Festival outfits for men: what to wear to a music festival
A music festival is a long day on your feet, in the sun and the dust, followed by a night of dancing. The outfit has to look good in photos and still feel good at 2 a.m. That combination rules out a lot of what men normally wear, starting with tight jeans.
Whether you are heading to Sunburn in Goa, Lollapalooza India in Mumbai, NH7 Weekender, or a festival abroad such as Coachella, the same principles apply.
The festival outfit formula
- Loose, breathable bottoms. You will dance, sit on the ground and walk for kilometres. Cotton harem pants, baggy pants or parachute pants give you room and stay cool.
- A light top. A tank, a tee or an open shirt you can tie around your waist when the sun goes down.
- Shoes you can stand in all day. Broken-in sneakers or sturdy sandals, never new shoes.
- One statement piece. A bold print, a colourful shirt or interesting accessories. Festivals are where you can wear what you would not wear to the office.
8 festival outfits for men
- Printed harem pants and a black tank. The classic. Our printed harem pants carry original designs, such as the Polynesian emblem print on the Spell Binder or the tribal mask print on the Fate Weaver, so the pants are the statement and the top stays plain.
- The open resort shirt. A Cuban collar crinkle shirt worn open over a vest, with baggy pants. Crinkle cotton does not need ironing, which is useful in a tent.
- All-black EDM. Black parachute pants, a black tank and black sneakers, with one bright accessory. Practical at night and good under lights.
- Hippie revival. Hill-tribe patchwork harem pants from the Hipster Series, a loose linen-look shirt and beads. See our guide to hippie clothes.
- The popover and joggers. A relaxed Unbound popover shirt with textured joggers for a cleaner daytime look.
- Kurta at a desi festival. A short cotton kurta over printed pants is right at home at Indian music festivals.
- Cargo utility. Parachute pants with cargo pockets, so you can leave the bag behind. Add a bucket hat.
- Shirtless-ready. If you plan to lose the top by afternoon, wear pants with a waist that sits securely and does not need a belt. A half-elastic or drawstring waist is ideal.
What not to wear to a festival
- Skinny jeans: hot, restrictive and miserable when you sit on the ground.
- New shoes: blisters by mid-afternoon.
- Synthetic fabrics in the heat: they trap sweat and smell.
- Anything you will be upset to see covered in dust.
Festival packing checklist
- Two pairs of loose pants, one printed and one solid.
- Three light tops, plus a shirt or layer for the night.
- Comfortable broken-in shoes and a pair of sandals.
- Sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and a bandana for dust.
- A small crossbody bag, or pants with deep pockets.
Frequently asked questions
What should men wear to an EDM festival?
Loose, breathable pants such as harem or parachute pants, a tank or light shirt and comfortable sneakers. Choose one statement piece and keep everything else simple.
Are harem pants good for festivals?
They are one of the best choices. They give total freedom of movement, stay cool in cotton, and printed versions make an outfit on their own.
What to wear to Sunburn Goa?
Plan for heat during the day and dancing at night: cotton pants, a light top, sunglasses and comfortable shoes you do not mind getting dusty.
Build your outfit from our festival clothing edit, with printed harem pants, shirts and tops for men and women.