The music festival, Coachella, has been around since 1999 and started by having acts based on artistry rather than popularity. But Coachella has quickly turned into something much more than just a music festival. It still prides itself on having indie, alternative, and EDM artists, but the festival has grown to be the top spot for celebrity sightings. Considering it's located in Indio, California, otherwise known as the middle of a desert, I still don't understand how celebrities are wearing pleather and appear to not be sweating in any photo. But with them all being in one spot, Coachella has turned into the event to see the latest festival styles, which brings the question of whether Coachella is the festival of music or fashion.
Coachella 2016 headliners included, LCD Soundsystem, Guns N’ Roses, and Calvin Harris. Besides headliners, the festival had artists, like Ellie Goulding, G-Eazy, Of Monsters and Men, Disclosure, Halsey, James Bay, Sia, The 1975, and many more. In addition to these artists, acts brought out special guests, such as A$AP Rocky bringing out Kanye West, Disclosure bringing out Sam Smith and Lorde, and Zedd bringing out Ke$ha.
But the audience was just as jam-packed as the lineup. Celebrities in attendance included Queen of Coachella, Vanessa Hudgens and boyfriend, Austin Butler, Kendall Jenner, Taylor Swift, Kylie Jenner and Tyga, models, Bella Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio, Katy Perry and boyfriend, Orlando Bloom, Pretty Little Liars stars, Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson, Tyler Blackburn, and Troian Bellisario, and so many more.
With so many celebrities in attendance, it’s hard not to pay attention to what they’re wearing. Fashion has become such a huge part of Coachella that Vanessa Hudgens has even been named the Queen of Coachella for her iconic festival outfits. Coachella is becoming more and more about the celebrities’ outfits and less about the music. This year, I watched three performances from Coachella: James Bay, Halsey, and the 1975. I ended up spending more time reading articles about Coachella fashion and looking at the festival-goers’ outfits than I did watching the livestream. The fact of the matter is that something that was so music-based in the past has now become an expensive, boho fashion show.
