The Perfect: Coachella-Inspired Weekend
Shorts, sunglasses, sleeping arrangement? Sorted.
By 
Welcome to "The Perfect," ELLE.com's new weekly franchise, where we lay out exactly what you'll need for the perfect outfit, shopping list, Saturday night, or whatever it may be. In a shopping landscape where the options are endless, consider it a complete snapshot of must-haves.
Whether you're actually headed to the Coachella Valley or chasing the vibes locally, it's easy to get inspired by the free-spirited, laid-back feeling that we've come to stylishly collect under the blanket term of "festival fashion." Capture it with playful-yet-practical pieces that get the whole open-fairgrounds je ne sais quoi thing—no wristband required.
The Bikini Top
Looking like you're always ready for a chic pool party is part and parcel of keeping Coachella-cool. Wearing a bikini as you would a crop top is also key for allowing maximum airflow.
Madewell x Bikyni Plunge Bikini Top, $55; madewell.com
The Shirt
A breezy white button-down can be styled in a ton of different ways: tuck, button, or knot it (or leave it open to fly freely in the breeze).
Everlane The Relaxed Cotton Shirt, $65; everlane.com
The Earrings
Bold, playful earrings are the surefire way to take an outfit to the next level. Since tassels are quickly becoming ubiquitous, get ahead of the style curve with bunched gumdrops instead.
Sachin & Babi Coconuts Earrings, $250; sachinandbabi.com
The Shorts
Denim cutoffs are a summer, and festival, mainstay. Refresh the look by picking a patched pair with some personality.
Rosie HW x Paige Babes Short, $299; paige.com
The Camera
Mobile phones mean everyone's a photographer, but go a step further and actually print your sun-soaked memories out on command.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Camera, $70; target.com
The Shoe
Mules are easy to kick off, yet still provide some of the coverage of a bootie (a practical option for dusty, dirty spaces). Skip the trendy white hue for an outdoors-friendly snakeskin print.
Sol Sana Camille Mule, $165; nordstrom.com
The Sunscreen
Sun damage isn't fun; spraying with SPF actually kind of is. Stock up before heading into the desert (or wherever your destination may be).
Hampton Sun SPFF 35 Continuous Mist Sunscreen, $32; everythingbutwater.com
The Fanny Pack
In the age of overstuffed totes and shoulder bags, going hands-free is always a pleasure. It makes even more sense if you plan to be out and about.
Clare Vivier Fanny Pack, $259; clarev.com
The Sunglasses
Sunglasses have to be the wardrobe workhorse all too often. For Coachella, or any other fun-focused event, pick a pair that's outside the box, be it via shade or shape.
Quay Eclipse Sunglasses, $55; revolve.com
The Hotel
Beyond Coachella weekends, Palm Springs and its surrounding zip codes make for a nice breather from real life.
Hyatt Indian Wells, standard queen room starting at $289/night, kayak.com
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