Festivals were on a slow burner for me during most of my life and apart from Glastonbury honestly I couldn’t see what the hype was about. As someone who is claustrophobic, obsessive compulsive and has a severe anxiety disorder festivals would conjure up painful feelings that would make me forget how to block out all the noise and just enjoy myself. It took a while to ease myself into accepting festivals and not having a freak-out every time one was mentioned but one fateful day four years ago I went to Wireless Festival were some of my favourite artists were performing including Drake, Kanye West, B.O.B and Rudimental. Sadly Drake was ill so Kanye took over as headliner but amusingly his infamous rants about fame, materialism and erm Kim Kardashian never failed to entertain us. As much of a douche Kanye is you cannot deny that the guy has talent and I had always been a hardcore fan since the ‘Stronger’ and ‘Golddigger’ days. Anyhow, Wireless changed the way I saw festivals and for the first time I saw it as a time to let loose and have fun rather than be silently panicking and try to act normal for the sake of my friends. Fast forward to 2016 and I have regularly been going to festivals ever since; from the more obscure Secret Garden to V Festival, festivals bring friends together and introduces you to a world where musicians and entertainment collide. As festival season draws to a close it has been an eventful summer of festivals that have brought joy and surprise in equal measure but above all it has given me the chance to dress down for once. As someone who is the epitome of being ‘over-dressed’ for every occasion, festivals allow you to have a more chilled approach to fashion and noone knows casual better than BlackXScotts. 
Now, I know what you are thinking and yes you would be correct in thinking that Scott’s is a menswear brand. But so what? Can I let you in on a little secret? I love, scratch that adore menswear especially crisp pressed oxford shirts. While that might not be the traditional choice for ‘festival fashion’ I am anything but ‘traditional’ and love creating unexpected outfit combinations that shouldn’t work as well as they do. Because that is the beauty of fashion, its spontaneous and ever changing and regardless of what trends dictate only you have the power to determine what feels right. So I will be damned if I choose something feminine simply to appease an archaic system of fashion and quite frankly I will wear whatever the hell I want. If I want to wear a men’s shirt with a skirt in neutral colours or become androgynous for a day I sure will, even if it isn’t considered ‘proper’. Which leads me onto my next point, traditionally when it comes to ‘festival fashion’ an image of kimonos, floaty frocks and wellington boots tends to come into the picture which is all well and lovely but if you really want to make an impact then wear something unexpected. Go bold or go home is what I always say.
Shop The Look:Sunglasses- Lindex/ Coat- New Chic / Shirt- Fred Perry / Skort- Forever 21 / Flats & Bag- Primark
Speaking of crisp Oxford shirts, one of my favourite menswear brands is Fred Perry and as Scott’s is a marketplace of brands, I was able to choose two Fred Perry shirts: A Fred Perry Crew Neck Shirt and the Fred Perry Classic Oxford Shirt. Both shirts merge the line between ‘smart’ and ‘casual’ wear and while most style mavens would typically pair both shirts with trousers or form as part of a suit, I decided to mix up the formula and pair both shirts with either a skirt or a layered skort. The first look drew inspiration from the changing colours of the seasons, where the rich forest green suede skirt symbolized the birth of summer, whereas the darker aubergine hue of the crew neck shirt and rust satin bomber was derivative of autumn’s arrival. As I have festivals to attend in September naturally the colours I chose were ‘darker’ and ‘richer’ in their colour intensity whereas the second look featuring the Oxford Shirt was worn during August and thus still retained the soft pastel hues that were so popular during the summer season. The crew neck is one of the easiest shirts to style and whether you choose to go casual or use it as a focal point in a formal assemble, the richness and intensity of the shirt makes it an ideal colour to make any outfit stand out. Naturally, because I also love to colour-block both outfits use the 60’s method of colour-match whereby I set opposing colours as an ‘accent hue enhancer’ creating a deliberate mode of contrast. Thus the magenta Chelsea boots bear a similar place in the colour wheel next to the aubergine hued crew neck, while the rust satin bomber creates enough of a contrast to stop the look from appearing too ‘samey’. The shocking inclusion of a complete opposite hue ‘forest’ is a jewel colour so although it might appear on the same colour spectrum as the rich tones of aubergine, magenta and rust,its warm and bright undertones means that it still creates a splendid outfit combination.
Similarly the pastels incorporated in the second look also use the colour spectrum method, although the inclusion of pastel pink and rose gold draws on using metallic as a contrast rather than a specific colour like the crew neck uses. While rose gold might not be your typical accent co-coordinator, because I love rose gold so much I used it to ensure that the look wasn’t too pastel heavy. As the shirt is so formal I wanted to ensure that the outfit still retained some severity and formality, which with the inclusion of a tailored skort and rose gold pointed flats, the look had elements of what you would find in the work-place. That being said as the outfit was being worn at a festival I still wanted to have fun and thus the rose gold metallic back-pack and printed oversized coat stopped the outfit from looking too smart. Besides I wasn’t going to a dinner party, I was getting ready to attend a festival and mosh out! Of course no festival is complete without a sleeping bag and thanks to Black’s I was able to find a sleeping bag that suited my colourful personality. With lime green base and teal accents, the sleeping bag was specially created with security in mind and owing to several incidents that can happen at festivals I was pleased to find that it was secure enough for me to sleep in. Unfortunately the sleeping bag was on sale and has now sold out but they have plenty of other sleeping bags to help you sleep stylishly.
Shop The Look: Bomber Jacket & Chelsea Boots- Primark / Shirt-Fred Perry / Skirt- H&M
Have You Attended Any Festivals This Summer?
You have worked wonders with the mens shirts. They look stunning. Also you have given me an idea I can start borrowing my hubby’s shirts!! I don’t think he would be too happy though.
Gorgeous pictures! I love the outfits, especially the tan-ish jacket with the purple shirt. Super cute! The background of your pictures are really retro too. <3
I love that you’re not traditional with your clothing choices, it makes you stand out from the crowd at those festivals. Jo x
These outfits are gorgeous, adore those red boots!
It’s not bad to try something different and to something you’re not comfortable with. 😉 I love those pastel colors, really looks great on you too! 😉
Fred Perry is so great at crisp, stylish wear. Love their shirts.
I love the skirt with the zip, that blue is such a nice colour.
Really love the bold prints on that first jacket. I’m not brave enough for that outfit but it looks great!
I have never been to a festival to me the mud and the loo’s are enough to send me into a mad panic. I do love your outfits and my husband loves fred perry shirts
How wonderful that you are now able to enjoy festivals. You have put together two great looks with your menswear oxford shirts, I especially love the summery, pastel look. Beautiful. x
I love your style so much, especially that bag!
Fab post! I love festivals, just never have anyone to go with 🙁 I love the top outfit jacket. It’s so great and suits you x
oh my, Kayne West – wow that had to be an experience, lol. Drake would have been fun to see too, I am sure. I have never seen him live, but I had the Kayne emm pleasure, lol. Glad you had such a great time. Love that colorful jacket, very awesome. Blessings!
I managed to make it to nine festivals this summer which meant my summer was incredibly busy but they’re one of my favourite things x
So glad that you colorfully enjoyed and joined the party! The second look is the top! I love the mini skirt and on that shoes I’d walk miles and miles! You always rock!!
I am so obsessed with that first look, I need that jacket in my life! It’s amazing! xo
I didn’t manage one festival this summer – normally I do a couple. Love your outfit choices x
Love your intro and understand why you don’t like going to festivals, but I am so glad you finally overcomed all your fears and just did it! As for your look, love your unexpected outfit combinations! You rock! Fred Perry Men is a very trendy brand!
I love that green skirt! Both of your outfits look great!
No festivals for me this summer, totally not my thing and you would never ever get me in a tent x
Looking gorgeous honey !! Wearing menswear is such a great initiative. Sometimes you`ll find better outfit ideas in men`s section .
Glad to know that you went to the festival and saw Kanye West! I also liked your both the outfits and you’ve completely blended the men’s shirt into something very classy creating a signature style! You’re inspirational!
I love the mix of colours that you use in your outfits, always super stylish! xxx
Haven’t attended any festivals this year sadly!
I love fred perry too! I steal my husband’s fred perry’s and wear them out!
Ana, you make me so jealous with your style! I love that bomber jacket you have xx
You wouldn’t even know they are Menswear shirts if you hadn’t said, nice! I love that Forever 21 skort too. I haven’t been to festivals in a few years, I find they are so expensive these days
I have never been to a festival in my live, but always wanted to go to one. Maybe Glastonbury or download. I love your boots!
I really love the bold print of that first jacket! You have such cool, unique style. I love it!
Great boots! We went to six festivals this year! Phew! It was great fun. We love festival fashion, it seems that people are a bit braver with fashion choices 🙂
I have never attended an overnight festival but I used to go to every single concert that took place in my home town when I was a teenager. I used to love being in the first row and then, at the end, go and try to trick security and get backstage. I always succeeded and I used to have a huge autograph collection. I love the sleeping bag, it could very well be taken in long trips. I like that it is so small and compact.
I have never been to a festive but think I may have to make it something I do next year. I did however go to see Rod Stewart in concert a few weeks ago and that was amazing. Adore that pink jacket.
I would never have known it was a men’s shirt. You have put together quite a stylish look there. But that is not a surprise you have quite a fashion sense. Have a Merry Christmas.
I have anxiety and claustrophobia so large crowds can be overwhelming at times. But throughout the years, I’ve found that to go to festivals and places with large crowds its important to bring good people around you that you know will be there for you if you do have a panic or who will make you just relax and enjoy the festival. Love how you styled the mens shirts. I love men’s graphic tees, they’re my fav.
Men’s shirts are the best. When my son lived at home, I was always borrowing his flannels or his white button downs. Now that I’m married, my husband t-shirts are what I wear to bed at night and when I’m missing him because he’s away on business.