The Navajo know

Festivals offer the perfect opportunity to be daring with your wardrobe, so why not stand out with a tribal motif? And just remember to keep things practical for the Irish weather, writes Rosemary Mac Cabe

DRESSING FOR festivals is one of the most freeing sartorial opportunities – and, simultaneously, one of the most limiting. It’s a weekend of music and relaxation, fun and friends, with an added bit of kook and quirk that means, to a certain extent, anything goes. Got a neon eyeshadow you’re just dying to try out? Here’s your chance. Never quite braved that feathered neckpiece outside the house? Team it with a pair of shorts and a white T-shirt in Stradbally and no one will bat an eyelid. But there’s always that chilling spectre of the Irish weather hanging over you; age and experience will have taught those of us old enough to read that it is never wise to rely on meteorologists, and that any forays into fashionable eccentricity must come with a weather warning.

If you need thorough guidance, think tribal this season – but not of the African variety. Fashion is moving into Navajo territory in a big way, with prints adorning everything from bags to capes. And don’t be afraid to mix it up. Team your woollen cardigan with a leopard-print bag (cross-body is the most practical choice for any kind of crowd negotiations) and some sequins – and abandon all rules about what “goes” with what. Just remember: at a festival (and nowhere else), wellies go with everything. Hunter wellies may seem pricey (starting at €70), but they’re the only ones that come with a waterproof guarantee – and darling, they’re what all the hip kids go for. And, come nightfall, no matter the weather, it will get cold – so pack a knit or an oversized hoody for late-night chilling.

They may seem like a big fashion no-no, and oh-so-juvenile, but these celebs seem to think they’re okay – and, looking at them now, it’s hard to disagree. Team yours with opaque tights for warmth or with nude fishnets for that Beyoncé vibe. And don’t buy them new: the trick with denim shorts is to get them time-worn and much-loved. Check out Urban Outfitters’ vintage selection or cut up an old pair of 501s for serious cool points.