The racy world of music festival fashion is all about nipple covers, hotpants and flashing the flesh

GONE are the days of flannel shirts and Doc Martens. The racy new world of music festival fashion is all about nipple covers, hotpants and flashing the flesh.

Kylie and Kendall Jenner ruled Coachella in perfectly styled designer outfits. Picture: Splash News

OFF-the-shoulder tops, boho headbands, maxi skirts with thigh-high splits, glitter body make-up and nipple covers (yes, really) — this is how the A-list dresses at music festivals.

From Laneway to Coachella, festivals have become mini runways. So are festivals becoming more about fashion than music even if you’re not in the VVVIP section?

Muses of festival style include Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Shanina Shaik, Vanessa Hudgens, Katy Perry and Kate Bosworth, who inspire what crowds wear from Coachella to Laneway.

Kendall Jenner, centre, pictured with her posse including Hailey Baldwin (left) and singer Fergie, right, at Coachella last year. Picture: Splash News

Tiger Mist designer Alana Pallister showed off her festival style at the recent Rainbow Serpent Festival, a four-day electronic festival held at Lexton in rural Victoria.

Her outfits included psychedelic-inspired hotpants, tops with tribal shoulders, crop tops, teamed with her hair done in dreadlocks, even sporting Bowie-esque Ziggy Stardust lightening bolt make-up across her face. And heart-shaped nipple covers.

“Festival fashion is not about going on trend — it’s more about how you’re feeling,” Pallister says.

She is a festival pro. After attending the week-long Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, last year, she has designed a festival-inspired line called Gyps Collective for Tiger Mist (the brand will dress ‘it’ girls at Coachella including Sahara Ray in April).

“I had a number of outfits planned for each day and throughout the festival I kept meeting designers who were selling their clothes.

“The more you do the easier it comes.”

“On the last day (at Rainbow), which is Mad Monday, everybody goes really crazy. So I covered my whole body in glitter and then I wore a leather rainbow vest. I had a Gyps Collective headscarf and jewels on, sequined shorts and nipple covers.

“I was pretty much naked, yeah, and it was quite liberating. It’s all about having fun and letting go and being in the moment.”

Cara Delevingne, far right, wearing a mask, with Suki Waterhouse, centre, at Glastonbury. Picture: Splash News

Fireworks singer Katy Perry sported a bold ensemble at Coachella. Picture: Splash News

And with the Laneway Festival touring nationally this month, what are Pallister’s tips for dressing to impress?

“I think stay away from black. I went to Laneway last year and everybody tended to wear high-waisted shorts with a white T-shirt or a plain singlet.

“It’s time to have some fun and get out there and enjoy it. It’s a perfect time to delve into your own style.

“I think go colour. I’m all about colour this year.”

HOW BANDS DRESS FOR FESTIVALS

Singer Yannis Philippakis, of British band Foals, is known for wearing printed shirts and bomber jackets (Foals played at Falls Festival here in December and are also on the line-up for Coachella, Reading and Leeds).

“I actually don’t wear jackets that much on stage because I overheat,” Philippakis says.

“That’s more something for off stage wear. I’d like to wear more layers.

“It just gets really, really hot on stage. I try and wear a sort of minimal amount, in a way. I don’t put much thought into what we wear on stage. It’s just about comfort rather than anything else.”

Stylish UK band Foals, including singer Yannis Philippakis (second from right) wearing a printed shirt. Picture: Supplied

And while their preppy British style could be mistaken for the work of a stylist worthy of Made In Chelsea, Philippakis prefers DIY.

“There was one photo shoot we did (last year) where we used a stylist but that was probably the first time in about five years that we’ve used a stylist,” Philippakis says.

“We usually just wear whatever we’re wearing and try and make sure it’s something we haven’t worn before.

“A lot of the time when we do photo shoots it’s off the cuff, like with a friend, and we’d be hanging out and just do them (shoots).”

Oscar-winning actor (and Thirty Second to Mars singer) Jared Leto is possibly the only celeb who could pull of teaming zebra print, flannel and side-boob at Coachella. Picture: Splash News

Foals’ latest album What Went Down has been a soundtrack to the Aussie summer.

So what is Philippakis’ go-to song for the sunny season?

“A song like Bitch Tree has got this kind of west coast flavour to it. I guess My Number is pretty summery and Out of the Woods.

“Songs that have some sort of optimism and energy to them. No one wants to really listen to some grim ballad in summer, do they?”

Laneway Festival, featuring Beach House, Grimes, Violent Soho and Flume, is touring nationally this month.

See lanewayfestival.com.

Originally published as The racy world of music festival fashion is all about nipple covers, hotpants and flashing the flesh