As the clouds fly away and temperatures rise, Summer awakens and begins to make its way to the spotlight. Summertime brings an abundance of activities from road trips to vacations to pool parties and so much more. But it also opens the gates of fashion to one of the best times of the year: rave season! Summertime is filled with raves and festivals that serve as outlets for some of the most artistic minds in the fashion world. Keep reading as we share the Chicology guide to making the most out of your fashion sense at any raves or festivals you decide to party at this coming summer!
Firstly, it’s important to note the different kinds of raves. There are basic EDM music raves with different types of music like dubstep, trap, drum and bass, and many more. However, there are also specific festivals that specialize in certain genres of music, like Coachella being the hottest new and upcoming artists, and Stagecoach being a country music extravaganza. So, in order to determine how to style your outfits for your special event, you have to know what kind of event you’re attending; you don’t want to be dressed for a hardcore rave and show up to a rodeo-style festival!
Let’s just assume you’re going to a standard rave or Coachella-like event. It’s essential to do some research into the event’s particular style at this time, as festival fashion trends have evolved over the years. In 2016, people wore tasseled shirts, patterned leggings, bralettes, big sunglasses, and sun hats to Coachella, which is almost a direct contrast from how people style their outfits now. So, take a quick look at Pinterest or TikTok and see what people have worn to this event in the past couple of years, and see what aligns with you and what doesn’t. There is no real uniform for raves and festivals, only trends people partake in. If you decide you have no interest in participating in that trend and you want to plan your outfits based on your own fashion sense, go ahead! The beauty in raves is self-expression and having fun while being yourself, so never feel pressured to wear certain outfits just because you think that’s what people want to see. Wear what you want to see!
Don’t know how you want to dress? No problem! Raves held in the summertime usually take place in big, desolate areas like deserts or fields, so the heat exposure can get really intense. Given that, it’s best to wear thinner and smaller clothes so your body doesn’t overheat, especially when in a big crowd surrounded by everyone else’s body heat. We recommend smaller tops, mini shorts and mini skirts, scarves, and thin shawls. With such clothing, you’ll be able to stay stylish while staying cool in such intense heat. Now you have to think about your color palette. Typically, people wear more colorful outfits to raves, but there are also plenty of people who take the rustic route, wearing dark neutrals and metals. All in all, it just depends on what appeals to you! Do some research for yourself and determine what colors you feel the most confident in, and plan according to that! The most important part is having fun and feeling good, so always keep that in mind while planning your outfits! If you’re worried and don’t know where to buy clothing for your raving experience, don’t freak out! There are so many shops and online stores that specialize in rave fashion and help guide you through building your ideal festival wardrobe. If you don’t have the desire or means to buy new clothes, there’s always the D.I.Y. route! TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram all have accounts dedicated to self-made clothing projects that will help you in creating the pieces you’re looking for without causing any damage to your wallet.
Now that you have your base layer all figured out, it’s time to accessorize! A big part of rave culture is a ton of accessories that tie your outfits all together. You could wear varying bracelets that illuminate different aspects of your clothing, you could wear headpieces that match your jewelry, and so much more! There is no such thing as an “excess” of accessories when it comes to raves and festivals, so keep layering until your heart’s content. But if intense accessory layering just isn’t for you, that’s okay too! There is never any pressure to do one thing or the other when it comes to rave culture; you only have to do what you want to do! If you’re completely lost, try putting on your go-to everyday jewelry and building upon that, and seeing how it looks with each of your planned outfits.
Even though you have your clothing all figured out, you can’t forget about your shoes! Shoes may be on your feet, but they still play a crucial role in your outfits, so don’t overlook the power that they hold. When planning what shoes to wear, keep in mind that you’ll be standing for long periods of time, so choose something comfortable. There are many shoes that are cute and stylish while also comfortable to walk in, so look around and be sure to find which ones really suit you! However, I must recommend staying away from high heels or pointy boots as they’re not always the most comfortable to be in. But if you’re truly dying to wear them and can’t find anything else that matches your outfit any better, there are ways to make them more comfortable. For example, you can spend an adequate amount of time breaking them in before the event, so by then you’re already comfortable in them! You can also invest in socks made to wear those kinds of shoes more comfortably and less strenuous on your feet, so you’re not in pain during your festival. Whatever type of footwear you decide to go with, just be sure that it will support you all night long and not leave you with blisters come nighttime.
Raves are fun outlets that allow you to dress however you’d like and express the inner style you never got to showcase in your day-to-day life. We hope this little guide can help direct you through the chaos of having to choose an outfit, and be sure to tag us in any cute photos of outfits you curated following our guide at @chicologymagazine on Instagram! And as always, stay safe, have fun, and live your best life while dressing as your best self.
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