June - the long awaited month of Summer - brings with it lovely long days, lots of festivals and oh so coveted holidays. With Isle of Wight and Glastonbury opening this month there is no better time to get your festival looks sorted. To get you in the mood we have caught up with one of our favourite bloggers - the award winning luxury travel and fashion blogger and former Elle fashion editor - Bonnie Rakhit of TheStyleTraveller.com. From Beyonce at Coachella to sunny California we talk travel adventures and festival styling tips. We hope you get inspired to start planning (and packing). =)
- You just came back from your trip to sunny California, what did you enjoy the most?
I love California, it’s my favourite part of the States. Obviously the weather is amazing all year round but I really love how they’ve embraced the healthy lifestyle. Exercise and delicious organic, fresh healthy food is such an integral part of LA life, I think it’s great!
- You also went to the Coachella Music Festival, what were the highlights?
Beyoncé Beyoncé Beyoncé! Haha only joking, it’s a really amazing and beautiful festival set within the dramatic backdrop of Palm Springs. You’re in a desert, with stunning mountains all around and the festival itself is within the walls of a Polo club, so areas like the VIP section are on gorgeous lawned terraces filled with flowers. There are so many art installations and the fashion and festival outfits are so boho and beautifully put together. It’s really a fashionistas festival.
- You look absolutely stunning in your California travel posts! Could you please share some festival styling tips with us?
Coachella festival is all about fashion, style and how many outfit changes you can fit into one day! But in this heat your clothes will get ruined, especially if there is a desert wind in the air. Wear light airy breathable clothing, or affordable festival styles that you don’t mind throwing away after the festival. You can get some fantastic outfits on Asos, Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing which are super affordable. And layer on the boho jewellery of course!
Wear flat shoes. The site is vast and you’ll be walking around all day. Keep it comfy yet stylish. Take water, sunscreen and sunglasses. Scarves come in very handy, they can act as a mouth barrier if it’s dusty, a hat for shade, a throw to sit on and a towel too.
Take lots of cash, drinks and food are expensive and ATM machine queues long. The main acts are on in the evening but activities do start around lunch time. I’d recommend getting there around late afternoon.
It’s unlikely you’ll be staying on site, most people tend to stay in hotels and air b’n’b’s around the area, but they do book up super fast, sometimes a year in advance!
To get that quintessential ferris wheel shot, if you don’t want other people in your shot, stand at a distance quite far away from it and cover the crowds and little stalls (and drunk people) with your body filling the frame, it’s all about the crop. I love the golden hour - 4 pm sunlight - for a golden glow or sunset for a beautiful pink sky.
- What would you say are your summer travel essential?
Well being a blogger it’s my camera, laptop and iPhone always. But apart from that sunscreen, always! And I’m currently obsessed with flower crowns! It’s such a ‘thing’ if you’re heading to a festival.
- Do you have any upcoming trips, if so, where will your next adventure take you to?
I’m currently writing this from Ibiza, next week I head to Mykonos and the week after I’m on Safari in Kenya. It’s going to be intense but amazing. I’m really looking forward to going to Brazil and Peru in August too!
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