Floral patterns, Hawaiian t-shirts, laced sandals and an abundance of crystal jewelry drape from young people’s necks, their faces are painted bright and henna patterns are drawn on their hands.
City College student Monica Davis, 20, posts an Instagram picture taken of her wearing leggings designed by art student Marty Leyhe, the weekend of April 10, at Live Oak Campground for Lucidity Festival in the mountains of Santa Barbara County. ‘Humans are walking pieces of art,’ says Davis. ‘Why fit in when you can stand out?’ Photo Courtesy of Monica Davis.
Moments are free from parental control and responsibilities for a weekend, it’s a land of leisure and drug-induced dancing. This is the world of a music festival.
Spring is festival season, and outfits for many are a crucial part of the experience.
Festival fashion is no new concept, headbands of foraged sunflowers fill girls hair and long, paisley-printed pants hang off their legs.
Clothing companies, such as Free People have an entire line dedicated to this, called “Festival Muse,” with the statement “follow the music in these perfectly effortless picks.”
Embroidered ponchos, graphic tees and vintage mini dresses fill the desert grounds.
City College student and music festivalgoer, Moorea Kern enjoys dressing up for different festivals for a variety of reasons.
“For EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) or higher consciousness festivals, it’s more about bright colors and things that sparkle, often time it’s because drugs are involved,” said Kern. “They also make people happy.”
In a recent Cosmopolitan article, they declared the “27 Music Festival Must-Haves,” including magic carpets, straw hats, environmentally-friendly water bottles and neutral-toned sandals.
Lucidity, a transformational festival in the mountains of Santa Barbara, recently took place with the theme of an artistic community in mind.
A statement on the festivals says that they believe in all expressive aspects. “When we become lucid in our dreams, we realize ourselves as infinite potential, we let go of fear, and we are free to create that which we want to see in the world. Bring those visions, those possibilities, and that delicious conscious energy with you to Lucidity and wake up in the dream.”
Martin Leyhe, art student and clothing designer, is a fanatic for music festivals where his love of designing can mingle with his passion for music.
“I love the hippie-fresh kind of style that goes along with a festival,” said Leyhe. “You just don’t get judged, that’s really the best part about it.”
Dream states and art seem to go hand-in-hand with vintage and hippie clothing. Whether going to websites like Free People or making imaginative homemade clothing, young people from all over the world seem to be participating.
While Coachella, EDC and Lucidity are more recently developed concerts, the theme of dressing up has always been around.
On a dairy farm in New York, a wave of conscious-raising music swept young people, the “Three Days of Peace and Music” event captured the lives of young people in 1969.
Old photos show people dressed in American flag printed denim, fur vests and floppy sun hats.
It seems the overall passion for music festivals is more than just for the music but the energy of the festivalgoers can be expressed through their clothing and accessories.
“You can be as free as you want to be,” said Kern.
