7 Chic Festival Fashion Trends More Grown Up Than Flower Crowns

When you hear the words "Glastonbury", "festival" or "main stage", it's likely that a certain picture immediately comes to mind. Mud? Yes. Heaving crowds? Yes. If you're fashion-minded, you'll also be thinking of the classic festival outfit: kaftan, denim shorts, wellies and of course, plenty of hair accessories. But for those of us tired of fringing, lycra and body glitter, there are plenty of fashionable alternatives that meet the dress code and still channel that free-spirited energy.

Depending on the festival, different aesthetics will speak to the crowds. Download and Reading or Leeds attendees are likely to be spotted in chokers, corsets and flannel shirts. Coachella's bohemian desert girls will feel at home in floaty dresses over micro shorts, and those lucky enough to travel abroad for beachfront dance festivals will probably feel most comfortable in bikinis, slides and stacked jewellery. However, 2024 offers up some new options for those who haven't yet found their tribe.

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @mv.tiangue)

Every year, regardless of location, there are certain factors to consider when putting together the perfect festival outfit. Yes, the vibe is always important, but we also have to consider temperature, comfort and longevity (no one wants to be undressing impractical layers in a portaloo cabin). Having conducted a quick straw poll, it's clear that if team Who What Wear UK have learnt anything about festival dressing from our years of experience, it's that the easier the outfit, the better (and you might be best saving fancy dress for something indoors).

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @alessandragl)

After all, the best outfits are the ones that wouldn't look out of place on any other day during summer; think Kate Moss' minidress and waist belt, Sienna Miller's spaghetti strap minidress or Alexa Chung's cotton dress and Barbour jacket. For long days spent standing for hours (and often ankle-deep in dirt), sparkly crop tops and feather capes will only serve you for so long, and in the words of our assistant social media editor Annie Wheatland-Clinch, "Timeless combos won't ever tire."

So, with Coachella wrapped up for another year but plenty of British festivals about to get underway over the coming months, we searched through socials, runway looks and street style pictures to put together an edit of the seven festival-fashion trends we're confident are about to dominate in 2024. Hint: there are no flower crowns or themed trends.

1. Biker Jackets and Moto Boots

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @mv.tiangue)

Style Notes: Wellies are still one of the most practical footwear styles you can choose for a muddy festival, but should you be looking for something just as durable but with a little more flair, last winter's moto boots are sticking around for festival season. These tough leather boots go just as well with pretty dresses as distressed denim, but you'll often find them paired with an oversized biker jacket when the weather is cooler—it's the perfect throw-on-and-go layer.

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2. Slogan Tees

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @summerfox___)

Style Notes: Perhaps it was the return of Y2K favourites like Juicy Couture and Von Dutch, maybe it was the Challengers "I Told Ya" tee or it could even be the "Olivia Rodrigo effect", but we're spotting slogan tees all over social media—a strong indicator that they could be about to appear at festivals too. Don't believe us? Urban Outfitters is stocking those French Connection tees from the '90s and '00s again, and then there's the now iconic Victoria Beckham "My Dad Had a Rolls-Royce" merch. 2024 is all about saying it loud and proud, and what better way to make a statement than by declaring it on your chest?

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3. Lace and Satin

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @erika_boldrin)

Style Notes: From Courtney Love's affinity for slip dresses to Florence Welch's penchant for ethereal chiffon and lace, the contrast between pretty fabrics and rock and roll sleaze goes back decades. No wonder then that some of the best festival outfits feature the kind of romantic styles you'd expect to see on a dressier summer evening. White lace and camping might not be a sensible combination, but it is perfect for day festivals that are more "glam" than grime.

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4. Statement Sunnies

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @laurennicolefk)

Style Notes: If there's one accessory that has the power to turn any outfit from good to great, it's a pair of bold sunglasses. There's no need to overthink outfit planning when a simple top and skirt can be elevated with stand-out sunnies (but more on layering basics later). Take a cursory scroll through the throwback pics of festival-fashion icons and you'll find a pair of sunglasses front and centre. 2024's releases are all about supersized frames and sculptural shapes.

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5. Tracksuit Pants and Football Shirts

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @emilie_tla)

Style Notes: Looking for a trend that prioritises comfort and cool? Gen Z is relying on sports-coded tracksuits and kits that can be styled up into fresh-off-the-pitch looks that combine high and low pieces. Football shirts with designer bags, trackie bottoms with suede blazers, shorts with, well… just about anything. If it's nylon and has a logo, it's a win.

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6. '90s Basics

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @chrystelleeriksberger)

Style Notes: You don't need to buy an entirely new wardrobe to nod to some of 2024's biggest festival-fashion trends, as one of the most popular is all about stripping looks back to basics. Taking pointers from the '90s, tank tops, vests, boxy tees and both mini and maxi tube skirts are the chicest way to do festival season fashionably, and it's likely you've already got everything you need. Unlike athleisure and bikercore, this look relies on clean minimalism, but you can always take things up a notch with a graphic shoe à la Chrystelle Eriksberger, pictured above.

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7. Cowboycore

festival fashion trends 2024

(Image credit: @dronme)

Style Notes: Okay, so this is a themed trend, but we would be remiss to not acknowledge the sudden success of cowboycore after the social media movement undoubtedly championed by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter. There might not be any flower crowns at festivals this year, but you're likely to see a cowboy hat or two. For those who aren't ready to don a Texan tuxedo quite yet, you can nod to cowboycore the grown-up way with billowing blouses, distressed denim and of course, a festival favourite—cowboy boots.

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Remy Farrell
Fashion Editor

Remy Farrell is a London-based shopping editor with nearly 10 years of editorial experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the editorial and fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com styling for the social media channels and helping to develop the collections for the in-house brand Iris & Ink. After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes shooting talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she also branched out into beauty, creating tried-and-tested reviews and diverse beauty content.In her role as shopping editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new and exciting brands to share with the Who What Wear readership and particularly loves uncovering hidden gems at affordable prices to make shopping accessible to everyone.Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Remy moved to London in 2014 and lives in the Docklands with her partner and pug Billie.