Packing 101: Festival Must-Haves

Oh, I forgot! This is a list of things I think you absolutely must bring to a music festival. I think I'll start doing a 'Packing 101' feature, like for beach stays, city stays, etc. If you have any ideas for more packing 101's, leave it in the comments! (:

-Backpack: This should be a good, high-quality, very durable backpack. It'd be best if it were waterproof, but if you can't get your hands on one of those, any decent-grade backpack will do. Make sure it has pretty well-cushioned shoulder pads, though, or your shoulders will be killing you while you rock out to The Killers! I recommend Herschel co., or honestly, I love Speedo Pro backpacks... they're huge and waterproof, and stand up to pretty much everything. They come in tons of colors too!

-Bug Spray: This is a given... but if you haven't heard of it yet, also try the Bug-Band. It repels bugs for up to 120 hours, and comes in tons of colors, even glow-in-the-dark! They have a pretty strong smell, but it's not unpleasant.

-Sunscreen: This is also a given! I'd recommend SPF 50 or greater. Make sure it's something easy to apply and re-apply, like a sport spray. I'd definitely recommend a spray.

-Hat: Like I said in my previous post, though... a smaller hat is better than a large hat. Also, make sure this is pretty cheap. You don't want to spend lots of money on something you're probably going to lose.

-Extra pair of comfy shoes: Your feet will be killing you if you wear heels... pack an extra pair of shoes just in case! Make sure they're pretty compact, like flip flops, so you can just throw them in your bag.

-Cash: It's just a lot easier to bring cash, most festivals don't support credit cards.

 -IF any of the bands are doing meet & greets: something to get signed! You don't want to have to pay for a shirt for them to sign if you already have their album or something like that, do you?

-Walkie-Talkie: Since your cell coverage is probably going to be spotty at best, it'd be wise to bring  a walkie-talkie so you can communicate with your friends.

-Waterproof blanket/ poncho: If you don't plan on getting right up in the mosh pit and just want to sit and relax to music, make sure to bring a waterproof mat/ blanket. A big rain poncho will also do just fine to work double duty.

-Toilet paper or babywipes: I don't even need to explain how dirty and gross port-o-johns can get, do I?

Of course, this list doesn't cover those who camp at their festivals. I didn't get the opportunity to camp out at Firefly, but if there's anything you feel I forgot, don't hesitate to add anything in the comments! Thanks!

Could-Have Been Festival Fashion

Hey guys... so, summer is a big time for music festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Coachella, etc. Well, here in my state, they actually set up a HUGE music festival for the first time ever, Firefly. It's a 3 day event, and I got a 3-day pass. I planned on doing a great festival-fashion piece, but sadly, familial conflicts got in the way and I only got to attend the first day. However, that doesn't mean I didn't keep an eye out for some very, uh, interesting trends. (Keep in mind, half this post was written with sarcasm. It's my second language...)

-Hunter brand galoshes: For some reason, EVERYONE was wearing rainboots. It wasn't even raining at all, it was actually kind of hot. But, nevertheless, these boots would be a cute and practical solution if you live in a very rainy area. These boots are usually $100+, but if you have a Nordies in your area, their Anniversary sale has them listed around $99.

-Bustier tops: This is an obvious one... although, considering it gets quite cold here at night, probably not the best idea for a chilly night. Tie-backs were very popular. Pair it with a bikini top and you've got a very skimpy, but very summery outfit.

-High-waisted jean shorts: As the essential closet staple in any hipster wardrobe, I saw tons of variations... studded, laced, Americana, prints, different washes, etc. Most girls chose to go the 'almost a jean bikini' look and hoisted their pants up to 'here'... and some guys, too!

-Bandanas: Almost everyone had the same type of bandana, just in a different color. This type is the one you can easily get at a craft store like Michael's for a dollar. Tie it around your wrist, leg, or head and bam; instant music festival fashion.

 -Hats: Hats of all sizes, it seemed like the bigger, the better. However, it's my personal opinion that if you're going to wear a hat to a music festival, keep it small, especially if you're on the taller side. You don't want to block people behind you (which did happen to me... thanks, sombrero guy!). If you are going to wear an oversized hat like aforementioned sombrero man, please make sure the people around you can see. Hats are practical for blocking sun and keeping your face in the shade, but make sure you're not keeping other people's faces in the shade too... they might not enjoy it when you're blocking their view of Damian Kalush of OK Go.

-Honestly, just boots: Even though it was hot, like I said, boots were huge. I went the practical way and wore some simple t-strap sandals, but boots (and boot tan-lines) were very big at Firefly. High boots, booties, mid-calves... I even saw some very creative boots made of glow-sticks at night. Make sure you apply sunscreen, in order to stave off the aforementioned boot tans.

I'm sure if I had been able to go to the other days I would've picked up on more, but sadly, things happen sometimes. (At least I got to see OK GO...) Anyways, I think the most important thing to do at a music festival is to enjoy the music... dress practically yet fashionably, and you're sure to have a great time.