It’s no secret that the USA likes to go all out with its festival fashion, but have you ever been curious what is commonly worn on the other side of the world in Europe? With so many amazing festivals such as Tomorrowland, Creamfields, Mysteryland, Untold, and countless others, you might wonder what’s appropriate to wear and what isn’t as commonly seen.
Before I experienced Tomorrowland for myself, I was wondering how the Europeans dressed as I didn’t want to look too obnoxious or draw a lot of attention. Full disclaimer: this is just my personal experience and you should always do what makes you happy in the end! If dressing in sequins and a bikini is your thing – go for it! Although I’ve only been to one international event, I was surprised to see how different the fashion culture was in Belgium versus what I’ve noticed in the US. I think the best way for me to showcase the differences is to separate by category: US, UK/Australia, and most of Europe.
The USA
Ravers and festival goers are not afraid of self-expression in America, and one of my favorite things about going to these events is that you get to be creative with your styling and also be surrounded by a lot of like-minded fashionistas. Over the course of 9 years, I’ve seen themed outfits, barely there outfits, over the top and costume like attire, and those who want to be casual and comfy! I honestly feel like anything goes in the US and often the more the better in terms of glitter, accessories, and color! I’ve got a blog here about what is commonly worn to events like Coachella and EDC. Popular brands include:
- Dolls Kill
- iHeartRaves
- Freedom Ravewear
- Rave with Mi Gente
- Oceanmoon
- J Valentine
UK/Australia
Although I’ve never been to festivals in the UK or Australia, I am completely obsessed with their brands and style. I feel like everything is so creative, fashion-forward, and unique. Their fashion is personally a huge inspiration to me. Apparel tends to be more modest compared to the US, with a focus on creative expression. Just a few of their amazing brands:
- Claudia Pink
- Wild Thing
- Easy Tiger
- Burnt Soul
- Hissy Fit
- Elsie and Fred
- Jade Clark
- Tibbs & Bones
- Day by Day the Label
- GoGuy Clothing
Europe
So not to generalize, but based on my experience in Belgium at Tomorrowland, the festival fashion here was very boho inspired and more minimal. I would say outfits had more of a Coachella vibe. Flower crowns, denim shorts and crochet tops or simple shirts were super common to see. What I do respect about Europe is that they clearly keep it about the music rather than a fashion show (even though I prefer the latter). I actually received a lot of compliments on my outfits at Tomorrowland as I sort of stuck out (despite me holding back as much as I could)! I didn’t see much glitter, face gems or even heavy makeup, but I did notice a lot of braids! I also couldn’t find one person in platforms or shoes other than sneakers.
As mentioned above, the moral of the story is to always wear what you feel comfortable in! Hopefully in the future I’ll be able to travel and see more international festival wear, but these are all my observations as of now! What differences in styles have you noticed? Let me know!