A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. I heard some amazing music from incredible bands including Hozier and The Lumineers, but most importantly, I saw so many amazing outfits.
As a first-time festival go-er, I had absolutely no idea of what to wear or pack. I ended up overpacking, forgetting my rain jacket, and wishing I had cowboy boots. I just brought some lace dresses, flowy skirts, tube tops, and bandanas but I was pretty happy with my outfits. As a fashion student, I’m always thinking about what to wear and how to make it look cool, but I was so nervous to go to this festival because I thought everyone would be decked out like it is at Coachella and I knew I just couldn’t match that level.
I expected to see cowboy hats and cowboy boots galore, along with crochet everything, face jewels, bodysuits, and fringe. While I still saw all those things, I was surprised to see just how many different aesthetics, styles, and people there were at the festival. People of all ages were there from newborns to elderly music enthusiasts. I saw plenty of band merch paired with jeans or athletic shorts. People wore sundresses and bathing suits, while others were dressed head-to-toe in black. I even saw someone in a bowser costume as an ode to Jack Black from Tenacious D who had an incredible performance at the festival.
Seeing the many different styles there were made me understand the diversity of music being played. From rock and heavy metal to r&b and indie, the selection of genres being represented was endless. I was amazed at how a short, three-day festival in a relatively small park in the center of Atlanta could bring together so many types of people together through music. Everyone listened together, no matter what their style was, and it was so fun. By the last day, I didn’t care about what I was wearing, I just wanted to hear the music.
I now consider myself a music festival lover and would go to literally all of them if I could. While I’ll still try to wear something fun and trendy, I’ll no longer be worried about matching a “festival aesthetic,” and neither should you. I believe everyone should go to a music festival if they have the chance. Admire the outfits, enjoy good music, meet new people, and make unforgettable memories.
Words by Alix Russell-Mann.
Graphic by Flora Medina.