The Lollapalooza Street Style Was Seriously Good Last Year
It's no secret that, when it comes to festival style, everyone's first thought is Coachella. But the looks at Lollapalooza have begun to bring some serious competition. There were, of course, the flower crowns and denim cutoffs, but those attending Chicago's biggest music festival also showcased clever styling hacks and a mix of high-end designer accessories with affordable don't-care-if-it-gets-destroyed mass-market pieces.
Grant Park was packed with impressive looks last season: popular festival fashion trends like fringe showed up not just on bags but also on skirts, and unexpected tropical prints played perfectly against the urban cityscape that surrounds the three-day event. We also caught cool culottes, pops of delicate lace, and statement-making sunglasses. See the fest's best looks, and check out the most Instagrammable moments from the 2015 event as we gear up for another round this year.
One of the few attendees who noted the thunderstorms in the forecast, this well-prepared attendee opted to pair her sundress with black Wellies.
When she worried her denim cutoffs were too short, she expertly offset them with a long crocheted vest.
If your festival ensemble is mostly black, printed shorts can go a long way.
It was hard to decide which look we liked more – the printed top with shoulder cutouts was unexpected but the knit halter with fringed hem was a luxe spin on the classic crochet top.
One of the best parts about going to a festival with friends is swapping clothes before you get there, which is what these pals did – all wearing something from another's closet.
If you feel like you're showing too much skin, a big necklace can draw attention in just the right way.
That black-and-white skort was an Abercrombie & Fitch find!
A floor-length, long-sleeved dress might have looked a touch warm on a hot day, but the sheer fabric helped this woman keep her cool.
This attendee paired her Lilly Pulitzer romper with Versace shades and her grandmother's handbag.
We love the comfy feel this attendee opted for with an Anthropologie maxi skirt and red Keds.
Amid all the matching sets, a little print-mixing was a refreshing change of pace. This leopard-print Madewell bag worked wonderfully with her patchwork skirt.
A Francesca's Collection tank top and DIY cutoff jeans got a sexy upgrade thanks to strappy Aldo sandals.
Sneakers this bright can make any outfit, especially one with this playful romper from Young Fabulous & Broke.
This stylist rocked a monochromatic head-to-toe look, pairing a white lace-up skirt set with white kicks and a white cowboy hat.
This woman prided her tied-at-the-waist Tilly's scarf as the perfect festival accessory – she could use it as a makeshift blanket on the grass or as shade from the glaring midday sun.
A girlie matching shorts set got the downtown treatment thanks to a black leather backpack and boots.
We loved the sporty-meets-chic styling behind this jersey-style H&M top and sequin-embellished miniskirt.
Onlookers needed sunglasses before staring directly at this metallic Topshop skirt!
Bringing the brightness, this festival fan topped off her checkered Dry Goods romper with mirrored sunglasses.
The windy weather worked in this woman's favor, adding amazing volume to her breezy two-piece outfit.
When you're still tired from the night before, it's not a bad idea to wear your PJs! This pajama-style matching set was the perfect laid-back solution.
It's never a bad idea to wear drawstring shorts to a music festival serving deep-dish pizza!
Channeling a boho vibe — complete with a Zara dress featuring off-the-shoulder bell sleeves — looked effortless for this concertgoer.
This woman proved there's no such thing as too many flowers when she paired her floral-print romper with a colorful flower crown.
Although this concertgoer's outfit could easily be worn any weekend, she still made herself known with bold Quay cat-eye sunglasses.
Upon closer inspection, her white MinkPink top had a multidimensional texture.
After this attendee found a pair of overalls for less than a dollar at Goodwill, she took a stencil and some blue paint to make them truly her own.
The official uniform of the music festival included short shorts, bare midriffs, sunglasses, and comfortable shoes.
Lollapalooza attendees are crafty! This woman cut the neck off a basic white tee and hand-dipped it for a perfect tie-dyed look.
So what if you can't decide between a bold feather-print tank and an attention-grabbing statement necklace — wear them both together for a mix-and-match vibe.
Matching sets are as hot at music festivals as they are on the red carpet, as this festivalgoer showcased.
What to do when you and your best pal both want to wear the same skintight, black-and-white vertical-striped shorts? You go for it, making sure to keep the rest of the look distinct.
One pair of shorts — two very different styling tactics.
The trusted fanny pack — seen in a rainbow of colors — was the official accessory of Lollapalooza.
A button-front denim skirt was as preppy as it got at this year's fest.
Grunge meets glam with these friends.
You don't often pair a blue Prada crossbody bag with a flannel tied around the waist, but we love the combination.
Nasty Gal jewelry was both dainty and sexy atop these palm-tree-print cutoffs.
An ikat top and an oversize crocheted vest? She's got the Lolla look down.
Proving you can look cute and still be comfortable, this attendee paired loose Free People pants with an equally breezy top.
When your Urban Outfitters pants are too long and there's no time for a trip to the tailor, do like this woman did and pin them up yourself for a billowy silhouette.
A basic Brandy Melville crop top got an edgy upgrade, thanks to a full body chain overlay from Topshop.
Circle-frame sunglasses became a big trend of the festival, and we can see why: it takes the already-popular '70s aesthetic to a whole new level.
We love how she wore her fringed fanny pack below her hips so you could still see the ornate print of her skirt.
Emoji aren't just on your phone these days. This woman wore the conversation piece of the weekend after ordering it off Amazon.
DIYers came to Lollapalooza in full force, including this woman who gave her otherwise standard shorts a watercolor effect.
If you want that skintight tank to stay perfectly tucked in, follow this woman's advice and go for an Aritzia bodysuit.
This bold necklace from Akira took a basic black look to a new level.
This Free People maxi dress was one of our favorites because it made the perfect complement to almost every other dress at Lollapalooza.
It was hard not to notice this hot-pink top from across the park — and we love how she paired it with equally bright white flatform sandals from Forever 21.
Just because it's not made to be a crop top doesn't mean you can't style it that way. This woman simply tucked under the hem of her American Apparel top to give it a midriff-baring look.
When you're looking for an unexpected way to cover up, follow this festivalgoer's lead and look for a silk bathrobe! She found this one at Anthropologie and made it work as a whole different form of loungewear.
Bold printed pants became a trend everyone wanted to copy. Not only was it a look that stood out from the throngs of cutoffs, but it was also one of the most comfortable ways to dress for a long day in the Summer sun.
Her knit top, from Windsor, featured a heart-bedecked high neckline.
When your Free People dress is backless, opt for a bra with straps that have some visual appeal.
This music fan dressed to have fun, pairing a flouncy tank with playful shorts. Her circle-frame sunglasses and bandana hair tie were perfect accessories.
This woman got her mini bag from Michael Kors, but those brightly colored shorts came straight from her mother's old wardrobe in Japan!
The perfect way to catch a little relief on a scorching-hot day is with a dress that boasts a few well-placed cutouts.
Tie-dyed looks — whether handmade or manufactured en masse — reigned supreme on the city streets of Lollapalooza.
This attendee bought her complete look — from her bold, fringe necklace and her red-framed shades to her stack of bracelets and her multicolored sporty sandals — from Zara.
We couldn't believe this music fan found her on-trend full-fringe skirt from Forever 21.
When you own a pair of Stuart Weitzman knee-high gladiator sandals, you wear them to Lollapalooza. This music fan also managed to pair hers with other statement pieces — a Dolce Vita leather crop top, bold Le Specs sunglasses, printed shorts, and a fringed fanny pack — without looking over the top.
These neon printed shorts paired perfectly with this burgundy fringed 84Rockwell bag and made a cool color combination.
When these are your comfortable pants, you know you've got serious street style. These stretchy flares were a rare find at the festival.
This pair showed two very different ways of styling classic denim cutoff shorts — with an oversize vest and vintage headband or with a fun tank top and locally made jewelry.
A long-sleeved lace dress isn't what you expect to see on a near-90-degree day, but this festivalgoer was completely comfortable in her Free People look.
Another case for fringe! This Cusp shirt proves you don't need to reserve the trend to bags and booties.
We love how this attendee followed a key rule of crop top dressing: if you're going to bare midriff, offset it with a maxi skirt.
A parrot print made this two-piece matching crop top set stand out, but not so much that her friend's fringed Zara dress went unnoticed.
The all-over fringe around the neckline of this dress created an amazing effect as this attendee walked to the next show.
This playful white, A-line Guess dress truly popped under the hot sun in Grant Park.
Symmetrical cutouts made this otherwise simple icy-blue dress a real head turner.
The smartest festival-going friends coordinate. We love how these ladies mixed graphic tees, wide-brimmed ASOS hats, and Frye boots.
Thanks to a basic white cropped tank, this Free People skirt, topped with a vintage belt, stood out the most.
Not only do we love this woman's overall look, but we also adore how she took a basic pair of Forever 21 sunglasses and bent them to create a unique, face-flattering shape.
Every closet needs a black jumpsuit, and the styling of this casual option — topped with a simple Madewell necklace — is as effortless to put together as it is eye-catching.
This ladylike dress got an urban upgrade, thanks to a leather crossbody bag, motorcycle boots, and a bold necklace.
We love how this Lollapalooza attendee dared to mix a lace fabric with a more modern, neon statement necklace.
If you never want to get lost in the crowd, opt for a wild, colorful print. That's what this woman did with her off-the-shoulder romper from Akira.
Proof that sneakers look good with everything: an acid-washed MinkPink denim romper and Tom Ford sunglasses were all this woman needed to look the part of a street style star.
This pair had the temperature in mind when they dressed in breathable fabrics. We love how the bold bag, a purchase from Colombia, stood out against the pale blue dress, which was expertly knotted.
When you're shopping for a festival, H&M is hard to top. That's why this stylish attendee bought her head-to-toe look at the retailer.
Don't let these looks deceive you. These three pals all opted for ultra-wide-legged pants, not skirts or dresses, when putting together their festival looks.
We don't know what we like more: the coral florals on this Topshop jumpsuit or the gingham, short-sleeved crop top from H&M.
A backpack is a must-have festival accessory, but this slick black Ralph Lauren satchel can be worn well after the weekend comes to a close.
Going for comfort, this woman chose light-washed, high-waisted jeans and a tried-and-true pair of Converse.
A high-necked halter helped this concertgoer make a statement.
If you want to stand out, a sexy-but-sweet floor-length dress is the way to go. This one, from Urban Outfitters, was paired with a Chloé bag and Cole Haan sandals.
The open back of this flowing dress was a surefire way to stay cool on a hot Summer day.
When you opt for bold printed shorts, like these from Billabong, it's smart to let them stand out. This black H&M illusion crop top and American Apparel fanny pack worked perfectly as neutrals.
We spotted the overly saturated color of these daisy-print American Apparel shorts from across the park!
Her backless bodysuit let these fun cuffed shorts speak for themselves from behind.
Birkenstocks still reign supreme at music festivals! So do crocheted dresses and bucket bags, like this tan one from Baggu.