Coachella gets a lot of shit for its street style. Sometimes I’m the one giving shit, but I don’t hate all of it. It’s about context. First and foremost, let’s remove some of the festival’s street-style stigma by being really open about the fact that there are no streets! It’s technically on a polo field in the middle of a desert. It’s a literal oasis. Plus, there are palm trees. Palm trees everywhere! I don’t know about you, but palm trees always make me want wear more mesh than usual, put a garden on my head, take my pants off and party.
(MESH SUNBURNS ARE THE WORST, THOUGH!!!)
We’re always talking about how you gotta do what you love, wear what makes you happy and be your truest self. Why shouldn’t Coachella field style (new name) fall into that bracket?
A pause to play devil’s advocate: the opposing argument to my rhetorical question above is that when everyone dresses the same, or similar — when everyone has a crown of flowers on their head plus circle glasses, denim cutoffs, flash tats and ankle boots, then yeah, it can look a little contrived. Or unoriginal.
But here I am, arguing right back: If you think of Coachella as one giant, themed event — swap out “festival look” for “Great Gatsby,” “Britney Spears’ Greatest Sartorial Hits” or “Under the Sea” (my personal favorite prom theme), and everyone dressed accordingly, would we say the same thing? Would we get so mad? Coachella field style is certainly superfluous; if it’s hot enough to wear shorts, it’s too hot to wear suede — but it’s a costume. It’s a costume, and Coachella is a party.
Let the people wear their sunflower bras, I say, so long as everyone stays hydrated and wears sunscreen.
…I think I can feel your eye twitching. Won’t you join me, then, on a scroll-through journey that seeks to break the style hostility with a bit of contextual explanation?
That question was not rhetorical! Let’s go!
Photos via Getty Images.
