle-length boots are a lighter, more comfortable option, especially for those who suffer from leg cramps.
Your sock choice is also important: for maximum warmth, try Hunter’s boot liners with cable-knit cuffs (£35, hunterboots.co.uk – also useful for sleeping in), or borrow a style hack from the recent Dior Cruise show and wear with knee-length Argyle socks. Rydele’s olive green and red pair (£7.49, ryedale.com) nods to the look at a fraction of the price.
Then your bottom half. If there’s one item synonymous with festivals, it’s a pair of well-worn denim shorts, worn with equal enthusiasm by teenagers and midlifers alike. Don’t discount these just because the weather looks iffy: add leggings or tights and you’ll be much warmer than in jeans. Denim is a particularly unforgiving fabric in rainy conditions, so if you like to wear trousers, opt for cotton or needle-thin corduroy trousers. Despite the current proliferation of wide leg styles, they are not the wisest choice for a festival. Whether it’s flared trousers or a maxi skirt, any excess fabric can quickly become a cause for regret in muddy conditions – not to mention the unmentionable (aka the Portaloo floor).
On your top half, layering is key. Don’t leave home without thermals: Uniqlo’s Heattech long-sleeved crew neck top (£14.90, uniqlo.com) is in line with the current ’90s trend – but more importantly, it’s affordable and warm. Since you can end up in a sweaty dance tent as well as in the fresh air, you can wear a tank top underneath. A stylist friend swears by packing an oversized shirt (£25, marksandspencer.com) and takes it out on Sunday because “it makes me feel presentable”. She eschews white in favor of striped iterations that better hide dirt and stains. When it’s warm, she wears it open over a camisole, and when it’s cold, she puts the collar over a navy blue sweater.
As counterintuitive as it may seem, given the possible prediction, a dress is also a sensible addition. A floral print dress, worn with a long-sleeved breton underneath, looks very 90s grunge, especially when paired with statement socks and wellies. While dungarees are only marginally a worse idea than jumpsuits (those toilets again), their sartorial connection, the pinafore, is a good idea. The terry cloth version of Me+Em (£115, meandem.com) can be worn with a white T-shirt underneath. Or try that all-time festival classic, a satin slip dress – Zara has a selection ranging from plain black to crochet and sequins (from £35.99, zara.com). Wear with an oversized cardigan: Navygrey’s cable-knit cardigan (£285, navygrey.co) is warm but packable.
Last but not least: a jacket. If you’re planning on paying lip service to this season’s oversized denim/bomber jacket trend, at least pack a poncho that you can throw on top when the heavens open. Mac In A Sac’s waterproof cape (£39, macinasac.com) comes in camo or high-viz neon, so you won’t get lost in the crowd. It’s also a good year to dig out your old Barbour, or, if you’re on a budget, invest in a new one, like the waxed ‘Portmore’ hooded parka (£329, barbour.com).
Each British festival has its own distinct look, but what they all have in common is an authenticity that fancier foreign venues like Coachella or Burning Man can only dream of. There’s no need to treat a festival as a fashion parade if you don’t want to, especially this year, when the backlash against self-conscious, trend-driven ‘influencer fashion’ has made basics all the more coveted. In 2024, ‘festival fashion’ probably won’t look much different from ‘normcore’, ‘countrycore’ or ‘quiet outdoor life’.
You can also just forget about all the so-called rules and have fun with your appearance.
Miquita Oliver, 40, has been going to Glastonbury since she was a child. “Dress like your eight-year-old self,” is the advice from the co-host of Miss Me, the popular podcast she co-hosts with Lily Allen. “Glastonbury is all about playing. I was wearing old Pucci leggings and a T-shirt I bought at the local market last year, and I felt like I was dressed in the kind of clothes I would have worn as a child. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I had my best Glastonbury ever.” Words to take with you.