Let’s take a quick poll here: when it comes to the real-deal music festival (we’re talking minimum three days and three nights in a Craigslisted tent of questionable origins), how many of the looks you curated with Jenner-sister rigor actually turn out as planned?
It always starts out on the right (fresh pedi-ed) foot—locks doused in Davines, politcally correct headgear on fleek. And then comes Day Two.
Maybe it rains a little. Maybe you find your overnight bag sitting in a pool of day-old PBR. Maybe—and we’re getting real wild here—you forgot to pack the Batiste. By the end of the weekend, your hair’s been wrangled into a permanent top knot, you’ve long abandoned the asymmetrical crop top in favor of a free t-shirt someone shot out of a cannon, and the closest thing to a reflective surface you’ve spotted in days is the sweaty frat bro in front of you at Drake.
And—because by this point you’ve hit peak photogenics—it also just so happens to be the most Instagrammed time of the year (hell hath no fury like a high-school acquaintance with an Instax Mini).
Does it sound like we’ve been there? ‘Cause we’ve been there.
With a few of our favorite overnight festivals on the horizon (Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, Burning Man), we thought we’d do things a little differently this year (read: pack properly. It’s this new thing we’re trying). We asked a few of those mythical creatures who seem to have the camping-festival look on lock—namely Chelsea Leyland and Bip Ling.
Here’s how to look like you just rolled out of the Avalon Palm Springs when you just actually just rolled out of a makeshift sweat suit-sleeping bag.
CHELSEA LEYLAND
DJ
BREAK DOWN A HYPOTHETICAL CAMPING FESTIVAL WEEKEND. WHAT WOULD YOUR OUTFITS BE ON DAYS ONE, TWO AND THREE?
DAY ONE: “Huff marijuana socks, Hunter wellingtons or old Chloë Sevigny biker boots, navy blue high-waisted Top Shop jeans and vintage pink leather belt, a little vintage top, a hoodie, and my Burberry biker jacket.”
DAY TWO: “Hunza G navy blue dress, a Burberry biker jacket, Huff socks and my old Chloë Sevigny biker boots.”
DAY THREE: “You always need to include something a little mad, so for my final cozy-time vibes I would take these crazy pastel-colored tie-dye tracky bottoms I have. And take a nice cozy jumper to wear on top—I have a really nice navy Frame one. And then my leather jacket again to go on top.”
PLAN AHEAD OR MIX AND MATCH?
“It mostly depends on the weather when you're used to festivals like Glastonbury!”
ON WHAT GOES IN THE MAKEUP BAG?
“Rose water, rose water, rose water... cotton pads, Dr. Macrene's 37 Extreme Actives Miracles face cream, a pocket mirror, a small pot of coconut oil, some face oil I made myself, Evian water spray, Dr. Alkatis soothing gel, organic SPF 30 face cream, Neals Yard body balm, deodorant and organic wet wipes.”
WHAT THE F*CK DO YOU DO WITH THIRD-DAY HAIR?
“Tie it in a top knot and feel fresh and clean.”
ON THE ONE THING A FIRST-TIME OVERNIGHT FESTIVAL-GOER SHOULD REMEMBER TO PACK:
“Wet wipes. “
STANDOUT FESTIVAL MOMENT?
“Being backstage at the Stones concert two years ago at Glastonbury.”
FAVORITE MUSIC FESTIVAL(S)?
“Glastonbury, Glastonbury, Glastonbury. Once I go to Burning Man I think they will be running joint with each other. I also loved 'Metal Camp' in Slovenia—that was a sick festival and that country is pretty special.”
Top tips you’ve picked up over the years:
“Rose water... it makes you feel fresh again, so I find it to be a bit of a game changer—you can use cotton pads to remove the dirt and it also hydrates your skin. You must also pack your own loo roll and lots of wet wipes. Bring your own water, ibuprofen and a good eye mask and earplugs, and plastic bags for your muddy dirty clothes. Packing for a festival is hard as you want to be prepared. Yummy organic oils to rub on your skin work wonders, too.”
BIP LING
DJ, Model, Pop Artist
BREAK DOWN YOUR OUTFITS FOR A HYPOTHETICAL CAMPING FESTIVAL WEEKEND.
“It usually rains at some point at the festivals in the UK, so I’ll be wearing my pink Hunter wellies, with some baby-blue hot pants, sequin crop top and cute Cutler and Gross shades with a buff blow-out yar! Next day, I’d probably wear a cute little dress, with a big shiny black belt and top up on the lippy!”
PLAN AHEAD OR MIX AND MATCH?
“I usually just chuck everything into a bag and see how I feel—I like to live in the moment!”
ON WHAT GOES IN THE MAKEUP BAG:
“Loads of perfume, usually my fave Dior Ambre Nuit scent! Johnsons wet wipes! And hand sanitizer. I always like to take lots of glitter too, and some Mooch ears!”
HOLY-GRAIL FESTIVAL PRODUCT?
“Kiehl’s Creme de Corps—gotta keep my skin hydrated!”
ON WHAT THE F*CK TO DO WITH THIRD-DAY HAIR:
“Loads of dry shampoo, like loads of it, actually makes my hair look bigger and sexier sometimes!”
ON THE ONE THING A FIRST-TIMER SHOULD REMEMBER TO PACK:
“A raincoat, and wellies are a must, duh!”
BEST AND WORST FESTIVAL MOMENT?
“Probably when I DJ’d in the Rabbit Hole at Glasto—I played all my bangers. The worst was probably when my whole teepee was covered in mud after having loads of friends back over for an after-after party. Smelt like poop! I wanted to cry!”
ALL-TIME FAVORITE SET (IF YOU CAN CHOOSE!)?
“Probs watching Diplo play—always a really fun vibe!”
TOP TIPS YOU’VE PICKED UP OVER THE YEARS:
“Every day you’ve got to find the glitter babes and get your face glittered to party!”
—Chelsey Burnside