In terms of accessories, some beaded bangles like the turquoise beauties from Barefoot Contessa ($18) or a stack of cheapees from Aldo ($12 to $20, various locations) are always fun, as is a straw fedora from the Gap ($29.95, various locations). However, both stylists say that the must-have festival accoutrement is a big, twisty multipurpose scarf—Sung recommends starting your search at misch boutique (2960 Granville Street) and Gravitypope Tailored Goods (2203 West 4th Avenue). Not only is the right scarf a great way to add a pop of colour to your outfit, but it can be highly functional as well. You can wear it like a wrap to keep the sun off your shoulders, you can lay it out on the grass and sit on it, and, if your concert pit turns into a dust bowl, you can use it as a gas mask.
As for shoes, you may feel stylistically compelled to bust out your prettiest strappy sandals. Don’t. Your shoes will get thrashed and your dogs will start barking long before the headliner hits the stage. Rubber flip-flops are way more practical, and right now Native Shoes (shop.nativeshoes.com/) has some supercute, shock-absorbent babies in just about every colour imaginable ($35 to $40).
When it comes to bags, you might be tempted to stuff a big backpack full of supplies. Resist. You don’t want to be that person who bumps into everyone—so annoying, yet there’s one in every crowd. Instead, Sung recommends going for something more compact, such as (if you’re feeling flush) the Navajo-printed Indian Summer II Lizzie Fortunato bag ($778).
And if you want to take a pass on the whole boho look but still want to ramp up your festival style and have some fun with it, there is another option and it might just be the hottest trend this season: colour blocking. You can’t go wrong with a bright, almost neon, cardigan from Zara (for about $25.90 at various locations), which you can tie around your bag strap and then throw on when the temp drops. Or if you want the best of both worlds (boho and colour blocking), Joe Fresh has a gorgeous eye-popping marigold maxi skirt ($69, various locations). Now that’s a statement piece, and as Sung points out, you may not get another chance to shine so brightly.
“Colour is so popular, it’d be silly not to try to rock it,” says Sung, before adding: “It’s not going to be around for long. I mean, who knows? Maybe next summer, we’ll be back to neutrals.”