Function Over Fashion: Coachella’s New Look

Coachella, the country’s biggest music festival, wrapped recently with tons of new content in music, media, and style. The festival is unparalleled with its unique festival-wear fashion. In recent years, it feels as if the outfits at Coachella seem more important to the internet than the actual festival aspect. There is a common theme in outfits with sprinkles of the current year’s trends throughout. Some of the most common trends include crochet tops and skirts, leather everything (assless chaps specifically in 2019), bandanas, fringe, and face jewels. This year, however, seemed to take a different tone. 

Of course, people still wore all of the essential Coachella fads, but many were dressing a little more casually this year. Honestly, nonchalant fashion should be the way to go for music festivals. Most of the time it’s hot and sweaty and you’re there for hours on end. No one wants to have to deal with an uncomfortable or suffocating outfit on top of that. Some of my favorite casual Coachella outfits were those worn by Emma Roberts, Jenna Ortega, Vanessa Hudgens, and Kendall Jenner

Leather is probably not the smartest textile one could wear to a music festival, but luckily this year saw a decline in the heat trapping sdjfkl. Denim, on the other hand, was very popular. Some of my favorite denim looks were worn by Emma Chamberlain, Camila Morrone, and Amelia Gray. While denim can be tight and thermal at times, I think it was successfully pulled off in the form of co-ords and tube tops. Additionally, some of my favorite accessories at the festival this year were big chunky metal belts, fun sunglasses, cowboy boots, body chains, and the classic black choker. 

Essentially, Coachella is first and foremost a music festival. While it is a great outlet for fashion, sometimes practicality takes precedence. Outfits should not get in the way of enjoying the music. Sometimes it’s okay to underdress, a lesson we may all learn in 2023 thanks to Coachella. 

Words by Alix Russell-Mann.

Graphic by Flora Medina.