Outdoor festival fashion: A beginner’s guide to summer fest outfits

Last updated:2018/8/17

Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC and in charge of music festivals. When I attended my first music festival as a freshman in college, I was captivated by its charm—“I can’t believe there’s a place this free and this fun.” I share information about wonderful music festivals every day to help grow the community of festival fans.

How about heading to a summer festival—where you can enjoy both music and the season—looking cute, cool, and fashionably on-trend this year? This time, I’d like to introduce some outfit ideas for going to such summer festivals.

The motto for summer festival outfits is “freedom.”

The basics of summer festival outfits are that ease of movement and lightness are very important.

Because people sweat a lot, tops like T-shirts and tank tops made of sweat-absorbing materials, paired with half pants or shorts, are the mainstream choice.

For footwear, choose flat shoes that are as easy to move in and low-fatigue as possible—like sneakers or boots—and make sure they’re ones you’re used to wearing.

Since foot fatigue can build up, it's best to avoid heels.

Also, since there’s a risk of getting stepped on during the live show, avoid wearing sandals.

And it's a shame to have one hand tied up by a handbag or something, isn't it?

Because it’s a festival, choose a shoulder-carried style that keeps you mobile with your hands free—such as a rucksack/backpack, shoulder bag, or messenger bag.

Above all, let’s have a blast with an outfit you can only wear at a festival.

Enjoy simple style with a rock edge

The style most commonly seen at summer festivals is a T-shirt or tank top paired with shorts.

Since we have the chance, it’d be nice to pair it with trendy denim as well.

Since many people probably go to festivals in band T-shirts, I’d love to go all in with a rock-inspired outfit that really makes the most of the T-shirt’s design.

It’s a boyish, simple style, but a boyish look you’ll want to copy.

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The worn-out look of the T-shirt is awesome.

The fringed bag is stylish.

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That's an American-style and pop outfit.

Since it’s a summer music festival, let’s stand out.

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If you’re a girly girl, go with a dress.

I want to wear a one-piece dress in the summer.

Dresses are super comfortable, and the fact that a single piece completes the outfit so you don’t have to stress about coordinating is really appealing.

This year, go girlish with trendy outfits like a simple, pure white dress.

Anyway, it’s an adorable all-white outfit.

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A maxi-length dress enhances femininity.

It's perfect for summer and has a refreshing feel, so I highly recommend it.

Wear lots of accessories.

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Since it's a summer festival, a style that shows off a lot of skin

It might be tough if you’re not confident in your style, but the skin-baring outfits that have become common in Japan lately are also very fashionable.

Even a cool, badass style like this only truly works because it’s a summer festival.

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An outfit that looks as if you’re about to head to the beach.

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Effortlessly elevate your style with accessories and small items

Summer festival outfits tend to be simple, so add accents with accessories.

You can put together a stylish outfit very easily.

I’d like to introduce accessories and small items that are perfect for summer festivals.

Of course, the cap.

I hear that wide-brimmed hats are really popular right now.

But precisely because it's such a big boom right now, the hat I most want to wear is a bucket hat.

Street fashion will look sharp.

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Flower crowns have become a must-have item for festivals nowadays.

It’ll make you feel just like a princess.

It’s an item that can be purchased in various places.

It would look cute even matching with a friend.

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Anyway, I want to stack bracelets.

If it’s a beaded bracelet, a friendship bracelet, or an embroidered bracelet, they’re light, so even when you raise your hand, they won’t feel burdensome.