Coachella’s Most Memorable Fashion Trends Over the Past Decade

Coachella has become the hub of festival fashion trends, from flower crowns and daisy dukes to bohemian skirts and bejeweled bralettes.

Festival season is finally here, and with that comes an important aspect for all the festival baddies: fashion. Coachella has transcended its reputation as a musical event, becoming a mecca of fashion inspiration. The festival’s unique atmosphere, a blend of bohemian chic and free-spirited flare, sets the stage for attendees to showcase their most daring, creative outfits and Instagram-worthy looks.

Coachella wasn’t always leading the way in festival fashion. Before 2013, attendees appreciated comfort over style, rocking simple bathing suit tops and board shorts to mitigate the heat. However, the rise of social media and the influx of A-list celebrities began to shift the way attendees wanted to show up and show out, with each year pushing the boundaries one influencer at a time.

Related: Need a vibey soundtrack while you try on your 2024 outfits? Get in the mood by listening to our carefully curated Coachella 2024 playlist on Spotify!

Recently, the fashion landscape at Coachella has become a vibrant tapestry of colors, patterns, and textures, where individuality reigns supreme and sartorial creativity knows no limits. As the festival continues to evolve and innovate, so too do the fashion trends that emerge from its sun-soaked grounds, inspiring countless fashion enthusiasts around the globe.

Coachella has certainly come a long way since the era of flower crowns and fringe boots, establishing itself as a trendsetter. While boho-chic has certainly dominated the Polo Fields every spring, attendees have had their unique take on the theme, and we think it deserves some recognition. Come along with us as we highlight some of Coachella’s most memorable trends over the last decade.

A Decade of Coachella’s Most Memorable Fashion Trends

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

2012 – 2013: The Era Of Y2K Influence

As someone who attended her first Coachella in 2013, the fashion aspect wasn’t as big a deal as it is today, but it was certainly the time for chunky statement necklaces, fedoras, and the beginning of the infamous flower crown. Attendees would often couple colorful, flowy dresses, an oversized sunnie, and a statement belt or fringe cover-up. The early Y2K style was still very prevalent, and while the trends were more low-key during this time, it marked the beginning of an era for Coachella fashion statements.

Photo Credit: Leslie Kirchhoff

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

2014 – 2015: Boho-Chic Took Over The Polo Field

Boho princesses and grunge girls were taking the Polo Fields by storm this year. In 2014, we saw much of the same classic Coachella couture, but some chose to be more daring and intricate; you just had to look really, really hard for it. Hippie bellbottoms, Aztec prints, vintage band tees, and lace were all the rage, and even with all the similarities, it was certainly a step up from years past.

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

2016 – 2017: Body Chains, Metallic tattoos, And Well, More Boho-Chic

This was the era of monochromatic looks, John Lennon sunglasses, cowboy boots, metal body chains, metallic tattoos, and face gems. The bohemian style was in full force, with more chic undertones and, well, not a lot of variety. This was also around the time that many big brands began to advertise festival-themed outfits, which made for a lot of copy-cat styles.

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

2018 – 2019: A New Wave Of Individuality

This was the time for a much-needed festival fashion revamp. We really started to see some diversity and real freedom of expression. While I don’t think we will ever fully escape the brimmed hats and high-waisted denim with lace, it was a breath of fresh air just to see more dimension amongst the crowd. Bright, colorful overalls, bucket hats, and matching biker shorts were the dawn of a new era for Coachella fashion.

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

Photo Courtesy of Coachella

2022 – 2023: That Post Covid Energy

After two years of cancellations, Coachella came correct in 2022 and 2023 with the same desire for more bold statement pieces. Many festival attendees noted the significant change in the way many people were dressing. Pops of nylon, oversized pieces, checkered patterns, and cowgirl chic all made the cut, and we can expect to see even more bold, funky, creative statement pieces in 2024.

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