Are you a festival goer?
Are you a Love Box and Wireless pro?
Have you got Coachella on your festival belt notch?
Do you have a decade of Glastonbury visits under your belt like one of my sisters-in-law has?
Yes really. She’s been 10 straight years in a row, diehard that she is!
I, on the other hand, had reached the grand age of 50 without ever having been to one! Although I’m a huge music lover, I’m not into big crowds, I leave muddy fields to cows and the idea of camping brings me out in hives. I’m a gal who likes her creature comforts; clean sheets at the end of the day and a fully flushing loo!
However, being something of a jazz fanatic, I’ve wanted to go to the Love Supreme Jazz Festival, since its inaugural year in 2013. As part of my 50th birthday present, Tall Brown Fox surprised me with tickets! He’s a grand man, that chap!
Festival dressing is dependent on 4 things. Amend that! PRACTICAL festival dressing in the UK is dependent on 4 things;
– Weather on the days leading up to the festival. Monsoon weather = MUD!
– Weather / temperature on the day.
– Mode of travel to site.
– Length of stay at festival.
I can’t tell you how much I’m so over the boho, hippy chick festival look. To be fair I was never really in to it. If it’s been done a thousand times, it’s been done to death! Besides, July in the UK, when the festival was held, can either be as scorching as a pizza oven or wetter than a swimming pool.
There was no way you were going to find me wafting around a field with a plastic flower ring in my hair.
My main priorities for my outfit choice were comfort, practicality and fun! After all, I was going to a music festival, not a fashion parade. We were only there for one day of the weekend long festival and although we drove to it, once inside the site, we wanted to travel light, meaning not being burdened down by back packs and excess stuff.
COMFORT
– Clothes you can move in and don’t mind being in for a good 12 hours.
– Black lycra leggings – plenty of give and stretch for dancing (and er… attempting to climb flag poles). Cooler than jeans but warmer than shorts.
PRACTICALITY
The lady we saw wearing high heeled sandals – I kid you not – clearly had not received the memo!
– As the site is a field, mud is a given so clothes and footwear I didn’t mind getting dirty, wet or accidental food stains on.
– Layers for sun protection.
– Layers for when the temperature drops in the evening.
– Lightweight, waterproof, breathable jacket in case of showers. The day before, it had teemed down, drenching festival goers.
FUN
– A graphic tee – always a good choice and I had an eye-catching one up my sleeve. My silver metallic leopard tee!
– Pattern mixing – it’s a raucous array of patterns here. Graphics, checks, polka dots and camo! Heck, I’m even doing double polka dots with my wellies and waterproof jacket!
Who wants to wear boring black wellies when you can strut around in
multi-coloured, polka dot ones instead?
I wasn’t the only one with fun wellies.
Aren’t these doggie ones adorable?
No, I’ve no idea why I tried to climb a flagpole either, other than to have fun!
Told you the leggings were a good choice! Plenty of give and stretch, you see?
Whilst Tall Brown Fox opted for a beverage of black coffee, he kindly treated me to a glass of champagne.
Why slum it when you can kick back and listen to first class music with a first class drink!
Here I am glowing in the glow of the late afternoon sun!
I look more like a lobster in this photo than I actually did. Still, my companion, the leopard, rather liked basking in the warmth of it all. Especially when a fellow festival goer complimented me on my tee.
I’m just one cool cat really.
Thankfully, the sun shone all day and the only time I needed my jacket was in the evening as an extra, windproof layer over my fleece that I had stashed in the car as a standby. It’s amazing how quickly the temperature drops once the sun has set. When there’s an open field, the wind will blow.
Where I lead, many will follow. Don’t be surprised if next year, everyone’s wearing double dots.
You saw it here FIRST folks!
Festival Footnote
At these events it’s all about feeling good and enjoying the sights and sounds. And my, our cup runneth over with wonderful sounds from bands and musicians I’d never heard of, to more established acts like Melody Gardot, Caro Emerald, The Average White, Band, Kelis and Burt Bacharach to name but a few.
And one of the many highlights of the day was when Avery Sunshine signed my copy of her album after her storming set and she graciously posed for a snap of us together.
Doesn’t she look fabulous in that black top?
Have you been to many music festivals? If so which ones?
Linking with
I have reached the grand age of 72 without going to a festival either but last weekend I went to a wedding festival so does that count? My great niece wanted a different wedding (don't they all?) so decided to have a Festival and it was great. They had a stage with 5 bands, food stations, tea and coffee wagon, games, lights and even gorgeous weather. I must get some of those spotty wellies although we didn't need them this time.
It absolutely counts, Jenny! Your great niece's wedding sounds wonderful. 5 bands? Impressive. Congrats to the newly weds, sounds like they truly had a wonderful day of celebration.
I'm so glad I bought the spotty wellies. I've survived for over 30 years with a pair I had from school – I kid you not! – a boring black pair. Felt it was about time I bought a pair that more suits my personality especially as I love polkadots!
Thanks for stopping by Jenny.
I'm very much like you Jacqueline—the crowds and craziness are not my cup of tea! I will admit to doing some of this fun as a younger chicola…but I'll usually pass now!
I do love the double dots inspiration!!
Glad you had fun
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
We're twins, Jodie! I can cope with a little craziness and this festival was just perfect in size. And because a jazz festival is more niche than most others, it attracted a certain type of festival goer and surprisingly a lot of families. The atmosphere was really good and I never felt overwhelmed.
Glad you like the double dots!
I for one am not quite the festival goer. I don't do well in crowds, to be honest, and if I were to be even more honest, I'm not very fond of people in real life. Is it bad to be that way? I don't know but that's me 🙂 hence the fact that I only shop online. Exclusively GRIN in addition, I have to stay out of the sun from 8.30am to around 6, thanks to SLE, so really, prancing around in a field with barely a stitch on isn't quite my idea of fun either. But but but, if I were to brave it, I'd go with what you're wearing, my friend. Practical, comfy, and very cool (both from a temperature standpoint as well as aesthetics). I love the polka dots!!
p/s go for the pole, Jacqueline!!!
No, it's not back to be that way at all, Sheela! I admire your honesty. I think we all have a degree of misanthropy in us, me included! I'm something of an introvert despite being chirpy in real life and I much prefer small groups than large crowds. Sorry to hear about the SLE – yes, that would make being outside for hours impossible.
Ha, ha, you should've seen Tall Brown Fox's attempt at the pole! He practically shimmied halfway up one like he was in the SAS!
In California festivals such as Coachella are all the rage right now, but I've never attended one because they never appealed to me. Also, like you I'm really sick of the hippy, boho-chic looks, so your outfit is very refreshing! I love the double dots idea and those rain boots are fantastic! It looks like you had a great time at your first festival!
-Katie
http://hellokatiegirl.blogspot.com/
Agreed Katie, it's just an obvious look and I wanted something a little different and the welly boots are certainly different!
I love those boots, Jacqueline!! Double-dots are definitely going to be the rage in 2017! I can feel it!
I am not usually a festival person — they're usually too crowded and loud for my taste. BUT, the idea of a jazz festival does sound delightful! You look so relaxed and at ease it made me wish I was there sipping some champagne right next to you!
– Sherry
http://www.petiteover40.com
I couldn't resist them when I saw them – I had to have dotty wellies.
When you visit, I'll have the champagne on ice ready for you!
You go girl ! Looks like a fabulous day and how lucky were you to get that photo ? I have those Wellies by the way ! But I haven't been to any festivals. Only concerts. Will have to arrange coffee soon x
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
Thanks Laurie. Yes, Avery was really patience with everyone, signing autographs and even prompting people to have their photo taken with her – she was really getting into the spirit of the day which was lovely.
Snap! That's brilliant you have exactly the same pair as me. We'll have to wear them when we meet up – that would be a hilarious blogging photo, wouldn't it?