Festival fashion – our pick of the best fashion-forward pieces for festival days

Unpredictable weather. Hideous toilets. Overpriced food. Why wouldn’t we love a good British festival? It’s the perfect chance to dust down that comedy hat, dig out the face paint, and check that those carrier bags are going to look super-cute as emergency wellington boots. Erm…

Oh ok then, if you’d rather not be seen sporting a jester’s hat, here’s what festival fashion you should be wearing this summer.

Jelly shoes/wellies

Some of the early 90s’ most iconic shoes have made a comeback and they’re perfect for this year’s festivals. Jelly shoes are comfy, will take a bashing, and can be rinsed clean (of cider, beer, and whatever concoction takes your fancy).

They’re effortless festival footwear, plus if you lose them you won’t have to break the bank replacing them. Taking a pair of wellies goes without saying too – because even if they’re Waitrose carrier bags, not even Kate Moss could pull that look off.

The kimono

It’s having a total fashion moment right now and it’s clear to see why. It’s light and airy, gives great coverage, and will transform even the simplest of outfits.

Hunt down a kimono that’s packed with bold tropical prints for total festival fashion plus points.

Vintage

Festivals are a time for true experimentation on the fashion front. After all, even if you get it ludicrously wrong, most people won’t give a damn, and you’re unlikely to see them ever again anyway.

So get experimenting with vintage fashion and see what you can mash together. Look out for high-waisted midi skirts, maxi skirts if you’re not too fussed about a mud-encrusted hem, and strappy dresses for a grunge take on things.

The backpack

However light you want to travel, you’ll certainly need to take a few essentials. Dry shampoo, wet wipes, shewee (go on, live a little!), deodorant, phone, and so on and so on… So embrace the backpack.

A small leather one is the backpack du jour right now, and it’s a perfect addition to your festival fashion wardrobe.

Dungarees

News just in: these days you don’t have to be a painter and decorator to have a legitimate reason for wearing dungarees. That’s because they’re SS14’s hottest festival fashion must-have.

Go for cut-offs and bare some flesh, keep them full-length and just roll up at the ankle, or do girly chic, and opt for the dungaree dress. Whichever way you look at it, you’ll be right up there with the likes of Alexa Chung, Pixie Lott, and Rihanna which is, as far as we’re concerned, a Very. Good. Thing. Indeed.

Pictured products are all from Select Fashion, which has a section of its store dedicated to this year’s Summer Festival trends. From left to right, our picture shows: Grey Dora Long Dungarees (£12); Black Tropical Floral Kimono (£16); and Mint Green Chunky Jelly Sandals (£7). Prices quoted were correct on 3 August 2014.