17 Best Coachella Outfit Ideas For Women That Are Stylish

Take some hints from these amazing ideas and let your outfit stand out from the crowd.

Reviewed by Paola Farina, Personal Stylist Paola Farina Paola FarinaPersonal Stylist linkedin_iconinsta_icon
Written by Pratima Ati, MSc Pratima Ati MSc linkedin_icon
Edited by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature) Madhumati Chowdhury MA (English Literature) linkedin_icon Experience: 7 years
Fact-checked by Srijita De, MA (English & Literature), Certified Style & Image Consultant Srijita De MA (English & Literature), Certified Style & Image Consultant linkedin_icon Experience: 2 years
Last Updated on

Unlike other music fests or concerts, Coachella is an experience, and therefore, needs to be planned. And you know where the first step of preparation starts, right? Choosing your outfits! If you are headed to Coachella for your first time and think it’s not as big a deal as people make it out to be, you are mistaken. Trust me – it is worth all of that, and more. The kind of music that plays, the people you meet, the food you eat, and everything else – it is simply mind-boggling, and this is an understatement! But let’s get straight to what we are here to talk about – Coachella outfit ideas, and what we think are exciting options that will make you fit right in and get the party started.

Ace The Look
  • Pastel Colors: Soft pastel colors like lavender and baby blue are perfect for a Coachella outfit. Light colors also help you stay cool in the desert. Avoid wearing all-black outfits.
  • Sun Protection: Wearing a wide-brim hat or a scarf in a paisley print is a great way to protect yourself from the desert sun while looking cute.
  • Footwear: Many people make the mistake of wearing high heels or uncomfortable boots to stay true to their outfit. It is best to stick to sneakers, flats, or boots you have broken into to enjoy the concerts in comfort.

What Is Coachella Style?

Coachella style is synonymous with flowing dresses, one piece florals, shorts, short skirts, and everything that defines Bohemian chic in the most real sense. The event takes place in the middle of a desert in California, with temperatures ranging between 80 to 100 degrees F; so remember, whatever you decide to wear, it needs to be soft, breathable, and above all, comfortable. So, unless you cannot survive without your denim, choose linen pants, cotton dresses, suede shorts, and maxi dresses – you get the drift, right? Below are some key characteristics of Coachella-style outfits.

  • Dresses with bright colors or bold prints, featuring geometric or floral patterns.
  • Layering jackets or shrugs to handle changing weather conditions from day to night.
  • Crochet details on tops or fringe-cut shirts for a striking bohemian vibe.
  • Vintage pants and distressed jeans or shorts for a laid-off, cool style.
  • Silky bandanas with abstract designs or wide-brimmed hats to protect the face from the sun.
  • Comfy footwear options such as sandals and sneakers for all-day dancing.

Check out the list of ideas for Coachella outfits for women and pick the best one for yourself!

protip_icon Quick Tip
In recent years, Coachella crowds have received backlash for cultural appropriation. So, avoid feathers, braids, headgear, and face paint looks that resemble elements from native cultures.

17 Best Celebrity Coachella Outfit Ideas

1. Queen Of Coachella – Vanessa Hudgens’ Outfit

Venessa Hudgen's outfit for Coachella
Image: Instagram @vanessahudgens

How do we start a Coachella post without it being about Vanessa Hudgens? She is the unofficial ‘Queen of Coachella.’ Her outfit above is one of the perfect dresses to wear with cowboy boots. She has been attending the festival every year and seems to have figured out a way to nail the Coachella dressing. Hudgens is the biggest style icon with a couple of million followers on social media. Her looks are all about tinted glasses, colorful and printed separates, boho accessories, bindi, hats, boots, and a whole lot of glitter. If you are looking for a style inspiration, and want to replicate only the best, you now know who your Coachella Guru is!

2. Rihanna’s Diamond Studded Coachella Outfit

Coachella Outfit Ideas - Rihanna’s Diamond Studded Coachella Outfit
Image: Instagram

Rihanna is honestly the best thing that has happened to us. Let’s establish that. Everything about Riri is great, and if that’s not enough, she ups her style game with her Coachella outfits. She dazzled and looked like a million bucks in this sparkling attire. Just how effortlessly she pulls off this look is beyond me. And, if this doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will.

3. Kendall Jenner’s Coachella Outfit

Coachella Outfit Ideas - Kendall Jenner’s Coachella Outfit
Image: Instagram

The Kardashian sisters are a collective bunch of style icons, but if you are looking for some inspiration and style ideas for Coachella – you should turn to Kendall Jenner. She’s got this Egyptian Bohemian aura about her, and that’s what we need if we are headed to Indio, California this time of the year. A side slit skirt, head accessory, ankle boots, side bag with fringes, and some glitter – what Coachella dreams are made of!

4. Bohemian Style Skirt And Crop Top

Bohemian style skirt and crop top for Coachella
Image: Instagram @shopraga

You can never go wrong with bohemian-style dressing ideas. The outfit above is a perfect example. It is also ideal for you if you do not want to carry too many things. The pieces in this capsule wardrobe just include one versatile piece of clothing like a Bohemian skirt, shorts, or a chambray shirt and play around with it. Here’s a floral skirt that sets the mood right. You can try styling it with a crop top one day, and an off-shoulder the next. Nobody will notice anything except that you are on top of your fashion game.

Jess, a YouTube vlogger, is in the process of selecting outfits for Coachella. While considering a bohemian white co-ord set, she expresses, “I kind of like that it’s really old-school coachella, and it’s also very me (i).”

5. Cargo Pants And One Sided Tops

Cargo pants and one-sided tops for Coachella
Image: Instagram @roses_cloud

We often don’t get a chance to wear our craziness and rarely do we get a chance to be fashionable, so when you do – do it like you know it all. Joggers, cargo or khaki pants with a one-sided crop top, ankle boots – and a hat too, maybe? Make sure your boots are not new and are comfortable because it’s going to get really hot during the day and if you can deal with that, don’t forget the shuttling between stages, concerts, and the endless walks.

protip_icon Quick Tip
Avoid heeled boots. You do not want your feet hurting or your shoes sinking in the swampy areas that the venues are notorious for.

6. One Piece Summer Dress

One piece summer dress for Coachella
Image: Instagram

This one piece Coachella dress is ideal for the festival and looks stunning on everyone.  Pair it with pom pom earrings, wedges, oversized sunglasses, and a big bamboo hat for good measure and also protect yourself from the sun.

7. Ruffled Skirt And Denim Jacket

Ruffled skirt and denim jacket for Coachella
Image: Instagram @taryndudley

For the love of denim jackets, and the fact that we cannot live without them, go ahead and throw it over anything and everything you are going to be wearing at Coachella. Wear a dreamy peach organza skirt with a tube top, gladiator or platform sandals, and a side body bag.

8. Bodysuit And A Kimono Dress

Bodysuit and kimono dress for Coachella
Image: Instagram @jessthrowiton_

If you want to go all out, which you can at the Coachella, go with a bodysuit that is versatile and in vogue too. Add definition to this with a layer like a kimono dress which doubles up as a dress or just to throw it on for a dramatic element.

9. Off-Shoulder Playsuit

Off-shoulder playsuit for Coachella
Image: Instagram @monikarosesf

Playsuits are airy, comfortable, and impeccably stylish. You hardly need any accessories and can do just with aviators, fine body jewelry, a choker, and some beachy waves.

10. Denim Skirt And Crochet Top

Denim skirt and crochet top for Coachella
Image: Instagram @trinitymarinclothing

The airier an outfit, the better it is for Coachella, for it is hot and humid this time of the year in Southern California. Moreover, it happens to take place in a desert, in the middle of nowhere. Pair your Coachella attire with hats, retro eyewear, boots, etc to jazz up the whole look.

11. Strip Palazzos, Crop Top, And Hat

Striped palazzos, crop top, and hat for Coachella
Image: Instagram

Your Coachella outfit cannot get any more comfortable and stylish than this. If breathable and loose clothing is your thing, look no further than dresses like these. A hat makes all the difference to these outfits, so make sure you carry them along.

12. Denim And Chambray Shirt

Denim and chambray shirt for Coachella
Image: Instagram

We just cannot get enough of our denim, can we? And if you are one of them who cannot live without their jeans, go right ahead and take them with you. And, you don’t need any fancy tops – tank tops, crop tops, plaid shirt, chambray, or tube tops are all fitting.

13. White Lace Dress

White lace dress for Coachella
Image: Instagram @afiliketaffy

A long lace dress – sleeveless or otherwise is perfect too. Throw on a vibrant silk slip on a spaghetti dress – and some rose gold jewelry, aviators, and gladiator flats – elegant and on point.

14. Crochet Kimono

Crochet kimono for Coachella
Image: Instagram @electric_bazaar

Coachella is the best time to ring in your new spring outfits and bring them all in. Bring out those linen pants and cotton shirts, and break the monotone with a crochet kimono. Oh, and do not forget the chunky, tribal jewelery.

15. Bandana, Hat, And Other Boho Accessories

Bandana, hat, and other accessories for Coachella
Image: Instagram @themiamidogmom

Accessories are your game changers for Coachella and give you tons of opportunities to flaunt the vibe. Hats, head or neck bandana, glitter, tribal jewelry, scarves, boots, shades, etc. are all ways to spruce up your outfits. Pack your regular clothes and turn them funky, it’s a lot of fun.

16. Tie-Front Top

Get ready to turn heads at Coachella with the ultimate festival vibe: this flower-printed tie-front top, paired with sleek black jeans, has an effortless rock ‘n’ roll flair. The knot in the front adds a touch of oomph. Its harmony of floral chic and edgy denim is a surefire way to rock festivals!

17. Micro Mini Dress

Woman in micro mini dress
Image: by asier_relampagoestudio on Freepik

Slay the Coachella scene in a micro mini dress, a splash of purple perfection paired with a stylish brown hat. It’s not just an outfit, it’s a vibe. Picture yourself grooving to the beats, feeling the desert breeze in this chic ensemble—a festival fantasy in every swish of the mini dress and tilt of the hat.

Infographic: Top 6 Coachella Outfit Ideas

Coachella is a great opportunity to let your hair down and experiment with your style. It is synonymous with colorful lowly dresses and heavy unique accessories, and you can go all out with your fashion skills. Whether your esthetic is dark goth, cottage-core, or purely bohemian, you can create an outfit that defines the real you. The infographic below lists the top 6 ideas to help you with your Coachella outfit. Check it out!

top 6 coachella outfit ideas (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Coachella music festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone should add to their bucket list. If you are going to Coachella for the first time, understanding the dress code is essential to standing out in the crowd. Since Coachella takes place in the middle of a Californian desert, you need to wear comfortable, soft, and breathable clothes. Be it a flowy dress, kimono, or a bohemian skirt and crop top, you can pair it with some fun accessories to turn your Coachella outfit idea up a notch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to Coachella for comfort?

Wear flowy dresses or shorts with lightweight tops to Coachella. Choose footwear options such as sandals or sneakers that are easy to walk in. Carry a jacket to layer for cooler evenings.

How can I stay cool at the festival?

Opt for clothes made of breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen. Drink plenty of water and take breaks to rest under shaded areas during the day. Carry a handheld fan to cool yourself.

What should you not wear to Coachella?

Tights, fake jewelry, heels, and flip-flops are a few things you should not wear to Coachella.

Do I need a jacket for Coachella?

Yes, a jacket is a must-need Coachella trend, as you may feel cold in the evenings. Leather jackets in bold colors can be a good addition.

Can I wear a swimsuit to Coachella?

Yes, you can wear a swimsuit to Coachella. You can pair it with a jacket or cover-up and zhuzh up the game by accessorizing it with a statement piece.

How can I incorporate cultural influences into my Coachella outfit?

Use accessories, fabrics, and prints that celebrate and appreciate your culture and traditions. Also, avoid cultural appropriation of any sort.

Should I prioritize fashion or functionality when planning my Coachella outfit?

Prioritize both fashion and functionality. Choose comfortable and breathable clothes with stylish accessories, and wear comfortable shoes, avoiding heels.

Key Takeaways

  • Coachella fashion includes flowy dresses, one-piece floral outfits, shorts, miniskirts, and everything that is Bohemian and chic.
  • Since the event takes place in the middle of a desert, it is advisable to wear soft, breathable, and comfortable clothes. Linen and cotton are good choices.
  • Comfortable footwear is a must as you may have to walk on your feet and spend hours under the sun.
  • This music and arts festival is the perfect place to wear bold and vibrant prints and colored outfits.
    Statement accessories are your best friends! You can style your outfits with hats, sunglasses, and chunky jewelry.

Searching for inspiration and what to avoid for Coachella? Check out this video to find out the 10 best and worst celebrity Coachella fashion looks, from the most stylish to most outrageous.

Personal Experience: Source

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Paola Farina
Paola FarinaPersonal Stylist
Paola Farina is a personal and event stylist and a certified image consultant with 4 years of experience. She collaborates with individuals and companies. After graduating from classical studies, she won a scholarship from Image Fashion & Communication, the first Italian institute for training professional editors and stylists.

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Pratima Ati
Pratima AtiFashion & Lifestyle Writer
Pratima Ati is a postgraduate in International Business from Staffordshire University. After working in Marketing and Business Development for a few years, she jumped ship to pursue two things she loved – fashion and writing.

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Madhumati Chowdhury
Madhumati ChowdhuryAssociate Editor
Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through the various facets of content creation and refinement with ease.

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Srijita De
Srijita DeCommerce Writer
Srijita De is a makeup and fashion enthusiast with a passion for empowering readers through practical tips and tricks to present their best selves with confidence. Armed with a postgraduate degree in English and Literature from the University of Calcutta, she has honed her writing skills and developed an in-depth understanding of the beauty and fashion world.

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