Festival Packing: Fashion

I have read a lot online recently that ridicules the term 'festival fashion,' and I can't understand why. In my opinion, you should wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. For me that means I put some thought in to my outfits, like I do every day, but I don't judge people who take one pair of trousers and a tshirt to see them through the week. If you are reading this you probably have an interest in fashion and like me want the chance to experiment with your outfits whilst at a festival. It is all about feeling confident in what you are wearing, and for that you need to be comfortable but stylish.

Over the years I have been to a fair few festivals and like to think I have got the packing nailed! Here are my tips on compiling a wardrobe for five days!

001. Firstly, let's address what you are going to pack your things in. I have tried different things; bags stacked on a pull along trolley, a suitcase, but I have found the best to be a RUCKSACK. Sports Direct always have these on sale and there are so many handy compartment and bits to hang your sleeping bag off etc etc. You can normally pick one up for under £50 and they are such a great investment.

002. WEAR WELLIES. A pretty obvious one I think. Personally, I wear my wellies there and that's the only footwear I take to save on packing. They keep you dry but they also give you some ankle support for doing a lot of walking and prevent your toes from being crushed in crowds. My wellies of choice are Hunters - if you go to a few festivals invest in a decent welly. So much more comfortable than a cheapy Primark number and they last, actually saving you money in the long run. But if you have stronger ankles than me and are going to a smaller festival, you might want to take some vans or converse - I really wouldn't recommend flip flops.

003. LEGS. Tights dry quicker than jeans or leggings- the motto which I live my life by. If it's raining I'd much rather have bare legs or thin tights on that be stuck in a soggy pair of jeans for the rest of the day- or worse keeping them stinking in the tent. As a rule I wear shorts or dresses with tights in the day then pack a thick pair of leggings for the colder evenings.

004. PAC-A-MAC. I have a mac which folds up into a pouch with a clip which I attach to my bag for easy access. Topshop sell lovely rain macs which look incredible but you won't want to be wearing it in a hot and sweaty tent- then what are you going to do with it?

005. BIKINIS AS UNDERWEAR. Ladies are you with me here when I say that bras are the devils handiwork?! I wear a bikini come rain or shine because a) they're so much more comfortable, and b) I can take my top off when I get too hot. No brainer.

006. PYJAMAS. Nothing beats getting into pyjamas after you've had a tiring day. End of.

007. SOCKS. Take more than you think you'll need. You will thank me. And go above the knee, not knee high. So much more flattering.

008. A CARDIGAN/ JACKET. A rain mac will keep you dry but not warm. In the evenings you'll definitely want an oversized cardi or a big denim jacket to keep you cosy!

009. ACCESSORIZE. The beauty of festivals is that there is so much opportunity to experiment with fashion! Pack your floral crowns and your hats and your big chunky jewellery and have fun with your outfits!

010. PLAN YOUR OUTFITS and make a check list. There's nothing worse than looking at a bag full of clothes and not knowing what to do with it. Plan your outfits to be versatile and almost take a little capsule wardrobe with you. Denim shorts can be worn multiple times and a little tshirt dress takes up no room but can be accessorized beautifully! Take enough with you so that you can change in the evenings, with no shower it's nice to have a refresh and get out of wet clothes (be that from rain or sweat- ew).

011. PACK THINGS YOU DON'T MIND GETTING DIRTY. because they will get dirty if you're truly enjoying yourself!

My final tip is don't pack too many clothes but don't pack too little either. One year I only took a small bag with me with about 4 vest tops and 1 pair of shorts and it was just not enough. Don't try to be over practical!

Here are some shots of me putting those tips in to action (excuse the old photos):

A typical festival outfit for me which I think is practical but still looks good (note my pac-a-mac hanging from my bag!)

Putting my bikini theory into action + loving a clean toilet

One of my all time favorite festival outfits

Loving life in the rain and mud

Nothing wrong with a floral crown

Here's a sneaky peek of what to expect from my beauty packing post!

Whatever festival you are attending this year I hope you have an amazing time and stay tuned for more of my festival packing series- coming up is beauty and miscellaneous. When I'm done I might put together the ultimate packing checklist- let me know what you think!

upcycling yankee candle jars

A cheeky little DIY post from me today. I love crafting, not only is it fun it's also a great way of saving yourself some pennies!

Pinterest is full of cute ways you can use jars around the house, but kilner jar's can actually be pretty pricey and why not use what you've already got. I'm addicted to buying Yankee Candles and wanted to find a pretty way of re-using them! So, in this case I decided to empty them out and fill them with... yet more candles (I know).

So when you've come to the end of burning your candle, pop the jar in the freezer. Wax contracts when it freezes so when you take the jar out the wax will be easy to remove. Then, instead of throwing that wax away invest in a tart burner, there are loads of cute ones on ebay and it means you really aren't wasting any of your money.You can peel the labels off, or actually I think sometimes they look quite cute left on.

Then get to work on decorating your jars- the best bit! I have a craft box where I put anything I have saved up over the years. I always keep the ribbons off of gifts and the pretty row of houses I have stuck on mine is from a housewarming card my mum got me! I stuck it down with glue dots and voila!

There are so many things you can fill these with- cotton wool, hair bands, tea lights. After I had taken these photos I emptied out a third jar, skipped the decoration and filled with fairy lights for my bedside table.

A kilner jar costs almost as much as buying a Yankee Candle alone and this way you get double for your money!

Do you have any other ideas on how to use jars around the house?

Happy crafting!

spring ready nails

Nails Inc George Street- £11

My nan always buys me a selection of Nails Inc and Leighton Denny for birthdays and christmases and this was in her latest offering. George Street is the perfect, easy to wear, dusky pink nude. The colour is beautiful and definitely one that could be worn on a range of skin tones. I'm not one to wear a bright pink polish and so I find this shade a nice, subtle way to wear the hue. Paired with a pastel coat, this polish will see you are Spring ready!

On the flip side though, I do think £11 for a nail varnish is way over priced and you could easily find a cheaper alternative in Superdrug. Espescially as I found this streaky on application (as I do with most lighter colours). I also find that nudes start to look grubby after a couple of days and so it doesn't really matter what the staying power is like.

This nail varnish is gorgeous, but in no way is it a game changer.