Summer means long days, hot sun, and high temperatures. It also means the ushering in of festival season: although California kicks off early with Coachella in April, June brings with it festivals across the country. New York has Governors Ball, Chicago hosts Lollapalooza, San Francisco has Outside Lands, and festivals like Warped Tour and All Things Go are hitting several cities around North America.
With a stacked roster of festivals and an even more stacked roster of artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Doechii, Tyler, the Creator,and Doja Cat, the only decision to make is which festival to hit up to avoid the most FOMO.
Well, that, and figuring out what to wear.
Team EnVi can’t tell you how to choose between TWICE or T-Pain (frankly, we’re struggling with that ourselves). But we can help you with the second problem.
We’ve been at both Governors Ball and 88rising’s tentpole Head in the Clouds festival this year, scoping out what people are wearing and taking some notes. Below are some of the top trends we’ve spotted so far to inspire some of your looks for your festival days this summer.
Western Wear
Yee-haw! You don’t have to mess with Texas to dress like Texas, and festival fashion this year so far has more than proven that. Cowboy boots, denim, and fringe are some more literal interpretations taking the stage, but flowy skirts, chunky belts, graphic tees and even biker boots are bringing a more 2025 take to a very vintage style.
Witty Graphic Tees
Speak your mind! Even if your mind is saying something kinda weird. In fact, the weirder the better with this trend.
Graphic tees are a staple, as my decade old love affair with Hot Topic can prove. But these are more than just graphic: they’re vocal. From the political to the…particular, fans took to festival grounds not just speaking but showing their minds. And if you can’t find the perfect tee that says exactly what you want: just DIY it!
Self-made pieces
Speaking of DIY: people are embracing it in full. When asked, multiple fans responded to inquiries about where they got their looks with “I made it!” Crocheted shawls, beaded necklaces, and hand-drawn T-shirts all took the spotlight.
A refreshing withdrawal from fast fashion, the trend of self-made clothes allows for Gen Z’s true passion: customization. If you make something, then it’s well and truly yours, and there’s no worry of catching someone’s eye from across the Stella Artois x Hot Ones pop-up and realizing you’re wearing the same Princess Polly matching set.
No sweat if you can’t craft — EnVi scoped out some brands that can help you out with that. (You may still risk a copycat event, but at least you can rest assured knowing your twin has good taste.)
Stars POWER
People love a motif: smiley faces, hearts, cheeky little bunnies that hate boys. But this season seems to be all about the star power, incorporating the celestial shapes into all sorts of sartorial situations.
Turned into bikini tops, cutouts, patches, earrings, and even golden freckles, stars are dotting the festival scene on the ground, not just from the stage.
ribbons and bows
The bow trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, but it does seem to have mellowed out into something a little more…festival appropriate.
The schoolgirl look with pleats and knee socks doesn’t always work when it’s 95 degrees, so festival-goers this season have been accenting their looks with thinner ribbons used to hold together tops, detail skirts, or even accent nails.
white and willowy
White is a dangerous choice for a festival, if you ask me, but I also chose to wear a black fishing vest for its pockets, so perhaps I’m not the best to consult here.
Defying mud, spilled burger toppings, and grass stains, festival goers seem to be bringing the whimsical and willowy out in full force (though this could be caused by the mere presence of Hozier). Great news for those of us who can’t show too much skin out of fear of reflecting light into the eyes of the performer, or for those who just really dig Galadriel’s whole vibe.
denim on denim
Despite its wintery namesake, the Canadian tuxedo has found a home in this year’s festival circuit – cropped, of course. Longer jeans are complemented with denim corsets or vests, and bulkier jackets are paired with cutoff shorts or miniskirts.
In the wise words of Tumblr user midnightcowg1rl, “We’re always like ‘we’re gonna dress like sci-fi people in the future’ and then the next generation is always like yasss jeans,” and it seems the prophecy only continues this year.
sensible shoes
This is not a trend so much as it is a warning: wear comfortable shoes. I can’t bear to see another person limp their way to the exit at the end of the day in a pair of impractical flats, chunky boots, or even worse – heels. Please, it’s heartbreaking. It’s like watching a wounded deer.
“Oh EnVi, I can’t, proper sneakers are so gross” You know what’s gross? Bunions. Blisters. Ingrown toenails. Heed our warning.
Here’s some suggestions, your feet will thank us.
Looking for more festival coverage? Check out our recap of top moments from Head in the Clouds festival, or dive into our favorite Gov Ball sets.
Want to see more trends? Check out our take on bag charms, or our guide to athleisure that goes above and beyond.
