Glastonbury. A hub of mud, music, and, historically, some of the most eye-popping fashion statements this side of Woodstock. If you close your eyes and picture “festival-core,” you’re probably imagining a riot of colour, fringing, and enough crochet to make your grandmother weep with envy. But 2024 has thrown us a curveball.
As the festival weekend came to an end, and I eagerly anticipated the celebrity fashion rollout, my hopes were dashed. Goodbye to the crochet crop tops and cover-ups. Tie dye? Practically extinct. And body glitter? Not a single sparkle in sight. It seems that everything that makes a festival a festival (like the stacking of a necklace with more necklaces) had been rejected, and instead been replaced by boring neutrals.
The age of beige
This year it was like the fashion world hit the snooze button. The Glastonbury fashion was so understated it was practically hiding in plain sight. Beige, black, white, olive and taupe dominated the scene, as if celebrity stylists had a backroom meeting and collectively decided that standing out is so last decade. The bold prints and daring designs of yesteryear have been swapped for loose-fitting jumpsuits, low-effort tank tops, and cargo pants.
At first, I thought it was because Glasto is more rock and roll Bohemia and hasn’t yet reached the glitter and sequins status of its counterpart, Coachella. But that’s not the case since I recall being sorely disappointed by this year’s Coachella fashion as well.
Fashion round-up
Kicking off our fashion round-up is actor Daisy Edgar-Jones who opted for a grey mini dress that could easily double as a sleep shirt. The look is the definition of minimalist chic… or maybe just minimalist. To avoid the chills and any chance of standing out, she layered up with a black jacket. Pockets galore, and who needs colours or prints when you can have all the functionality of a festival security guard? Stylish, yes. But festively uninspired? Absolutely.
But it’s unfair to focus all the negative attention on Daisy’s fit when so many others made similar choices but with poorer execution. Dua Lipa and Callum Turner brought forth a touch of everyday monotony to the scene. Dua, ever the fashion risk-taker, surprisingly opted for a white tank top that screams, “I just found this at the bottom of my drawer,” which she paired with black short shorts and what appears to be a leather jacket around her waist. It seems her recent collaboration with Rihanna’s longtime stylist Jahleel Weaver means that we’ll be seeing more of this grunge look she’s been sporting lately. Callum on the other hand, decided to channel a lazy Sunday rather than a music festival with a simple tee and black trousers.
Another Jahleel client, Rihanna, decided to wrap herself in a gargantuan fur coat that seemed more fitting for a blizzard rather than a night dancing under the stars. The fur is no doubt a statement piece, but the statement may be, “I regret wearing this impractical disaster.”
Glasto fashion wasn’t all bad. Two celebrities who nailed the festival-core look were Florence Pugh and Janelle Monáe, proving that they can rock the boho-chic vibes better than anyone else present. Florence draped herself in a sheer black halter dress and though the colour may not have been the best decision, she befittingly topped off her look with (finally something festive) a flower crown. This nod to the original festival-core fashion was both nostalgic and vibrant, and added a much-needed pop of colour to her outfit.
Janelle’s on-stage look was one that could make a spring garden jealous. Her fully floral look turned heads and likely set off a few hay fever sufferers in the front row. She topped it off with a matching flower crown and held a drink adorned with yet another flower. Love it or hate it, Janelle’s commitment to channeling the 60s fashion that effectively birthed festival-core is admirable.
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