The Best Plus-Size Festival Fashion Looks For Every Type Of Music Venue

Festival season is back and more jam-packed than ever, with destination-worthy lineups across the country. With venues as varied as the genres, festival fashion is a meld of self-expression and the overall vibe. But the outfit also has to be practical — whatever you wear has to hold up over long days of navigating the festival grounds, which could range from mud to sand, and dancing to your favorite acts. Finding outfits that are both cute and functional can take some more planning as is. But, if you are a plus-size shopper, even more so, because you can’t necessarily just pop into any store to pick something up day-of. With this in mind, ahead, I’ve rounded up some plus-size festival fashion inspo, according to the types of music venues, so you can get started on your shopping ahead of summer.

I’m heading to Just Like Heaven in California this month, set in the parklands surrounding the Rose Bowl. For any festival taking place on grass, I am a strong proponent of wearing dark bottoms — grass stains are no joke, and you can’t just dust them off the way you can with minor dirt from a desert festival. 

Abercrombie plus-size denim has become a go-to for me, and their shorts are just as good. This pair in their Curve Love fit (which accounts for the difference between waist and hip sizes) are some of the best cutoffs I’ve ever tried. The relaxed vibe in washed black denim is exactly what I was looking for, and I love how they fit. I am between sizes and decided to err on the larger size for these, and I love the looser fit. The next size down is more fitted but just as comfortable, so if you are also between sizes, choose based on whether you want the fit to be tight or baggy.

I love a graphic tee for a more casual festival ensemble, and this one from RCA Public Label, made in collaboration with the Los Angeles art house Subconscious Junkyard, is perfect if you don’t want to pick a band tee. (It’s hard to pledge allegiance to just one band when you have a lot of favorites at the same festival!) The tank comes in three different colorways, too. 

To add something extra to the classic graphic tank-and-cutoffs combo, I completed the look with the Stuart Weitzman platform combat boots and T.W.I.N. (That’s What I Need) mesh apron skirt (in size 2, equivalent to L-2XL).

For festivals on the water (like Hangout Fest on the Gulf Shore) or any festival-adjacent parties where you might want to get in the water, incorporating swimwear is a no-brainer. There are some great plus-size swim pieces available this season, including this scarlet snake-print one-piece from Nomads Swimwear. It’s incredibly comfortable, and it’s a brand you can feel good about shopping: It carries sizes XXS to 5X and is woman-owned and ethically made with sustainable materials. Its swimwear, in particular, is crafted from a high-tech biodegradable polyamide yarn, which, per Nomads, “quickly decomposes once entering the landfill without compromising the durability and quality of the fabric.” Bonus: It is reversible, which is perfect for getting the most out of your carry-on space if you are traveling for a festival.

I paired the swimsuit with these excellent rosette-adorned beach pants from ASOS, which are even better in person. For a hot summer day, this would probably be my outfit; for a cooler one, I love the look of adding the matching Nomads longline coverup. I actually turned its tie belt into a makeshift headband, but if you want something more substantial, Nomads offers a coordinating headscarf as well. 

I completed the look with a pair of comfortable platform espadrille slides from Dolce Vita. I love that they’ve been upping their wide-width shoe assortment lately which has all the cuteness of their regular line, with none of the toe pinching those of us with wider feet so often have to endure!

If you are attending a city center music festival this season, there is one big practical consideration to keep in mind: making sure your shoes don’t melt. Yes, I mean that literally — remember the fast-fashion Mary Janes that melted into the hot pavement at the Lovers & Friends festival in 2022? All to say: This is not the time to bargain hunt for footwear!

For a fashion-forward pair of sneakers that will actually hold up, I cannot recommend Buffalo Shoes enough. I wore a platform pair to a very walking-heavy day of shows and dancing at Governor’s Ball last year, and my feet still felt the best they ever have after a festival. This pair of chunky sneakers are almost sold out in the holographic silver color, but they still have the same style in other colorways, including a fun lilac option. If you love shine as much as I do, this chunky boot might be the one to go with. 

For my outfit, I continued the theme of staying cool with this lightweight smocked dress from Target’s Wild Fable line, one of my favorite destinations for on-trend plus-size pieces at very affordable prices (this dress is under $30!). I went with white for maximum heat reflection, but this silhouette also comes in black and brown if you're more concerned about stains than overheating. 

I completed the look with these delightfully over-the-top Swaroski sunglasses. The lenses are dark enough to protect your eyes, and the way they sparkle in the sun is unmatched — a guaranteed compliment magnet!