You never really know what you’re going to get when it comes to festivals. Veterans know to be prepared for anything, come rain or shine. So, planning your clothing choices is as important as planning your lineup for the day. Nothing kills the vibe like wearing flip-flops or white trainers when the ground resembles more of a swamp than a field.There is a certain freedom that comes with festival dressing, too. Everyone is there for the same reason – to listen to music and have a good time. If you’re looking to experiment with something different, festivals are the place to do it.Come rain or shine … Kate Moss made wellies a festival staple, and they remain a reliable choice for muddy fields. Photograph: Matt Cardy/GettyHowever, practicality underpins successful festival dressing, with pieces that work for everything and anything the event could throw at you. From easy coords to bags that will fit it all, here is everything you need to know about dressing for your next festival.The best festival wear for women A coord that requires little thoughtLone Star DaughtersFloat Away Day-j set£160Lone Star Daughters Float Away Day-j set£160 at Lone Star DaughtersGetting dressed in a tent with no mirror can leave you looking like you got dressed in the dark – because you kind of did. A coord removes that worry, with your outfit effectively chosen for you. This soft blue cotton set from Lone Star Daughters comes with a matching scarf that you could tie in your hair, round your neck or to your bag. You’ll look like you put in way more effort than you actually did, and isn’t that the whole point at festivals?Lone Star DaughtersFloat Away Day-j set£160 The ‘fun’ basic SézaneLe summer shorts£100Sézane Le summer shorts£100 at SézaneA-line denim shorts are a festival staple, unfussy and comfortable. But a twist on your basics is a great way to add playfulness to your look. These high-waist stripe denim shorts from Sézane don’t need much styling: throw on a white T-shirt and you’re good to go.SézaneLe summer shorts£100 Something good for the rain HunterOriginal tall wellington bootfrom £98Hunter original tall wellington boot£98 at John Lewis£120 at HunterIt’s not a British festival without a bit of rain, and as proved by the likes of Kate Moss or Alexa Chung, a pair of Hunter wellies are your best friend in this scenario. The classic knee-high style in black will have you covered without ruining your outfit. The key to making your wellies look more festival than farm is to wear them with something contrasting, like a floral dress or colourful skirt.HunterOriginal tall wellington bootfrom £98 A light layer for the eveningWith Nothing UnderneathThe weekend shirt£100With Nothing Underneath shirt£100 at With Nothing UnderneathNo matter how hot and sunny it may be during the day, there comes a time at all festivals when there’s a sudden chill – usually as the final act of the night is playing. So it’s sensible to bring a light layer, something that’s easily packed away in your bag or tied around your waist when not in use. This seersucker cotton shirt from With Nothing Underneath will also work beyond the festival fields.With Nothing UnderneathThe weekend shirt£100For more, read our guide to the best jackets for every forecast The accessory that does it allFree PeopleKori pendant necklace£40Free People Kori pendant necklace£40 at Free PeopleIf you’re locked in for a long weekend at a festival, packing light(er) is favourable. Small accessories you can wear with anything are a good idea. This necklace is adjustable, so it’s essentially a two-in-one. When long, pair it with a block colour A-line dress and when short, with a crew-neck T-shirt.Free PeopleKori pendant necklace£40 Something mud proof Mint VelvetBalloon trousers£110Mint Velvet balloon trousers£110 at Mint VelvetWhen you have thousands of people trampling over grass, it gets messy quickly. Keep your trousers away from the mud-soaked ground by choosing something with a tapered and cropped hemline. Seen on the autumn/winter 2026 runways at Dior, Chloé and Zimmermann, a balloon trouser is a practical yet on-trend option.Mint VelvetBalloon trousers£110 Something multiwayFree PeopleRaven Solid Convertible Maxi Skirt£118Raven solid convertible maxi skirt£118 at Free PeopleLess is more for festival packing, and this olive green convertible skirt will have you covered for days one and two. In a soft cotton, it transforms into an easy bandeau dress thanks to its elasticated waistband.Free PeopleRaven Solid Convertible Maxi Skirt£118 No fuss SPFNaked SundaysSPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist setting spray sunscreen 75mlfrom £21.60Naked Sundays SPF50+ setting spray sunscreen, 75ml£21.60 at Sephora£24 at Cult BeautyIf you’re spending all day outside, topping up your SPF is essential. But if you’re wearing makeup, it’s hard to keep re-applying all day. This is our beauty expert Sarah Matthews’ favourite top-up spray from her recent test of the best face SPF.Naked SundaysSPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist setting spray sunscreen 75mlfrom £21.60For more, read our guide to the best face sunscreensskip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion Easy clean accessories Monty Arc recycled nylon bag£45Monty Arc recycled nylon bag£45 at MontyNo matter how attached you are to your favourite suede handbag, you’d be at high risk of ruining it at a festival. Made from recycled nylon, this Monty bag is as practical as it is nice to look at. And in a variety of playful colours, it will add oomph to your festival outfit.Monty Arc recycled nylon bag£45The best festival wear for men A small bag that fits a lot UniqloRound mini shoulder bag£14.90Uniqlo round mini shoulder bag£14.90 at UniqloA Mary Poppins bag is a must for festivals. You need something that can fit your phone, portable charger, water and everything else you might need for the day. This much-loved Uniqlo bag also sits comfortably crossbody because of its crescent moon shape.UniqloRound mini shoulder bag£14.90 Cargo trousersAbercrombie Loose clean cargo pant£75Abercrombie loose cargo pants£75 at AbercrombieIf you don’t want to carry a bag, but still want somewhere safe to store your necessities, cargo pants are a great option. With multiple pockets for extra storage, this olive grey pair has a looser, laid-back fit.Abercrombie Loose clean cargo pant£75 A Glastonbury favourite, the barn jacketJohn LewisSpring wax jacket£65.40John Lewis spring wax jacket£65.40 at John LewisThe humble barn jacket was hard to miss at last year’s Glastonbury. It’s practical, effortless and water-resistant because of its waxed finish. If you want to look like you belong, but don’t want to try too hard, this barn jacket from John Lewis is an easy addition.John LewisSpring wax jacket£65.40 A fun hatDrake’sD Duck cotton twill baseball cap£75Drake’s D Duck baseball cap£75 at Drake’sWhen you’re spending the weekend outdoors at a festival, the classic baseball cap is an obvious choice. Shield yourself from the glaring sun while also covering up the bad hair day that inevitably comes along after the third day. This playful duck-motif style is fun.Drake’sD Duck cotton twill baseball cap£75 A classic white vest topCosSlim ribbed cotton tank top£17Cotton tank top£17 at CosA white vest is an easy base layer for those days you’re not sure how the weather will turn. Layer it under a shirt for an easy, Marlon Brando-esque look.CosSlim ribbed cotton tank top£17 Secondhand short-sleeve shirtTommy HilfigerVintage 90s Tommy Hilfiger short sleeve shirt£30Vintage 90s Tommy Hilfiger short-sleeve shirt£30 at RokitThere are hundreds of secondhand shirts available on Rokit for a steal. You’ll never go wrong with a 100% cotton shirt, use Rokit’s material filters to make sure you’re choosing the right fabric.Tommy HilfigerVintage 90s Tommy Hilfiger short sleeve shirt£30 Not too short-short shortsAdidasOriginals firebird shortsfrom £40Adidas Originals firebird shorts£40 at Asos£40 at AdidasShort shorts may be on trend, but they’re not for everyone. This slightly longer hemline still nods to the look without fully committing. The elasticated waist adds a little extra comfort for those long days on your feet.AdidasOriginals firebird shortsfrom £40 Trousers that don’t mind a bit of mud M&SLoose fit linen blend trousers£35Marks & Spencer loose fit trousers£35 at M&SWhite trousers might look great when you put them on, but a few hours later you’ll have gathered so much muck around the hem it will look like a purposeful ombre. Opt for darker trousers, especially if there’s rain forecast. This breezy linen pair from M&S fit the bill.M&SLoose fit linen blend trousers£35 Sunglasses that go with everythingRay-BanWayfarer sunglasses£158Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglassesFrom £155 at Ray-Ban£158 at Sunglass HutSunglasses trends come and go, but Wayfarers are eternal. Since Ray-Ban first launched them in 1952, they’ve been embraced by a plethora of fashionable men, from Andy Warhol to Bob Dylan and A$AP Rocky. You can’t go wrong with these.Ray-BanWayfarer sunglasses£158For more, read the best sunglasses with UV protection for men and women and the best summer sandals