A music writer’s style essentials for festival season

“It’s about surviving three days in the Australian sun while still feeling like myself.”

From practical gorpcore to glitzy Y2K, there are countless ways to approach festival dressing, and as a music writer, I’ve tried (attempted) most of them. Working in this industry means I spend a good chunk of my year traipsing through muddy fields, dodging mosh pits and dancing until my feet genuinely consider filing a workplace complaint.

But festival fashion, for me, isn’t about looking perfect for the grid. It’s about surviving three days in the Australian sun while still feeling like myself; which is where my favourite sneakers come in.

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Aside from a stash of Hydralyte, the ASICS SportStyle GEL-SD LYTE sneakers have become my festival MVP, largely because they don’t force me to choose between comfort and style. The blue accents give me a colour story to build around, which is genuinely helpful when you’re packing at 2am the night before Meredith and questioning every life choice that led you to own seven scarves, but only one pair of jeans you don’t care about getting ratty at the hem.

Look one: The lightweight lace moment

Let’s talk about the realities of festival dancing. You will get hot. You will get sweaty. You will absolutely regret wearing that velvet jacket you thought looked cool at 9am. This is where my lace top saves me, not just because a cute see-through moment feels appropriate at a festival (and I bought a new bra just for the occasion), but because lightweight fabric is an essential when you’re hitting the dance floor in the beating sun.

I love this top as it still has some sleeve coverage for my shoulders. Sunscreen is a great accessory but so is not having to reapply it every 45 minutes. I paired it with a long, sheer blue skirt that’s also wonderfully breezy, and matches my ASICS SportStyle sneakers perfectly.

For a distinctly sporty shoe, the GEL-SD LYTEs are surprisingly versatile. They’ve got that retro silhouette that works with flowing, feminine pieces, without looking awkward, and the cushioning means I can actually stand through a full headline set without wanting to amputate my feet.

Look two: Purple haze and razzle dazzle

My second look leans into a little pattern play, with a purple striped singlet and a purple-pink accented bra; because festival season is the time to experiment with looks you might not wear to your cousin’s wedding. I paired it with a comfy, flowy black skirt that has just enough bejewelled embellishment to feel festival-appropriate, and I threw on my favourite op shop scarf for some extra zing. More purple, a little velvet and crucially… sun coverage for my head!

Outside of scarves, long skirts are genuinely my festival go-to because they offer everything: comfort, airflow, mobility, and when it gets cold at night, you can chuck some pants on underneath and do the layered look. No one needs to know you’re just cold and perhaps a tad underprepared. Aren’t we all?

The GEL-SD LYTEs hold up surprisingly well across different outfit vibes, grounding everything without dominating the look. They’re supportive enough that I’m not hobbling by day two, which is honestly my baseline requirement for festival footwear.

Look three: The nighttime layer situation

My last fit was more of an evening look, though the occasional rainy day occurs even in Australia’s summer festival season. Grab a pair of jeans you don’t care about getting a little dirty and try some fun layering. I paired mine with this super comfy op shop find; a long, flowy number with ’90s blue graphics.

Festivals are a great place to experiment with new styles because honestly, everybody looks at least a little weird most of the time. At the end of the day, I’m a music writer. I’m here to dance, I’m here to connect with people, and I’m going to loan strangers the five scarf options I brought because I only ever wore the same one for three days. Plus, by the end of the festival, you’ll inevitably be wearing a random assortment of all your outfits, mismatched socks and someone else’s jumper.

Working in music means I’m constantly moving between stages, chasing interviews and trying to catch sets while also not missing the one band I actually came to see. Having sneakers that can keep up with that pace while still looking intentional is genuinely invaluable. The GEL-SD LYTEs tick all those boxes, without making me feel like I’m wearing gym shoes to a party – a delicate balance most festival footwear fails to strike.

Shop the ASICS SportStyle GEL-SD LYTE sneakers online at ASICS.com/au and select retailers.