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Burning Man festival vs. Coachella fashion

By Sara Ehlers

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Fashion |OPINION

Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in the desert to celebrate art, self-expression, and experimentation. In an event highlighting freedom and forging your own path, style is a key component of self-expression. With festival fashion as an impending category growing in the fashion world, the question comes to mind: does Burning Man have its own festival style?

For Coachella, the fashion expectations are clear. Typically, they involve flower crowns, anything relating to hippie chic fashion, trendy crop tops and comfortable denim. While Coachella fashion changes a little each year, the main concept is there: relaxed, fun, and spring fashion. Jewelry and hair accessories are must-haves when the festival comes around. Countless collaborations are developed with retailers that show off “Coachella” fashion for buyers. Each year, festival goers plan out their outfits by the day for the weekend-long festival. Celebrities attendees also similarly show off one-of-a-kind outfits that stylistically match the event’s fashion code. However, for Burning Man, things are a bit different.

A photo posted by Burning Man (@burningman) on

Burning Man Festival celebrates unique style for fashion

Firstly, for Burning Man, with approximately 65,000 attendees per year there are some rules that govern how their dress is defined. There are restrictions including a “Leaving No Trace” policy that means that no “trace” can be left behind on the festival grounds. This means that sequins, feathered clothing, or anything that can easily come off of your apparel is highly discouraged. However, it doesn’t stop guests from wearing their most unique outfits. On Etsy, there are thousands of items that are sold for Burning Man festival wear including apparel, accessories, and more.

Burning Man festival is all about art and expressing yourself freely. Also located in the desert like Coachella, the festival does require summer and spring clothing. Wearing anything that is comfortable and withstand heat is called for. Differentiating itself from Coachella, Burning Man does add a bit of authenticity to its style. Also as a difference, the Indio festival places an emphasis on the music, while Burning Man focuses its spiritual philosophy. Both festivals are very culture-based, but fundamentally both serve completely different purposes. As this is the case, it’s only natural that the clothing for both festival differs greatly.

A photo posted by @coachella on

At Coachella, mostly festival goers all look somewhat similar. Everyone is wearing a variation of a flower crown, chic jewelry, and geometric patterned clothing. Although no one is wearing quite the same outfit, looking around there are a lot of similarities in apparel choice and design.

At Burning Man, self-expression is key. As a result of this, there are more eccentric, distinct outfits among festival guests. At the festival, people show up in spacesuits, animal masks, vibrant colors, eclectic costumes and more. The event has become more of a form of expression through dress, encouraging men and women both to wear what makes them feel comfortable and at their truest self. There are cosplayers, colorful dyed hair, intricate custom-made outfits, and elaborately designed clothing. Ultimately, the goal for fashion at Burning Man is to be different. As a festival that showcases various fashion styles but doesn’t center around it, it seems that the festival has achieved its goal.

Images: Burning Man

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