Outdoor festivals aren’t just about the music. Most of the time, they’re also about fashion. At these events, you can let loose and truly express yourself, which is why many adorn themselves in creative outfits before heading to their favorite artist’s next set. The best part is that there’s no one way to go about festival fashion. At Coachella alone—a major outdoor festival known for its attendees’ eclectic looks—trends range from coquette core to even gothic, with platforms like Pinterest noting a 200% increase in searches for terms like “simple tulle dress” and “dark feminine core” in the days leading up to the event. That said, going with your personal aesthetic is a great way to pull together an outdoor festival outfit.
But you don’t need to stop there! Why not elevate your outfit by accessorizing it? Sunglasses will be especially handy for these occasions. They’ll keep the sun’s glare from obstructing your vision of the stage during the day—and if you choose the right style, they can help your outfits pop even more. If you want to go all out in line with true festival fashion, pull out all the stops, ditch your normal sunnies, and don a customized pair. Here’s how to curate the best sunglasses possible for bringing your outfits to the next level.
Choose a model
First, pick a base. What sunglasses shape do you want to build on? You can go for classics, like Aviators and cat-eyes, or more unique, trendy designs like sporty wraparounds and rectangular geek chic shades. This is also a good opportunity to select a model based on your budget. For example, you can choose sturdy yet cheap pairs like the round Dundee and oversized Paradise from affordable retailers like Eyebuydirect. If you really want to go all the way to create your ideal festival outfit, though, take the plunge and get yourself some designer sunglasses. Sunglass Hut’s online catalog offers iconic models like Versace’s Biggie and Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer, all available for customization. You can make your pick based on things like your face shape—round shades to soften square faces and angular sunnies to sharpen round faces—as well as personal preference.
Peruse your frame options
Once you’ve picked a sunglasses design, decide how you want their frames to look. First, pick a size. This usually depends on how big your face is—you’ll want the two to match—but if you’re going for a more distinct outdoor festival aesthetic, you can look at how to match your overall outfit, instead. Going for a bright, feminine look? Oversized sunglasses will go great with a summer dress. Want something more chic? Tiny sunglasses will give a sleek look you can pair with the body-hugging tops and pants of your choice. Next, pick your frame color and material. The two often go hand in hand: metallic frames often come in gold or silver, while plastic ones come in a wider range of hues you can use to add a pop of color to your outfit. That’s where you can really go crazy—or subtle! You can try models like Oliver People’s Cobalto for a touch of class with its light gold frames. You can even kick it up a notch with the rainbow-colored browline sunnies from Zenni Optical, perfect for louder and more vibrant festivals like Budapest’s Sziget.
Pick your lenses
Next, pick how you want your lenses to look. These parts of your sunnies will stand out the most, so you’ll want to look at vibrant colors that elevate your outdoor festival outfit. If you’re not heading out in a Barbiecore ensemble, think outside the box and beyond rose-tinted lenses—you can go for red, purple, and even green! You can match these colors to the rest of your look, like Randolph Engineering Concorde’s powder-blue lenses with 2024’s festival denim trend. Conversely, pair a monochrome outfit with wildly colorful shades, like a little black mini getup with the orange-tinted lenses on Gemma Casanova’s rectangle shades.
Have fun with add-ons
Though a popular fashion myth, the truth is that you don’t have to be a professional to show how creative you are. Customizing your sunglasses offers you the opportunity to do just that—because you can leave your own mark on your specs! Brands like DITA Eyewear will let you add your own engravings to your chosen frames, so think of adding things like your initials or a significant date in your life. Want to make sure your add-ons are festival-worthy? Add some out-of-this-world embellishments to your frames. Lots of independent creatives can add things like faux gems and intricate metalwork to the edges of your frames. With the right add-ons, you can definitely elevate your outdoor festival outfits with a unique pair of shades no one else has but you!
Article written by Kim Lofgren
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