You know when you find an outfit that you just love and want to wear all the time? This is one of those outfits for me but unfortunately I don't have many upcoming occasions where this would be suitable! Nevertheless it was perfect for the Secret Garden Party teamed with a hella load of glitter and sequins on my face.
I've had this embellished smock dress for a while and love the flowy sleeves for a bohemian festival vibe. Teamed with some leather tan boots, bag and jewellery, you're good to go as the dress does the rest. It's effortlessly stylish and super comfy which is what you want if you're a little curvier and aren't so confident about baring flesh at a festival.
Have you been embracing festival fashion this year?
Shall I let you into the worst kept secret of Cambridgeshire? Every July on the outskirts of Huntingdon, there's a four day party like no other... That party is of course The Secret Garden Party.
If you're a long time reader you'll know this isn't my first year in the garden, in fact this year marked my 8th consecutive year of attending which just goes to show how marvellous this place is. You can never get bored of this festival with its ever changing themes and frolicking.
The theme for 2016 was TheGardeners Guide to the Galaxy, bringing Sci Fi art and expression to the festival which a lot of gardeners embraced wholeheartedly with silver costumes, psychedelic head dresses and much much more. The festival is a spectacle of gloriously adorned human beings who have come to the garden to escape the realities of the rat race and everyday life.
If you're new to the garden or haven't had time to get some glad rags, fear not as the festival has many a garment you can purchase to bring out you inner gardener. A particular favourite of mine is Rosa Bloom. The sequins entice my inner magpie.
You can also have festival face paint and make-up done whilst you're here by the talented artists like It's In Your Dreams and the like or you adorn your own face with glitter. The choice is yours.
The music at SGP is an eclectic mix ranging from Drum n Bass, Soul, Dance, Indie, Acoustic, Cheese and much much more. Acts such as Air, Temper Trap, Maribou State, Stanton Warriors and Caribou were just some of the artists to grace the various stages of the garden. I was particularly stoked to see Box of Light performing at the Where the Wild Things Are stage on the Friday with Helen looking dreamy as ever and belting out some awesome tunes with the band.
There's not just bands at this festival, oh no. There's beautiful dancers, mobile discos and sing a longs for everyone to get involved with and remember - you're not here as a spectator, you're here to get involved no matter how weird and wonderful it may be... As well as music there are craft areas, mazes, races, paint fights, yoga, spa sanctuaries, talks.... I could go on but every year it changes. There's lots of hidden places around the festival so keep your eyes peeled for the mysteries and enchanted areas.
Where else will you find a field of people on space hoppers jumping around to House of Pain? Expect the unexpected in the garden and be prepared to unleash your inner child. This is one of the main reasons I love the garden. It takes you away for the rig-moral of normal life and reminds you not to stress so much. It's a place to unwind and let off some well earnt steam.
Everyone is super friendly and ready to party. Having bumped into fellow gardeners from previous years, it's like greeting and old friend that you'll inevitably have a dance and a warm beer with. You'll easily make friends with your dancing neighbour or next to the couple in the crowd at the front. Don't be afraid to say hello to strangers. We don't bite!
Another aspect of the festival I love is the food. I think about food at the best of times but when you're surrounded by tents, campers and stalls selling such delicious grub, you can't help but be mesmerised - there is just SO MUCH CHOICE! From afternoon tea to Mac n Cheese, burgers to desserts there are so many taste sensations. This year I indulged with ostrich burger, pulled pork and of course pie and mash. All the carbs! The cocktails are pretty sweet too, as well as highly alcoholic. A couple of them blew my socks off and that's saying a lot coming from a seasoned drinker.
The atmosphere in the garden is something really special. Having attended a variety of festivals in my time from Glastonbury to V Festival, there's none quite like the Secret Garden Party. The vibe is a friendly and welcoming one with plenty of silliness to make you laugh. Sitting in amongst the crowd watching acts on the main stage, you can easily get lost in watching other gardeners with their bizarre attire, amusing props and daft dancing.
I love this festival and I've not even touched the tip of the iceberg with what you can do here. I for one have partaken in naked knitting, mud wrestling, sonic yoga and much more over the years but that is another story... To experience SGP you need to go for yourself and even then your experience won't be the same as anyone else's which I think is pretty special. What I can guarantee you though is a sense of euphoria over the four days and the feeling of freedom - something that nowadays as adults I don't think we get to experience as much as we should. You will come away from this magical place feeling revived and mentally cleansed. Exhausted? Yes - but worth it? F*ck yeah!
I have major festival blues this week. Sunday marked another year of The Secret Garden Party and every year I feel a little lost once it's over. What do I do now? Do I really have to return to adulting?
Whilst I wonder what the bloody f*ck I'm doing with my life, I do love that SGP is a place you can fully express your style and individuality. You can be a glam festival gal or wear the most garish thing you own - it doesn't matter and I can guarantee you that you look cool as f*ck regardless of your style and taste. Normal clothes are just boring in the garden.
I love these sunglasses. They're like marmite and most people I've asked think I either look like a martian or John Lennon wearing them. Either way I like them and that's the main thing. They're a quirky style and fun - what is not to love?
As for my dress, this is a DIY ensemble by yours truly. Fashioned from a maxi, this dress has been re-invented into a bardot and how could I not add some pom pom tasselling? That ruffle was screaming out for some pom pom-ness.
And of course no festival get up is complete without some sequin make-up am I right? I actually did this myself and I'm tempted to do a tutorial for you savvy festival goers. It's shockingly easy and a lot cheaper than having it done by somebody else.
So, my point with this post is to turn and face the strange. Look it in the eye and embrace it. Whats the worst that could happen? Your style is fabulous so don't follow the crowd and be happy in what you wear.
Yippee I've finally got around to putting up my Secret Garden Party vlog! I was going to write a full blown post on it but with mixed feelings about this year due to things that can't be helped i.e weather, I decided to let the vlog do the talking.
I adore Secret Garden Party, with this being my 7th year in a row but I will admit without trying to slate it that in my opinion this wasn't the best year but still a magical and enchanting place to be a part of non the less. Check out my posts from 2013 and 2014 for more of a write up.
Anyway enjoy the vlog and let me know what you think!
Hello lovelies. Apologies for this not going up on Friday but I've been struggling to get back into the swing of normality after flying back home Tuesday and I'm only just settling now.
Anyway onto the interesting bit. Whilst back in the UK for this little wedding we had...(post will be up at some point), Chris and I along with some awesome friends went to the Secret Garden Party. This was my sixth year in the garden as I'm rather addicted to this magical place of silliness and shenanigans. It's not your bog standard festival of warm beer and bands but more and explosion of all the arts where there's no room for sensibility and normality. Goodbye to conforming for four days because this is a serious party!
Apologies for camera quality but I only took my little point and shoot camera with me. My DSLR was too bulky and didn't want to risk breaking it!
Every year the lake stage changes as does the theme of the festival and this years theme was "Beyond the Yellow Brick Road" hence the Emerald City Stage. The stage has been many things over the years I've been such as a pirate ship, giant dragon fly, Tower of Babel etc.. You can get a boat out to the stage and dance to DJ sets all day which is pretty awesome!
I also managed to get snapped at the Village Hall area of the festival this year, dancing and doing the conga. It sounds weird but I'm mega chuffed to be in the festival pictures as I've been wanting to be snapped for so long. It only took my 6 years! Anyway The Village Hall is one of my favourite areas as its adorned with bunting and I love watching/participating in weddings, giant jenga, naked knitting and village fashion shows. It's geek chic and foolishness at it's finest and makes me feel right at home.
Bumped into one of our friends from the wedding walking through the crowd with our picture! Hi Ryan!
Friday was day 2 and probably the maddest day for us. I remembered to do some outfit shots too! It was bloody boiling but the thin kaftan was a god send for stopping me burning. I really fancied treating myself to some face art this year so headed over to the Secret Emporium to the In Your Dreams stall for some glitter and sequins. I love how it turned out and stayed on until the next morning! Of course it was obligatory to grab a cocktail and I have to say they were really tasty! The bar staff were properly trained in the art of cocktail making so they tasted delish.
We managed to get onto the lake stage which took a bit of queuing but we finally got punted over and had a dance to a real eclectic music mix which was right up my street.
We also visited the Guerilla Science for some curious installatons; the creepy crawlies catching our eyes! Here you can listen to talks on all sorts from sex, the defiintion of cheating, sensory speed dating and life drawing. A real explosion of the senses.
The main stage that evening had Clean Bandit playing who were quite frankly amaaazing and I didn't get any pics as I was too busy dancing!
Feeling a little worse for wear on Saturday we ploughed on. I donned my Face Lace that day but also managed to rescue some of the sequins from my face art the day before! I think it looked pretty cool together and eyelash glue seemed to stick the sequins to my face pretty well! I love love love my Miss Selfridge jacket I bought last year and think it's perfect for a bit of festival hippy chic.
We watched Foxes on the main stage that night and watched some crazy football /zorb ball-esque malarky going on before fireworks and more partying which I couldn't catch due to my camera and phone dying! This also meant day 4 wasn't documented but I hope you get a general idea what I go up to.
I can't really do this festival justice when it comes to photographs or writing. There is so much going on morning to night and to really get a feel for it you have to experience it for yourself. Even I can't get round the whole festival. There are always areas you will miss but equally little gems you will discover. The food stalls are amazing with tastes from all over the globe oozing with flavour, the spectacles you come across are bizarre and wonderful and the festival fashion is mesmerizing yet ridiculous all the same. I could go on but I'd be spoiling the secrets of the garden. For me this is my place to let go for four days every year, be as silly and fun as possible and totally care free. If this sounds up your street then this festival is definitely for you.
If you want to see my mini vlog (I can't vlog) then click the video below!
Are you doing any festivals this year? What did you wear and what did you get up to?
