Top tips for summer festival fashion in 2018

In recent years the music festival has transformed from a charmless, muddy gig to an ethereal otherworld where people endeavour to top the previous year’s festival fashion with even more inventive and unexpected creations. Weeks, even months of planning go into some of the summer’s most eye-catching festival garb, while most of the big brands have begun making readymade outrageous outfits for those in need of some inspiration. Whether it’s anthropomorphic, futuristic or just plain silly, this year’s Body&Soul theme is alchemy - the art and act of transformation - and over the past nine years the crowds have been more than willing to oblige.

Here are some top tips to make your festival get up memorable for 2018:

1. Business Attire with a twist

Just because it’s a festival doesn’t mean you can’t look ready to strike a deal at any moment. Switch out your usual three piece for an aspirational weather-inspired number that’ll brighten your fellow festival goers’ days when the skies turn grey. Pair with a similarly aspirational pair of oversized sunnies and a quintessential summertime beverage and you’ll be Irish summer solstice incarnate.

2. Wear your heart on your sleeve, your hobby on your head 

The music-lovers’ choice, this outfit mixes circus sensibilities with great face paint and headgear that could rival Philip Treacy’s. Jazz up a charity shop find with your own sewing skills and a single, showstopping earring to complete the look. Extra points if it stays on your head all weekend.

3. Don’t let conventional practice hold you back

Discover your own spirit animal. Does that spirit animal have one mesh sleeve, a slinky necklace, a flower updo and antlers? Of course it does, it’s your spirit animal. Don’t let society’s notions of what the characteristics of a spirit animal should be hold you back when it comes to adding new elements.

4. The Maximalist Look 

With that in mind, the only time you can truly showcase your extra self is at a festival. Ignore the rule of taking at least one thing off before leaving the house. Your house is now a tent and there are no rules. Lashing of accessories, headpieces, capes and bonus musical instruments make the perfect festival outfit.

5. Don’t let warmth preclude you from wonder

Ready for the weather - but make it fashion. Just because you need to be prepared for the unpredictable Irish climate doesn’t mean you can’t dress up for the occasion. Incorporate cosy jackets and wooly scarves into your look with lots of patterns and then paint whatever is left of you in as many colours as possible.

6. Coordinate

Festival outfits aren’t just about an individualistic display - they’re about meticulously planning an outfit with a friend or entire group. Pick a theme or a colour scheme and make sure everyone keeps to it, be it futuristic, nostalgic or just plain ridiculous. If your idea is original enough it’ll also be incredibly easy to keep track of your pals - just look for the [Insert outrageous outfit idea here].

Don’t forget to upgrade your granny’s old frock, experiment with some charity shop finds and don’t let anything except your own imagination (and a basic sense of decency) hold you back.

Body&Soul takes place at Ballinlough Castle in Clonmellon, Co. Westmeath from June 22 - 24. Saturday and Sunday tickets are available from €70 from www.bodyandsoul.ie