I've Gone to Coachella for 10 Years—6 Must-Have Items to Wear Out West

Coachella fashion lives in infamy in a lot of people's minds, acting like a revolving glass door to what people are into at the moment. Do you love Lana Del Rey and "silver spoon–fed nepo baby" anthems? An oversize 2012-era flower crown may be right for you. 

In the 10 years since Lexie Jiaras first stepped on the Coachella festival grounds, she's borne witness to it all. First as a golf cart driver and later as a full-scale influencer and creative consultant for the brand, the Gen Z personality and co-founder of L.A. vegan joint Monty's Good Burger has worn many hats throughout her Coachella journey. While the COVID-19 pandemic all but halted the music festival scene in 2020 and 2021, Coachella came back stronger than ever in 2022. And so did its fashion—something Jiaras is practically a fairy godmother in. She admitted to Who What Wear that she loves styling her friends for the festival and letting them venture a bit out of the box: "The festival is really a time and place for everyone to take the fashion risks they've always wanted to but felt like they didn't have the right occasion for." Note taken.

Just last month, Jiaras's viral TikTok series about Coachella fashion and beauty inspiration blew up, culminating in nearly 275,000 views on the platform. As an established cool girl on the Coachella scene, knowing the ins and outs of weekends one and two, the creator spoke to Who What Wear about what she's hoping she'll see this year in Indio. Spoiler alert: It's a massive deviation from last year's ultra-trendy styles that dominated your #FYP.

"Post-pandemic, we were all so conditioned to be ultra-casual. I expected to see that translate to the fashion on-site but was surprised the opposite happened," she explained. "Everyone was so cooped up for so long [that] maximalist looks were everywhere." If you were following last year's festival-forward fashion, you'd agree. Pink cowboy hats, metallic boots, space glitter, and rhinestone-covered pasties were the outfit du jour for many of the attendees—often leading to cute but somewhat regrettable looks that felt almost too on-trend for the three-day affair. But Jiaras stressed there's no singular trend she looks back at and cringes about. It's all about feeling comfortable in what you're wearing and letting your personal style shine through.

It's important to acknowledge the fun, flirty fashion that emerges from the dusty haze of the Coachella Valley's polo grounds, and you have to be mindful of your shopping habits when it comes to festival season. Thankfully, most of Jiaras's fashion suggestions can be found at the thrift store or within your closet, something she heavily subscribes to. "The flea market, Poshmark, eBay auctions, and Depop are my best friends!" she said.

If you're looking to spice up your music-festival fashion this year, look no further. Below is your go-to packing guide for Coachella fashion this year, according to Jiaras, the Coachella veteran herself. Don't walk—run to grab these pieces before you regret not wearing them during this year's summer festival circuit.

While there are no wrong fashion choices at Coachella, Jiaras has one simple rule she repeats over and over: absolutely no open-toed sandals. Protect your feet in style while you're dancing the night away.

The sheer trend has no intention of going away this year, according to Jiaras. The influencer is expecting a ton of people to wear Instagram-famous brands like Fancì to the festival, but honestly, any cute sheer top or dress will do. Plus, you won't be bothered by overly constricting materials and fabrics.

When you're partying in the middle of the desert, one of your biggest priorities should be comfort and breathability. Lightweight knits and colorful crochets should be high up on your packing list for their functionality and fashion statement. Pro tip: always check the beach cover-ups before spending hundreds on an intricately interwoven dress.

It's no surprise that spring and summer's biggest jewelry trend is on Jiaras's list of trends she's predicting will dominate Coachella fashion this year. She cited chunky metallic jewelry and bulky belts as major sources of inspiration for her outfits this year. The smartest Coachella purchase is something you'll wear long after the festival finishes.

Although she's embarrassed to admit she doesn't have a clue what she's wearing yet, Jiaras dished that she's been leaning into fun Western aesthetics and boho-inspired fashion pieces for a toned-down cool-girl look in reaction to the over-the-top maximalist pieces from 2022. If you're looking to lean into cozy, easy outfits for music festivals this year, look no further.

Glitter on your body can only take you so far. Lean into party aesthetics for nighttime sets and exclusive after-parties that overtake Indio throughout the final two weeks in April and beyond. Once you're done at Coachella, any of these options can seamlessly blend into your wardrobe for an extra-AF night out on the town.