How to Dress for Coachella 2022

The name drop of all music festivals is running for the first time since April 2019. Here are the trends we’re expecting to see.

Coachella — merely the buzziest music and arts festival perched in the arid rift valley of Southern California — has returned after a two-year hiatus. At last, the crowd is once again gearing up with looks that toe the line of weird and cool… just the way we like it. But for an event that puts fashion and photographs hand-in-hand, there is no “last season’s festival looks” to reference or build off of. Expect to see the unexpected.

The Party & The After Party pic.twitter.com/8gT2bF3x5j

— Coachella (@coachella) April 6, 2022

Boho-chic once flooded Coachella Valley during these two momentous weekends. It’s embedded in the grandeur of Indio, California, where the festival is held. However, flower crowns, lace bralettes and Aztec prints aren’t fantastical enough for the smorgasbord of trends that were birthed during the dulling and unprecedented events we’ve been surviving. So plan to see Dior visors instead of botanical headpieces and campy cowboy boots in lieu of aviator sandals.

Undoubtedly, Gen Z and Millennials alike will bring in a desirable dose of Y2K, likely in the form micro-minis, low-rise denim and tiny cut out dresses. This is especially notable given that Coachella was established in 1999, amidst the era of hip-hugging bottoms and slinky slip dresses. It could very well become a full-circle moment. And from corsets to Jacquemus co-ords, even glittering rhinestone sightings at every turn of the head, the desert-bound event will take cues from the ever-impactful Euphoria looks we’ve fallen in love with over the last couple of years.

Having a one-of-a-kind look is ultimately the goal when dressing for a public star-studded event like this, and there’s no better way to achieve that than with thrifted and vintage clothes. Online consignment shop ThredUp has curated its own festival shop full of second-hand gems. What’s more, owning a look à la consignment comes with the added benefit of being eco-conscious. Festival culture has historically encouraged over-consumption, especially because fast-fashion brands have taken to these colossal events to push sales. According to a Censuswide study looking at UK shopping habits alone, about 7.5 million outfits each year are considered single-use—their only purpose being to attend a music festival. Being intentional with clothing is on our radar for Coachella 2022 and onward.

Lastly, if revealing styles made from sheer and mesh are more your vibe, stick to that and know you’ll also be seeing quite a bit of it around you, as we’re currently and forever in love with embracing our bodies and expressing ourselves through barely-there garments. After all, you are dressing for the desert.

Tap through the gallery below to see our Coachella 2022 fashion picks.