Each year, Coachella and Stagecoach kick off festival season and are the catalysts for the trends sure to be spotted on grounds across the country for the months to come. Below, discover the the key items and trending looks we saw during this festival season.
WOMENSWEAR
Out in Indio, we saw an updated festival aesthetic emerge, steering away from the typical flower crowns and cowgirl vibes to a more wearable and boho-chic look.
KEY ITEM: MICRO SHORTS
Micro shorts (+369% to LY) and short shorts (+16% in market adoption to LY) were key trends seen this season, popularly worn by Sabrina Carpenter with feminine ruffle details. Denim and leather micro-shorts were popular styles—note Alix Earle—along with lace and sheer knit short shorts for an easy-breezy garment perfect for the desert.
FEMININE TOUCH
Leaning into the “we’re girls” trend taking over social media, an array of romantic and girlish details saturated festival fashion. For example, ruffles (+20% to LY) were a standout detail on all sorts of garments from dresses to skirts, shorts and tops. As mentioned, lace (+5% to LY) was seen across the board and many festival goers wore lingerie-esque pieces that felt romantic and feminine like lace maxi dresses (+20% to LY) and lace jumpsuits (+95% to LY). And the bow trend is still going strong, hair bows (+134% to LY) and bow ribbons tied onto boots and shorts were popularly worn along with other bow additions.
LEATHER IN THE DESERT
Leather was a key fabrication this festival season worn in a variety of styles as an elevated biker aesthetic proved prominent. Oversized leather jackets, +60% in market adoption to last year, were a key staple piece paired with any-and-all outfits, especially after the sun went down. Along with leather micro shorts, leather mini skirts (+5% to LY) and leather vests (+125% in social buzz) made statements across the festival grounds along with leather boho belts.
SHEER FABRICATIONS
Sheer dressing has continued to grow in the market and became an essential part of festival-wear. Sheer dresses were a top pick—think Charli D’Amelio’s look in Aya Muse—mostly seen in delicate knits and lace, and have experienced +172% in market adoption to last year. We also saw a variety of sheer skirts (+35% to LY) , whether a mini or a maxi, in mesh, crochet and chiffon. Sheer tops, up +166% in market adoption, and sheer pants, up +162% in market adoption, were festival-goer favorites, too.
FOOTWEAR MUST-HAVES
Footwear trends strayed from the typical cowboy boot at Coachella, instead we saw fold over boots, moto boots and cool sneakers. Fold over boot styles had an elevated western flare, up +69% to last year in searches and a TikTok favorite trend, popularly sold by Azalea Wang. As for moto boots, we most commonly saw the Steve Madden boot in both black and brown, and thanks to the festival weekend, social buzz is now up +450% for this trend. Adidas sneakers like the Samba (+209% to LY) and Gazelle (+137% to LY) were festival go-to’s, and many adorned their sneakers with fun pins and charms, too. At Stagecoach, cowboy boots (+5% to LY) were the “it” shoe—no surprise there—sticking to true country style in brown leather, mid calf boots.
MENSWEAR
Menswear at Coachella and Stagecoach felt elevated with western styling cues—think bandanas and boots—that leaned into the cowboycore aesthetic while exploring new fabrications, wider silhouettes, and logos.
COWBOYCORE
During both festivals, mens cowboy boots were a footwear staple, up +5% to last year in searches. Cowboycore—currently blowing up on TikTok—is heavily influencing menswear this summer, and bringing cowboy boots back in for men including black and white boots, embellished boots and classic brown options.
KEY ACCESSORY: SCARVES
Rather than simply wearing cowboy hats and baseball caps, festival-wear included bandanas, headscarves and neck scarves. While scarf variations are always seen in the desert, what’s interesting this time around were the styling cues. Bandanas have seen a +7% increase in market adoption in the last 30 days as festival-goers brought this trend to life wearing bandanas as headbands, neck scarves or simply wrapping them around wrists or ankles. Various head scarves (+136% in market adoption to LY) and neck scarves (+54% in market adoption to LY) in silks and cotton were top picks.
KNITWEAR
Openwork knits are steadily growing within menswear and proved popular at the festivals. Retro-feeling knitted shirts were a top pick—worn by Jason Tartick at Stagecoach as pictured above—up +55% in market adoption to last year. Similarly, mens crochet tops (+29% to LY) and mens crochet vests (+13% to LY) made appearances, too.
LOGOMANIA
Men’s festival-wear relied heavily on logomania, up +4% in market adoption in the last 30 days. Men adorned themselves––sometimes head-to-toe––in logos in a way that still felt elevated and in-the-know. For example, Barry Keogan executed this trend in an understated look wearing a Versace white tank with Burberry shorts in their classic print paired with a matching neck scarf.
RELAXED FITS
Baggy pants (+37% to LY) have been a favorite within menswear and at the festivals, this style was a go-to. Oversized acid wash denim (+13% to LY) was a key trend seen in green hues and often worn in a capri length. We also saw baggy joggers (+5% to LY), cargo jeans (+67% to LY) and oversized shorts (+101% to LY), too, while juxtaposed with mens sheer, mesh pants and shorts.
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