Festival style over 40: How to nail it, after Sophie Ellis-Bextor rocks the sequinned look
Dressing for a festival as an adult isn't quite the same as in your youth, when over-the-top outrageous outfits likely topped the style agenda.
But festival dressing at 40-plus doesn't have to be dull. If you can't go big with your sartorial choices at Glastonbury et al, where can you?
Just ask Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
The 44-year-old singer and mum-of-five looked incredible in a gold sequinned leotard and tasseled cape as she belted out her classic disco hits on the Pyramid stage at Worthy Farm on Sunday.
“Can you feel my sequinned-leotard, excited-mother energy?” she asked the crowd. And they certainly could.
She wasn't the only one absolutely rocking their festival look either. Jo Whiley, 57, was also praised by fans for her "ageless" looks in a series of stunning outfits over the weekend.
From a tiered strapless gold dress, to a frothy, oversized turquoise number, which she teamed with wellies, the music broadcaster certainly had a fashion moment this weekend, and it didn't go unnoticed by social media.
"You’ve looked stunning throughout……. great style," one fan commented.
"Your outfits were fabulous," agreed another.
"She is amazing Jo Whiley, she never seems to look any older, she’s looked the same for the last 15 years…," yet another user tweeted.
Hannah Rochell, fashion expert and author of the En Brogue book series, says age-related style "rules" are a "load of nonsense – especially at a festival where flamboyance is so celebrated."
Watch: Elton John joined by special guests and Paul McCartney for emotional Glastonbury farewell
So what should over-40s bear in mind when festival dressing? Rochell shares her top tips below:
Dress for the feel-good factor
"You should wear what makes you feel great, whatever your age," Rochell says. "So whether you're still rocking the denim cut-offs or a vintage fringed jumpsuit floats your boat, go for it.
"That said, if you're anything like me, a certain practicality takes precedence when I'm going to be standing in a field for three days, so a bit of forward-planning (including checking the weather forecast) is a good idea."
Shop your wardrobe
"Don't panic-buy – chances are you've got the perfect outfit in your wardrobe already; it just might need a bit of a festival tweak," Rochell advises.
"For example, I'm a big fan of wearing a long buffet dress [a voluminous, tiered, loose fit dress with balloon sleeves] because it looks great with chunky boots and makes sitting on the floor a little more graceful than in something shorter or tighter. Plus, my favourite thing to do at a festival after the music is explore the food stalls, so it leaves plenty of room for halloumi fries and noodles (not at the same time)."
Layers are your friend
"I would opt for slimline layers that fit easily into a cross body bag, rather than having to lug heavy layers around the festival site with me in a rucksack," Rochell suggests.
"A pair of leggings to pop under that aforementioned buffet dress, for example, or a long-sleeve tee to sling under a waistcoat instead of a jacket over the top.
"You could also try wearing a vest with a lightweight jumpsuit and have the top half tied around your waist (takes a while to perfect, but looks great) – you can then untie and use the top as your evening layer when the mercury drops."
