I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but let me clue you in on a little secret: concerts and festivals are not just about the music. Surprise. I mean while you _are_ there to immerse yourself in the glory that is Local Natives/Frank Ocean/Kanye West/One Direction (yeah, I went there), there is a lot more to seeing a band live than the music. As Coachella is wrapping up, all the fashion blogs can talk about are the weird, wacky and ultra cool looks that graced the fest. Fur boots and shredded vests? Check. Hearing from celebrities that were thought to be living in Toledo long ago? Check. (What up, Mischa Barton?)

Concert dressing is about being an individual, all while fitting into this crazy environment, which sounds about as complicated as it actually is. You want to look presentable for the inevitable flood of pictures that will be Instagrammed the hell out of (Camera Talk), but potentially, you are going to be hot, sweaty and drenched in whatever liquid was in the guy’s cup when he ran into you as he tried to catch Justin Vernon’s towel. What this means: Do not spend a lot. Bloggers interested in the style of concerts and festivals love looks that appear effortless. That is something you can’t really create with cash, so please, please for the love of Freddie Mercury, do not spend hella bank on clothes that will more than likely be identifiable by their stains. That being said, it is possible to be fashionable.

Warning Signs: Where are you headed, a concert downtown at The Blue Note or a festival like Lolla or Bonnaroo? Being outside and standing in the rain for three hours (or days) is way different than being stuffed into a crowded arena inside. Obviously being at a festival is a marathon, so comfort is the absolute essential here, even more so than being at The Blue Note or Beaumont for two hours. Either way, that last statement should be your guidepost for the rest of this column: comfort. A lot of clothes are cute, but pulling at something or worrying about shoe straps is not what you want to remember.

Sticky Thread: A lot of times shoes are evaluated last as an afterthought, but since a lot of standing is in your future, shoes should be your main concern. I recommend wearing shoes you don’t care about because it will be nothing but a sea of mud or dried alcohol (or worse) below so stick to cheap sandals like [these from Forever 21](http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=whatsnew_all&ProductID=2000042738&VariantID=). And do I even have to say it? No heels or wedges. Ever. You aren’t Victoria Beckham.

Shape Shifter: loose clothes in light colors are going to be your best friends. It could be raining, it could be 110 degrees or it could be both. The headliner of your outfit should not make you look like a giant bag of Navajo prints or a John Wayne extra (memo to like 40 percent of girls trying to bring out their inner banjo). I recommend [these colorful cropped shorts from Swank Boutique](http://www.swankboutique.net/catalog/item/2049). It is the right mix of cool and independent style. If you are more of a dress girl, go for a lightweight one like [this number from Alloy](http://store.alloy.com/item.do?categoryID=2101&itemID=55083&outfitID=2056) or a romper.

Cards and Quarters: To finish the look, invest in a crossbody bag that is big enough to hold umbrellas, IDs and whatever else we girls carry. [This bag from Delia’s](http://store.delias.com/item.do?itemID=53908&categoryID=416) can carry everything but is not so big that it won’t be slung across you comfortably, safe from being dropped and trampled by rabid fans with wide eyes. From here on out is your chance to do your own thing with accessories and show your personal style. Just know this: less than rising from the dead and closing the festival while being a hologram, it’s going to take a lot to make the world news, so if you’re going to “go for it” style-wise, commit. Now all that’s left is to throw those hands up toward the sun.