Summer Looks Inspired by Pitchfork Music Festival

By Christina Oehler on July 25, 2014

The sound of electronic bass drops mixed with acoustic guitar chords is audible from blocks away. As you approach the park, a cloud of smoke sits atop the mass of people inside the grounds. Welcome to Pitchfork, the neo-hippie, Midwestern music festival that has all indie music fans enthralled with the eccentric beats and riffs of up and coming artists. Pitchfork music festival is an unofficial runway for the young adult fashion aficionados of the Chicagoland area, which takes the audience away from the bourgeois of school and work life and presents a rare environment that invites even the most radical closets to feel at home. Union Park is transformed  into an interactive work of art as men and women enter the grounds in vintage revivals and thrift store treasures. As I shuffled between shows and art stands, I saw an incredible array of outfits that made me slightly jealous I hadn’t thought of something as creative as them. Whether you went for the music, the party, or just to experience the atmosphere of the event, there were certain styles that distinctly fit the personality of the individual.

The Modern Yoko Ono

Floral patterns were a staple of this year’s festival. Although I was mostly interested in the unique combinations of pieces the women of pitchfork were wearing, I even saw plenty of men flaunting the floral look. Completed with some oversized, rounded vintage sunglasses and a floppy hat, this style was commonly seen throughout the park for many new-age hippie women and is one that would have made Yoko Ono proud.

The Frequent Festival Goer

Another common outfit, also using the floral pattern, is that of the frequent concert goer. Women like the ones pictured have mastered the art of practicality and style ingenuity at the same time. The loose patterned pants and easy tank are the perfect combination for the 70 degree weather of the weekend and also perfect for the breaks between shows where the only place to sit is on the muddy, grassy earth. Tie it in with unique facial jewels and a vintage belt and you have the perfect outfit for an all-day event.

  

The Neon Icon

What’s better than friends who share a love for indie music and classic summer fashion? I’m not referring to the Riff Raff album, but these ladies all knew how to perfectly sport the neon summer look. I loved the way they both took the same basic look and each added their own interesting spin on it. Bright colors and black will always be an easy and fun way to mix up a classic look. I loved the contrast between the loose top and tight V-neck as they both showed off a pair of edgy neon shorts. The fedora and hip sunglasses completed the look. I also loved the neon Hamsa matched with the neon headband contrasted with the black tank top in the second picture. All of these women knew how to perfectly incorporate neon color blocking against black.

   

The “Completely Out of the Box” Look

One of my personal favorites and unlike anything else I saw at the concert, this girl knew how to make jaws drop in her eccentric Kanye skater skirt. I give her so much credit for being able to pull this off perfectly, because how many people know how to rock a Kanye West skirt? Both rocked the tights and Docs look, and the purple hair definitely gave the outfit edge.

While my favorite music performances were that of St. Vincent and Neutral Milk Hotel, the highlight of my Pitchfork experience was watching the amazing creativity of the art form displayed all around me. I highly recommend this festival to any college student who loves fashion and indie music, and needs ideas for pioneering new styles. Rock on Pitchfork, and I can’t wait to see the amazing designer runway you’ll have next year.

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