Like it or not, music festivals are back. While the pandemic forced many live music events to hit pause in 2020 and the following year saw a timid trickle of performances cropping up at unpredictable times, 2022 marks the decisive return of festival season — and with it, the resurgence of the deliciously polarizing topic of festival fashion. (If, for you, the notion conjures up dated vignettes of half-baked hippie attire; worry not — we’re here to give you much more nuanced style insight on how to dress for whatever weekend-long performance you’ll be attending in the coming months.)
To get you inspired for a summer and fall season jam-packed with melodious long weekends, we’ve put together a short list of some of the festivals that are topping the “trending” list between now and September — and, of course, we’ve already picked out an outfit for every one. From a high-low look to rock at Coachella to a Scandi-cool frock fit for a European import like Primavera Sound, there’s a ’fit ahead for every performance on your dance card.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
H&M Cut-out Crop Top, $, available at H&MNow that you’ve got the casual component of your outfit locked in, it’s time to add some sparkle. A fringed mini like this one from Nasty Gal will help you dance the night away. (We suggest adding leggings to this look, because the desert gets cold after the sun goes down.) The fitted skirt boasts an easy pull-on construction and high waistline, and is dripping with multi-colored beads that will glitter in the floodlights come nigthfall.
Nasty Gal Ombre Diamante Fringe Bodycon Mini Skirt, $, available at Nasty Gal
Primavera Sound Los Angeles
This renowned European festival is finally arriving stateside after a two-year delay, bringing with it an eclectic mix of fan-favorite acts like Lorde, Mitski, and Nine Inch Nails. We recommend paying homage to the festival’s hometown of Barcelona with a burst of color paired with a silhouette that’s made to move in.Wray’s aptly-named “acid” floral print will fit right in at the sonic free-for-all. The airy cotton construction will keep you cool in the late-summer Los Angeles heat, and the frock even has side-seam pockets for keeping essentials close at hand.
Wray Rosemary Dress Acid Floral, $, available at WrayComplement your breezy dress with a bold flat shoe that marries a practical low profile with a stylish silhouette. This affordable D’Orsay flat features a faux-suede upper that you won’t mind getting a little scuffed up, along with a cushioned insole to keep your feet happy while logging steps at the Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Inspired by the title of a Dr. John album (and a Creole slang term for “good stuff”), the New Orleans-bred, Nashville-area-based campout festival that devotees call the “Roo” offers the opportunity to inhabit nature alongside bands like Tool, Machine Gun Kelly, Roddy Rich, and Stevie Nicks. Channel good vibes with a denim-on-denim look that can double up as pajamas when you snuggle up in your tent after the last act.A denim overshirt is a crucial layer for festival-going — it will protect your skin from the sun during the day and insulate you at night while you’re slumbering off the last show in your sleeping bag. We plucked this heavyweight option from the men’s section at COS — it’s made from a blend of recycled and organic cotton, for a combination that will fit right in at the sustainably-minded festival.
COS Bleached Denim Shirt, $, available at COSIn the past 18 years, Bonnaroo has evolved from its jam-band origins, integrating acts from all over the sonic spectrum. This dip-dyed shorts are a nod to the fest’s hippie roots, but feel like a thoroughly updated take on traditional tie-dye. The stretch-free cotton fabrication and angular tailoring make these a fuss-free option for all-day revelry.
This year, the quintessential New York City festival will bring acts like J. Cole, Halsey, and Kid Cudi to Citi Field in Queens. Unlike its far-flung, nature-bound festival brethren, this event has its roots firmly planted in the Big Apple, so we recommend channeling your usual cool-girl summer style when you dress for the ’fest.A printed scarf is a multi-purpose accessory that will save your outfit (and your skin) at any festival. Tie it to your bag, protect your hair, or soak it in water for a much-needed cooldown midday.
& Other Stories Printed Square Scarf, $, available at & Other StoriesAn airy puff-sleeve top is a chic choice for festival dressing; offering a breathable, durable fabrication that can withstand a little sweat. This cropped top is rendered in an ultra-lightweight cotton-tencel blend and boasts a summery check print that’s an elevated take on the picnic-blanket look.
English Factory Gingham Puff Sleeve Top, $, available at NordstromNew Yorkers know the power of a roomy carry-all tote, and a straw option is a great bet for summer dressing. This boxy style offers different carrying options, including short top handles and a longer carrying strap for hands-free dancing.
& Other Stories Large Woven Straw Tote, $, available at & Other Stories
Sea.Hear.Now
This beach-bound music event is a relative newbie — but it’s earning a spot on our list for integrating two of our favorite summer activities: live music and surfing. The oceanside event takes place in Asbury Park, NJ (Bruce Springsteen’s hometown) and will host acts like Stevie Nicks and Greenday alongside a surf contest led by veteran surfers Cory Lopez and Sam Hammer.Come summer, there’s nothing better than a swimsuit stylish enough to wear on or off the beach. This tie-front maillot is adorned with a swirling, vaguely-mod marble print. The 4.5-star style has garnered accolades from 29 customers, who praise its “extremely flattering” cheeky rear coverage and supportive double-lined fabrication. (Note: larger-breasted wearers wish the suit offered a little more support.
Eloquii One Shoulder Tie Front Swimsuit, $, available at EloquiiIf wearing a bathing suit to see live music is firmly beyond your comfort zone, worry not — Eloquii’s eye-catching print is also available in a pair of breezy, wide-leg cover-up pants that will stand up to an all-night party.
Eloquii Printed Wide Leg Pant, $, available at Eloquii
When We Were Young
Another extraordinarily buzzed-about, nostalgia-driven festival, When We Were Young features a densely packed lineup of emo and pop-punk bands that many of us cried to after heart-wrenching breakups in high school. We expect the crowd to be a harmonious mix of old-school fans and a current-generation’s crop of emo enthusiasts (North and Penelope, we’re looking at you.)
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Ever stand in front of your jam-packed closet, staring at more than enough clothing options, and think: I have nothing to wear? Same. But perhaps the issue isn’t that you’re out of viable outfit choices. You just need a fresh dose of inspiration — say: spring outfit ideas — to help you see your wardrobe in a new way. That’s where Outfit Dump comes in. On the first of the month, every month, we supply you with enough ideas to fuel your style until the next drop comes along.
Warmer weather is here which means it’s time for a spring fashion reset. That puffer jacket you’ve been hiding under since November? Yeah, pack her up. Those boots with all the salt stains? Back in the shoebox, they go. That sweatsuit you’ve worn way too many times to count? We’re not judging but let’s try something new.
Maybe you’re looking for new ways to style straight-leg denim or would like to finally wear that bright orange slip dress you bought last year and never wore. A spring closet overhaul doesn’t necessarily mean buying a new wardrobe, but it does give us the opportunity to reinvent the clothes we already have (or maybe add a few new pieces if you’re feeling so). Whatever you choose, we’re here for it, and we’ve got all the Instagram inspiration you need.
From midi-length skirts to bright knit cardigans, click through for spring outfit ideas for your wardrobe refresh.
Remember patios?
Ready to bloom.
— PAID CONTENT —
Double up on colorful denim with the new Levi'sⓇ Fresh collection — just in time for spring.Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
Park season is here.
Can’t figure out what to wear? A jean jumpsuit will do the trick.
A lesson in spring dressing.
Sporty and flirty.
It’s officially blazer-as-outerwear weather.
Sunday errands but make it cute.
This outfit is serving date-night vibes.
Now this is a matching set we can get on board with.
Nature walks but in style.Maxi-length dresses are the vibe.Checkmate. It's officially spring.When your matcha drink and sneakers match.
That feeling when your shades of green match perfectly.Didn't you hear? Fringe is in.Tights aren't just for the winter.When that sun hits...Because Sundays are for hitting the flower market.The micro mini skirt has found its challenger.Leather for those rainy nights.Calm like seafoam green.
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Welcome to Refinery29’s So, How Is It Really? where we take a look at all of the topics that have the internet talking. In studying them up close, we answer the question of what it’s really like to try out a popular trend like Poster Girl dresses, a viral product, or an unexpected TikTok hack.
You’ve probably seen Poster Girl and their party apparel all over your Instagram and TikTok. The brand produces various styles in a number of colors but the most recognizable is their barely-there shapewear dress, featuring bold cutouts and mesh detailing from top to bottom. It’s the new wave of bodycon dressing that’s encouraging us to bare all in public (or at least close enough).
Naked dresses have consistently come in and out of style for decades, however with cutouts, catsuits and Brazilian Butt Lifts respectively having their moments over the last few years, it’s created the perfect storm for the Poster Girl dress to go viral.
The London-based brand, created by best friends Francesca Capper and Natasha Somerville in 2017, started off with a small collection of chainmail dresses and then expanded into their now infamous shapewear range. When Kylie Jenner posted a photo in the Miranda Dress last January, followed by Dua Lipa donning the same style on some album artwork the next month, the brand skyrocketed.
Search “Poster Girl dress” on TikTok and you’ll find several try-on videos with millions of views, while there’s a huge resale market for them on Depop. Other brands like NiiHai and Wolford are now following suit with similar mesh-style shapewear, too.
Now that it’s become impossible to avoid these body contouring one-size-fits-all dresses, I decided to try them for myself in order to answer all of our burning questions.
Is it actually ‘one size fits all’?
According to the site, the dresses are made to fit UK sizes 6 through 18 – the material (a polyamide and spandex blend) is extremely stretchy and is meant to mould to the body of whoever’s wearing it.
I borrowed three styles from FLANNELS: the Cassia Dress, a mini with long cutout sleeves and mesh detailing along the body; the Jetta Jumpsuit, a playsuit with cycling short bottoms and the brand’s signature boob cutouts; and the Miranda Dress, their most recognizable style with the cutouts and short sleeves.
When my items came out the packages looking like doll’s dresses, I felt hella unnerved but considering I’ve seen women of varying sizes wearing the dresses on TikTok, I knew they would fit my size 12 frame. But what I really wanted to know was how would it actually feel?
The pros? It streamlines your curves and its patterns – mimicking boobs, butts and underwear – really compliment your shape. For some, this might sound like a nightmare, but for me, that’s what makes me rate the trend: I’m here for celebrating the female form.
Cons: I didn’t feel like my parts were supported enough. I have E cups and while the cut-outs in the Miranda Dress and Jetta Jumpsuit accentuated them, I presume these styles are a lot more comfortable, and less precarious, for boobs smaller than a D.
The actual material was nothing worth shouting about. I only wore the Cassia Dress out in public and it soon became clear that while these dresses look amazing on social media – modeled in static poses and brief video movements – the dress rode up almost immediately while walking and barely stayed down. Also, making sure the opaque patterns were still placed over my nipples and bum crack proved to be very difficult without a mirror.
While walking to an 8:30am breakfast meeting – yes I had my nips out that early in the morning – I was grateful I had thrown a long trench coat and a leather jacket over it.
With this type of material, the sheerness is to be expected, however I think anyone with darker features needs to know that these colors are not generous. I definitely think a thicker material or darker fabric around the breasts would be a better shout, but for now I’d suggest pasties (which I could not find in my wardrobe the day of filming – classic).
How do you wear underwear?
Up top: you don’t. Down below: depending on the style, go for a seamless thong, G-string, or of course, go commando.
I mean ultimately, if you’re wearing a Poster Girl dress, you’re probably not after comfort. But one thing to note about these dresses is that flattering photos can make anyone look great in them; it’s all about the poses and angles. While commando is fine for the pics, who really wants disco fanny after a night out in a dress that’s been riding up since you left the house? Not me.
If you look very closely at Instagram pictures that display the top-to-bottom cutouts, the most common solution is wearing a skin-colored or matching g-string for minimum visibility.
For the Cassia Dress and Jetta Jumpsuit, I opted for a seamless light pink thong from Parade and went commando for the Miranda Dress because YOLO.
Is it worth the price?
If we’re talking about designer dresses, Poster Girl’s price points are pretty accessible. But as a normal person who is not a celebrity or model, $172.50 for a mesh dress doesn’t exactly scream affordable.
Personally, I couldn’t justify dropping $154 to $308 on a dress that’s thinner than paper, will likely ride up and give me multiple nip slips. And while the longer I wore them the more I liked the way they looked, my frugal child-of-an-immigrant mindset will tell you to try and get one in the sale.
As for where to wear your Poster Girl dress? I’d consider an event where you’re mostly sat down.
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By now, you’ve likely caught wind of the fact that skinny jeans are over. The trend, spearheaded by millennials in the '00s, was declared dead by TikTok last year. If you were a fan, I apologize for your loss. Of course, you can wear whatever jeans you please — more power to you if you rage against the Gen Z machine — but since the youngest generation doubles as the one with the fastest growing economic power, there’s a good chance that the vast selection of skinny jeans you’ve grown accustomed to seeing in stores won’t be as wide for much longer. And when that happens, one question will inevitably follow: What shoes do you wear with jeans that aren’t skinny?
Finding shoes to go with the tight-fitting silhouette was simple: Heeled booties, over-the-knee boots, or pumps, if you’re a heels person; ballet flats or low-top sneakers, if you weren’t. But these days, when footwear trends range from chunky loafers to even chunkier clogs, skinny jeans can feel like an odd pairing. Just think about the proportions. Throw on a pair of slightly baggy — but fitted in the butt and waist — vintage jeans, though, and just about every on-trend shoe style of the season is a perfect match, no matter how bulky.
But switching to non-skinny jeans doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite footwear. You can still wear black booties with flares and ballet flats with slouchy jeans. If you ask me, they’ll look even better. But there are a few types of footwear that pair especially well with a less fitted denim style.
Click ahead to find out what shoe styles to buy, now that old mom jeans are “in” and skinnies — the new mom jeans — are “out.”
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Fancy Shoes
There’s no shoe-jean partnership more visually satisfying than a pair of baggy, light-wash jeans paired with a fancy, colorful shoe. There’s something about the high-low mix that makes a cusper like me — someone who loves both Carrie’s Sex And The City shoe collection and Depop's vintage denim selection — excited to wear jeans, even in quarantine.
Badgley Mischka Collection Clara Embellished Sandal, $, available at Nordstrom
Nine West Zooza Heeled Slide Sandals, $, available at Nine West
Zara EMBELLISHED BOW HEELED SLINGBACKS, $, available at Zara
Chunky Loafers
With skinny jeans, loafers had a tendency to feel outdated. But, with slouchy jeans and an added heel or two-tone colorway, these former prep school styles become surprisingly cool. Don’t believe us? Just check social media, where loafers are impossible to miss.
Sam Edelman Laurs Lug Sole Loafer, $, available at Sam Edelman
Charles and Keith Perline Beaded Platform Loafers, $, available at Charles and Keith
Clogs
Whether they’re Birkenstock-style clogs (or the high-fashion equivalent by JW Anderson) or cottagecore-esque rubber alternatives that are perfect for gardening, clogs of all shapes and styles are a comfortable and chic sidekick for your non-skinny jeans. There’s something very satisfying about the way slouchy jeans just fall on top of them, the rounded toe popping out ever so slightly. And for a dressier, more put-together alternative, dare I suggest a wooden heel?
Zappos Boston Soft Footbed, $, available at Birkenstock
JW Anderson JW Anderson Leather Loafer Mules, $, available at Farfetch
Yes, you can wear sneakers with non-skinny jeans. Just opt for athletic pairs that have a chunkier sole — something with a little more height. New Balance 990v5s and Adidas Falcons are a safe bet.
With the return of Y2K trends, platform heels have become the must-have shoe of 2022. Even if many of us have relegated heels for good amid the pandemic, platforms are the best remedy to combat the collective disdain for uncomfortable, tall shoes.
Loeffler Randall Loeffler Randall Natalia Platform Pleated Bow Sandals, $, available at Shopbop
Nomasei Silver Taxi Sandals, $, available at Nomasei
Dolce Vita WESSI HEELS IN BLACK LEATHER, $, available at Dolce Vita
Cult Gaia JUDITH PLATFORM, $, available at Cult Gaia
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Thanks to brands like Miaou and Miu Miu, the micro mini skirt is one of the defining trends of 2022. Ever since the Y2K trend appeared on the spring 2022 runways though, the main question has been: “How do you wear a skirt so short off the runway?” As a conservative dresser who has asked this herself on several occasions, I set out to find out.
I knew it wouldn’t be an easy feat. (Even Refinery29’s fashion director seemed shocked when I pitched the story a few weeks ago.) I’ve always preferred wide-leg pants, blazers, and maxi dresses to crop tops, shorts, and mini skirts. Throughout college, I’d often find myself arguing with my mom over my outfit before a night out. It went something like this: “You’re young, wear a short skirt to the club,” she would say, to which I’d respond with a serious face asking her to respect my choice to wear a button-up blouse that (looking back) was more suited for a corporate meeting than a night out.
This wasn’t always the case, though. Back in the early 2000s, when I was a cheerleader in elementary school, mini skirts were my thing. I adored wearing the flouncy style with crop tops to dance in my school’s volleyball tournaments, and wore the skort counterparts to practice our choreography and stunts every day after class. But after quitting cheerleading at the age of 12, the mini skirt fell out of my everyday routine, and eventually out of my wardrobe. But if there was a moment to time travel to my cheerleading days, 2022 seems the perfect time.
Fittingly, I got to test the Miaou micro mini skirt for my cousin’s week-long wedding festivities in Las Vegas in March. I decided to wear it to her bachelorette party, which was more of a tame dinner than a crazy night out, but still merited the obligatory “ready to party” outfit. When I told my cousin that I’d planned to sport a mini skirt, she didn’t take me seriously. “Oh, you were not kidding,” she said a few hours later when I walked up to her outside the hotel.
For the rest of the night, I wished it had been a joke. Even though I wore sheer tights underneath, I kept tugging my skirt down, trying to cover my derriere, aware of the looks I got from the men at the casino. Later, when we met up with the rest of the family, I was met with a different set of looks. “Did you ask your boyfriend permission to wear that?” my aunt asked.
At this point, I realized that my initial reservations over the micro mini skirt were not unfounded. Back in October, when the now-viral Miu Miu set debuted, I was skeptical of just how much we had progressed in our society to allow for this trend to come back in a healthier, freer way. The body standards set by the early 2000s diet culture and the popularity of the ultra-thin celebrities largely responsible for the trend’s fame hadn’t changed much. Neither did the politics attached to a woman wearing a short skirt without being questioned or, worse, shamed for it. “I don’t need anyone’s permission to wear whatever I want,” I responded to my aunt’s question. Still, later that night, I packed the Miaou skirt back into my suitcase feeling conflicted.
Back home, I felt the need to go back to a time when I loved wearing the mini skirt to try understand what had appealed so much to me about it. I unearthed some of my cheerleading tapes from the early 2000s. There I was: sporting pigtails, carrying pom-poms, and dancing confidently without a care in the world. While arbitrary fashion rules tell us to let go of our inner children — baby tees, twee silhouettes, tutu skirts — to step into adulthood, I refuse to think that I had fully let go of the fashion that used to make me feel happy. It was enough for me to give the trend a second try.
This time, I opted for a skirt that mimicked my cheerleading uniform: a white pleated mini skirt from ASOS. Although I didn’t wear any tights underneath, I chose to go more modest on the top with a striped long-sleeve shirt and a black blazer. It was the perfect mash-up of my personalities — an adult with conservative aesthetic and an inner child willing to have fun with fashion. I strutted around Manhattan confidently, listening to RosalÃa’s Motomami album, one that celebrates the power of contradiction and transformation — embracing the juxtaposing nature of my outfit.
The micro mini skirt might not be my look ever again (who knows?). But, as I attempted to squeeze it into my closet, I discovered that there is a way to welcome back this trend, even if you didn’t agree with it the first time around and still have conflicted feelings about it. And that’s by doing it your way.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Music's night of nights has come and gone, which celebrated the industry's achievements for the 64th year and brought us some epic performances from the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, BTS and Lady Gaga. After a lengthy postponement, and a mostly virtual event held last year, the daring red carpet we know and love was officially back for 2022.
While Hollywood takes a genteel approach to a dress code, the Grammys' red carpet demands risk — and the guests did not disappoint. Kicking us off, we have Billie Eilish in an architectural Rich Owens number, a slew of stars going bold in Versace, and Megan Thee Stallion in a glorious cheetah print Roberto Cavalli gown with a thigh-high split — a thoughtful ode to the fashion of Grammys' past.
