The modern gentleman’s guide to festival style
Heading to a festival this summer? Bicester Village is the ideal destination to upgrade your wardrobe for the experience…
Words: Jonathan Wells
In association with:
Step away from your Spotify — because summer is the perfect time to enjoy loud, live music. From Parklife to the Proms, crowd-hyping, bass-thumping, ear-splitting experiences sound no better than when the sun is shining, the rosé is flowing and all your friends gather together in great big, good-spirited groups. And the most immersive and escapist of all of these events? Festivals.
Whether it’s Boardmasters on the Cornish cliffs or the electrifying energy of Creamfields, Britain’s most anticipated, celebrated festivals draw talent and fans from the whole world over. But our favourite? Wilderness. Set in Oxfordshire’s private Cornbury Park, it’s as diverse a festival as you’ll find this summer; with music, comedy, theatre, dining experiences and even ‘paddleboard yoga’.
But there’s another reason we can’t wait for the festival this year (it kicks off on August 4th for a long, luxurious weekend). Wilderness is under 20 miles away from Bicester Village — and that means it’s also the most fashionable festival in your summer calendar. The luxury shopping destination, after all, boasts more than 160 boutiques brimming with the best styles and accessories. So, if you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe before embarking on a summer of sound and style, we’ve drawn up a definitive list of festival fashion commandments below…
Scoop up a shirt even louder than the music
For festivals, patterns and prints are a must. Brighter is better. Bolder is better. Go for eye-catching colours and head-turning designs. Go for floaty shirts, photogenic shirts; shirts louder than the music itself. Go for shirts like this camp-collar option from Eleventy; dotted with small flowers and cut with long sleeves.
Alternatively, try on Reiss’ ‘Joss’ shirt for size; short-sleeved, emblazoned with an eye-catching diamond pattern and available under half its original price at Bicester Village. Or, if you’re more of a T-shirt man, who better to kit you out for long, lazy nights at the main stage than Etro? At the brand’s Bicester outpost, this incredible paisley polo will turn heads from the moment the support acts step on stage until the last encore of the night.
Buy a bold pair of statement, signature sunglasses
Next up, find some festival-ready frames. And the same rules should apply to your sunglasses as they did with your shirts; go big and bold. That means leaving any small, conservative pairs at home — and instead investing in a set of sunglasses that will become your signature accessory; from the moment a festival band hits your wrist to the moment the last band leaves the stage.
Bicester Village, where you’ll find some of the world’s biggest brands, thankfully has you (and your eyes) covered. From Linda Farrow, the unisex ‘Sunglight’ frames are roundly-shaped and lilac-lensed. Ray-Ban’s classic ‘Clubmaster’ design will add a touch of retro chic — available at David Clulow. Or, also from the British brand’s Bicester boutique, these Tom Ford frames will capture classic cool at any of the summer’s biggest festivals.
Find some functional footwear for days spent on your feet
Never ever underestimate the importance of festival footwear. With some of Britain’s best live music events and experiences setting up in far-flung places, you’ll need some substantial shoes to remain comfortable when traipsing from stage to stage. And that means walking the flagstoned stretch of Bicester Village to slip-on and lace-up the best.
From New Balance, these suitably sturdy sneakers are an incredibly versatile option. Hardy enough even for the wilds of Wilderness, they’re available for just a fraction of their original price at Bicester Village. Similarly, dunhill’s reliable ‘Duke’ sandals are both durable and discounted; as ready for sun-drenched days as they are coastal festivals. Or, if you’re planning for the unpredictable, Hunter’s traditional boots are unapologetically bold — and impermeably soled.
Bag yourself a choice piece of luxury luggage
Often overlooked — but incredibly important — your festival luggage holds more than the loud shirts and flamboyant fashions above. It also holds the key to making a great entrance; to sweeping sunnily towards the tents and staking your claim as the most prepared, zealous guest at the fest. Luckily, Bicester Village not only sells some of the best styles for summer — but also the bags in which to pack them.
And the best festival bag? A backpack. Portable, roomy and effortless to carry, just look at Montblanc’s ‘Jet’ option for the ideal backpack blueprint. And ‘blue’ is right; as we’d opt for a deep navy knapsack, which will pair perfectly with almost anything else. As such, dunhill’s capable style also makes for an excellent option, and Bicester Village can offer you significant savings on all of the British brand’s luggage. Finally, from Samsonite, this ‘Spectrolite’ backpack isn’t just briliantly lightweight, it’s also got plenty of pockets for painkillers, earplugs — and even the odd glow stick.
Want more from Bicester Village? Here’s what personal shopping at Bicester Village has to offer…
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