Coachella is one of the most sought-after events of the year. Thousands of people travel to Palm Springs to experience what some may call the most nostalgic and authentic of all music festivals. Luckily, some Bruins were there to witness major headliner Justin Bieber along with Sabrina Carpenter, Karol G and Anyma perform their magic. There is no doubt that they showed up with the most incredible outfits too, as you are about to find out!
Mady Zirlin, a fourth-year public health student, knew she wanted her outfit to be 2016 themed, which worked out perfectly because 2016 began trending expeditiously this year. She was “ready to spend a lot of money, but ended up spending less than what [she] thought.” It was easier to plan potential outfits around pieces she already had in her closet from the ‘2016 era.’ This fashion era was dominated by skinny jeans, satin bomber jackets, off-the-shoulder tops and bold eyeshadow coupled with neon colors. Zirlin leaned into this fully with a black floral bralette, a long flowy white dress she found in the Fashion District downtown and a mix of jewelry from Amazon to complete her beautiful look.
She even incorporated her mom’s belt, proving that the best accessories are sometimes the ones you never had to buy. Between the long skirt and smaller top and the jean skirt and bandeau combo, Zirlin perfectly threw her outfit back to 2016 without having to majorly sacrifice comfort. She also noted that arriving late in the afternoon allowed her to deal with less heat, and she did not have to worry about leaving things around.
Zirlin experienced the festival alongside her roommate Juliette DeBaets, a fourth-year sociology student, who took a similar yet slightly different approach to the outfits she wore. Drawing from Pinterest, DaBaets sought after something more minimalistic, letting small, intentional details do the majority of the heavy lifting. Her philosophy was simple: wear as little as possible during the day while ensuring every piece counts. A tiny bandeau top, fun belt, boots and a scarf-like-pashmina for the cooler nights perfected her looks.
Hair and face gems, pulled straight from Pinterest inspiration, added just enough of a sparkle factor without overcrowding the outfit. All in all, DaBaets only purchased a belt, a bandeau top and a pair of shorts. As most of us are aware, it is always impressive to do more with less when it comes to outfits these days. DaBaets prepared according to the weather and claimed “[she] planned the outfits well and had fun accessories,” so there was no factor that she felt should’ve been severely altered.
Finally, Charlotte Chan, a third-year political science student, bought her ticket before the lineup was even announced. She, like Zirlin, had always wanted to go to Coachella, and years of scrolling through Instagram and TikToks meant the inspiration for her outfits had always been occupying space in her head. Still, her final outfits came together last-minute. Chan started by brainstorming ideas, curating “themes for each day,” then began eliminating what didn’t feel right, cross referencing Pinterest and her own closet before heading for the thrift stores. What she couldn’t find, she made. After spotting a Jaded London-inspired studded bikini online, she bought an affordable Amazon bikini and made it herself – and she did a fantastic job.
One of Chan’s essential pieces was a thrifted top that didn’t exactly fit right, so she got behind a sewing machine at the UCLA MakerSpace and added straps herself. She reflected on how this was a skill “[she’d] carry forward.” To avoid the hassle of carrying a hoodie with her at night, Chan turned to a pashmina instead, which is very on-brand for Coachella.
If she could go back and curate her outfit again, Chan said she’d go bigger on accessories: more chunky jewelry, arm cuffs and bold earrings. She noticed that at Coachella, people weren’t holding back, and she wishes she had leaned further into that energy. She would also experiment more with her hair, particularly on day two with the studded bikini, when a braid or an updo could have elevated the whole look. Chan noted that the boots were brutal on her feet and admitted having to double-sock to cope with the pain. But the outfits themselves were comfortable, cohesive and so wonderfully put together.
Three Bruins, three different approaches and one shared thought: Coachella is all about the outfits. The planning starts weeks, sometimes months, in advance, with mood boards, thrift stores and late night DIY sessions. After all, the hustle and bustle of curating the perfect outfit is a huge part of Coachella’s fame and fun. Nobody is scrolling through Coachella content on social media for the setlists (although Bieberchella did do a number on fans across the globe). My social media was flooded with OOTDs for days during the event and even the weeks following it, and I honestly couldn’t have been happier… it made the deserts of Palm Spring look like the most fashionable place on Earth.
