Tiered full-length maxi skirts whirl about. Floppy hats crowd a sea of festival-goers along with oversized straw hats to catch major shade. Men with striped tanks and peanut cargo shorts surf the lemonade stand line on a hot day at the fairgrounds.
Those are just a few examples of sights to be expected on a heated day at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The bohemian grunge styles of the city flood over to the tourists and attendees looking to join in with the second line Indians and freely dancing crowd movers appearing not to have a care in the world.
There are definitely a few things one should not forget when casually dressing for Jazz Fest, as it may make the difference between being fashionably fatigued and keeping a style-savvy customized cool demeanor.
First, remember that it’s hot and pack yourself an SPF 50 cream in those cargo pants with the mesh pockets and adjustable straps. The Prana brand Mojo short in camouflage has breathable, fast-drying fabrics, and it can be found along with the Prana Bronson short with a cotton/spandex blend for stretchable movement at Massey Outfitters. They’re perfect for outdoor festival occasions.
If its frilly dresses and lightweight sheer tanks you’re looking for, the charming Langford Market Boutique in the New Orleans French Quarter district is all you need. This boutique carries gypsy-inspired jewelry and bold, jewel-toned colorways of wrap shirts, dresses, flared skirts, baby-doll style sundresses and more. This shop’s prices are rather affordable and favorable to a summertime budget, and its merchandise assortment is rich in earth tone colors of the most recent prints and innovative feminine styles.
Even though you want to keep your jewelry light and simple as not to attract sweat beads, it doesn’t mean your outfit can’t reflect class and distinction. Jolie and Elizabeth brand seersucker dresses are perfect for walking along tented areas or resting in the coolness of the concessions building, but be careful to repel the dirt that sweeps along the fairground’s grassy floors.
When considering bearing toes for this tropic quest, the main question is not how cool to keep yourself but how much dirt you’d like to clean from between your toes at the day’s end. It does get pretty filthy while much fun and daiquiris are being had, so light jeans and cut-off cropped T-shirts with earthy feathered and beaded jewelry might be more suitable.
Whatever your choice of festival garb, make sure the pocketbook and coin purse are safely secured, as many taunting buys will be available in the market place. While the hand-dyed and screen printed scarves are always a valuable find, the one-of a kind metal and glass crafted jewelry supplied by local designers will be jaw-dropping and in limited supply.
There will also be plenty opportunities to purchase really cool specialized prints for the festival as well as festival gear that can be changed into on site including hats, tie-dye maxi skirts and beautiful ethnic printed dresses.
Be prepared for a heat wave of sand dust, indigenous design, Cajun aromas intertwined in native rhythms and sweet songs under the grassroots, down-home daze of the New Orleans atmosphere. Join the Southern gumbo of visual styles and flavors, because this year’s Jazz Fest fashion will be hotter than cayenne pepper.
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Contact Al Burks at [email protected]