Since music festivals have such a strong impact on millennial fashion and culture, Nicola and I decided it was time to try out our best Coachella looks. That meant throwing away our standard head-to-toe New York City black and going for laid-back, skin-baring florals, as well as facing some serious fashion and body image fears.
Here’s how we attempted to embrace festival fashion, minus the cultural appropriation that plagues festival season every. single. year.
Yellow shorts ($20, Old Navy)
“The shorts were just high-waisted, baggy, and long enough — which is a rarity for someone my height,” she said.
She also understood the functionality of carrying a fanny pack. “Lightweight and hands-free storage is a must in an environment like Coachella, so I was a FAN,” she exclaimed.
Black fanny pack ($29, ASOS)
“Black top, black shorts, black boots, black accessories? Oh yeah, I could work with this,” she laughed. “If anything, I’d ditch the accessories for comfort purposes, but other than that, I was kind of impressed.”
“It was superfluous and maybe a little obnoxious,” she said. “But I could definitely see myself taking it home and wearing it for… special occasions?”
Overall, Nicola felt comfortable in the look. “In fact, it was the one outfit I didn’t immediately want to change out of,” she said. EUREKA!
Lace duster ($29.99, Ashley Stewart)
Everyone should have the option to be as covered (or as uncovered) as they’d like at Coachella. It was nice to have the lace duster as a way to be more modest since that’s more my taste.
Black tube top ($21, Tobi)
Face gems ($5, Dolls Kill)
Because we are NOT doing cultural appropriation at music festivals in 2018. OK?
T-strap sandals ($24.90, Torrid)
Y’all, dirt IS A THING at music festivals. Why would anyone want their toes exposed in a sea of drunken millennials and Porta Potties? I’m way too much of a germaphobe to ever wear sandals to a music festival.
Maxi beach dress ($37.50, ASOS)
Honestly, while we were shooting I had to keep covertly covering my chest. Growing up, I didn’t really wear very low-cut tops, so I wasn’t that comfortable with the neckline, despite the fact it was a maxi dress.
Multirow necklace ($13, ASOS)
Sigh. I thought by the last look I wouldn’t feel so self-conscious about exposed skin, but it still made me nervous. I’m not sure I would feel comfortable wearing these out in public, but it was good to know that I could wear them and the studio wouldn’t burst into flames.
When I took the flower crown out of the packaging, I started having a mini-panic attack. HOW in the WORLD was I going to fit this wreath on my head? But in the end, it somehow really helped bring this look to another level, so I guess you need to take a “more is more” approach when it comes to music festival flower crowns!
Chest piece ($28, Dolls Kill)
I wasn’t really ready to bring THAT much attention to my décolletage, but I thought the jewels were gorgeous and elevated the look!
It would take a very brave soul to wear shorts that tight and shiny, so I felt the white duster was a good way to still channel my inner unicorn without completely sacrificing my comfort level. I would definitely wear the outfit again, but maybe with long blue leggings instead?
“Plus-size women are certainly better off sticking with clothing they feel best suits their bodies and makes them comfortable,” Nicola mused, “rather than trying to meet an impossible ideal of ease and style in a messy, outdoor setting.”
Meanwhile, I had originally thought mimicking the style of a sample-size, non-Black supermodel was kind of intimidating, but by the end of the shoot, I realized that recreating a celebrity Coachella look wasn’t about how I measured up to them. It was about realizing that there isn’t one “ideal” Coachella style, look, size, or ethnicity.
So as you gear up for music festival season, do it YOUR way. Whether you feel more comfortable in all black long sleeves or a colorful bikini, just know that there is no wrong Coachella look. (Well, except for cultural appropriation. Let’s keep that off the table, OK?)
