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Spring and Summer is upon us- and already I am taking full advantage of the warmer weather here in Sydney and have been spending a little too much money on long awaited summer clothes! The beach calls for new swimmers, hats and sunnies, but there is another very important part to Spring/Summer that is in urgent need of some fashion advice.

The music festivals that seem to bombard Australian cities this time each year is slightly overwhelming. But they are definitely the perfect answer for a hot day- your favourite tunes, your best friends and hoards of people dancing in sweaty masses. Ok, so the last bit can sometimes turn you off the festival experience, especially if you have chosen to wear your best summer dress to the event right? This is where I have come to help you- the answer to enjoying the festival and still looking relatively clean at the end all lies in what you wear (this could be affected by other elements: weather and levels of alcohol- which sometimes you simply can’t control!)

There are a few simple Do’s and Don’ts which apply to the festival experience which will ensure your day is filled with good tunes, comfort and fun, with a twist of style.

DON’T - (Please Don’t) WEAR FLURO!

As Parklife dawns on Sydney this weekend, I am preparing myself for the onslaught of festival kids wearing fluro t-shirts, shorts, headbands and wristbands. It’s a tradition that has been over-used way past it’s use by date and I can only hope that the Summer of 2009 is the Summer of Anti-Fluro. Sure the fluro look was fun when it all began (years and years ago) and has also proven itself as a way of limiting the chances of you losing your friends in the crowd (warning: if you do wear fluro you may simply blend into the mass of other fluro people and this method will not work!)

Can anyone honestly tell me that these fluro-fans look good? It's about time we all unite together and Say No To Fluro!

DON'T-  DRESS UP LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO A KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY

I am not sure why festivals call for people to dress like an assortment of super hero’s or villians (not to mention the mass of individuals who chose to dress up as their favourite childhood occupation- doctor, nurse, or policeman are obvious favourites ) I must admit half the fun of festivals is getting to see all the people running around in kids dress up costumes which are 10 sizes too small and generally involve a lot of lycra and spandex in places where lycra and spandex should never go. The warning with this choice of clothing is that if you are prepared to dress up, make sure you are also prepared to be laughed at and have your lycra leggings pinched and pulled!

FOR THE BOYS: DON’T feel the need to run around half naked all day, no one likes being squished on the dance floor next to someone who really should of left their shirt on.

(These guys are double-offenders of the fluro/naked rule!)

DO- WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!

While this sounds like something your nanna will tell you, wearing a comfy pair of shoes really is a vital aspect to enjoying a long day/night of walking and dancing. Girls- avoid any type of heels at all costs! This seems obvious but I have witnessed girls wearing the heels/festival combo before and trust me it does not go down well. Try to wear shoes that are going to be comfortable all day long, its best to wear a pair that you have loved and worn many times- your feet will thank you for it! 

FOR THE GIRLS: DO wear a shorts and tee combo or opt for a bright summer dress. Remember the swarms of people and hot weather at Summer festivals will mean your clothes can look a little worn by the end of the day! But that doesn’t mean you need to wear your oldest ensemble. For something fun and bright to ensure you look festival fabulous, look for inspiration from Aussie designers who favour bold prints- check out Karla Spetic or the Spring range from Insight which is abundant with festival fashion options. Just remember comfort is key!

(image courtesy of insight.com.au)

DO mix up your outfit with a hat or head scarf. You can’t go wrong with Mimco for accessories. And remember nobody wants to go home burnt;  lobster skin doesn't go well with many colours.

DON’T forget your sunnies! When it comes to sunglasses this year, bigger isn’t necessarily better. Karen Walker’s sunglasses collection is packed with goodies, also check out Ksubi’s range for a guaranteed fashion fix for your eyes.

Ksubi Bayliss Sunglasses (image courtesy of Ksubi.com)

From my past festival experiences, it seems it can be pretty easy to manage a big DON'T in the fashion stakes. So for anyone worried they will make a faux-pas, as long as you aren't copying these festival go-ers below, you should be on the right track! Don't forget it's all about being comfortable and having fun- bring on Summer!

(images courtesy of news.com.au and inthemix.com.au)

words by Jenna Black.