Another Coachella has come and gone, and as a first-time attendee, I have to admit, I had no idea what to expect. What was once an item on the bucket list I kept as an angsty 13 year old on Tumblr has now been crossed off more than 10 years later. As someone who grew up watching Vanessa Hudgens and Alessandra Ambrosio frolic along the Polo fields in Indio, California, to attend the country’s largest music festival, I thought I knew what to expect from attendees: cowboy boots, cowboy hats, cowboy vests… you get the idea. Coachella, as a concept, has been torn apart and put back together by shiny TikTok algorithms. In a digital-first world, it’s the fashion community’s first stomping ground to set trends for the upcoming summer. This year was no different.
Based on data from Trendalytics, there are already a few hero items the fashion crowd is starting to try and buy post-Coachella. Things like cowboy boots, sheer tops, cargo pants, and leather dresses all surged in searches week-by-week compared to last year, setting the tone for aesthetics and trends we’re set to see as we head into May, June, and July. Numbers aside, the sheer number of celebrities and influencers sneakily dressed in the same items has proved our point: When it comes to Coachella, anyone who’s anyone is already wearing these things.
Scroll below to discover the three main aesthetics returning from the desert after the first and second weekend of Coachella. We’re calling it now: You won’t go anywhere without seeing these celeb-approved warm-weather trends.
What’s Coachella without a bit of Hudgens-inspired imagery? Since the early aughts, the music festival has hosted many bohemian-inspired fashions, from colorful gladiator sandals and dip-dyed jean cut-offs to intricate flower crowns sprinkled with glitter and notes of Lana Del Rey. While Hudgens didn’t attend Coachella this year (and lamented about it on Instagram), her spirit was still felt in the sheer crochet dresses, oversize jewelry, and floppy hats attendees wore. While we can’t chalk it all up to Coachella queens of years past, younger attendees have been leaning into the laid-back ’70s-inspired aesthetic for their summer fashion needs. Instead of hyper-trendy crop tops and neon accessories, today’s fashion crowd opts for raffia bags, vintage-looking jewelry, and flowy maxi dresses.
The most surprising thing about this year’s Coachella? How normal it felt at times. While I know feather miniskirts and over-the-top glitter makeup isn’t on everyone’s agenda, I was shocked to see how toned-down some celebrities and influencers were, opting for stealth-wealth-inspired outfits like white tank tops, trousers, and denim jackets instead of the usual roster of sequin miniskirts and pink felt cowboy hats. In an era where subdued looks are on the rise, if-you-know-you-know fashion has grown more popular. Low-key summer ‘fits are sure to reign supreme in the coming months. If Camilla Morrone, everyone’s favorite rising It girl, is any indication, this summer will be chill as far as the trend circuit goes.
Zendaya can do no wrong in my eyes. Whether it’s her surprise appearance with Labyrinth during weekend two or the Dune-ification of festival fashion, I know we owe it all to her. This year, Coachella fashion veered more toward the technical side, with attendees opting for leather jackets, motorcycle boots, slinky bikinis, and baggy cargo pants instead of sparkly minidresses. Playing into fashion’s rising cool-girl image, this year’s Coachella proved that sometimes, the best way to look on-trend is to look like you’re straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. Cargo pants and bikinis-as-tops aren’t new to the summer fashion lexicon by any means. My prediction? Technical wear will still reign supreme for the second summer in a row, with aesthetics like gorpcore and brands like Salomon and Carhartt taking a front seat into the Dune-ification of festival fashion. Expect to see earth tones like greys, browns, greens, and blacks dominate.
