Three things your summer festival dress must do for you

Ah summer. The smell of cut grass in your nose. The taste of icy cocktails in your tum tum. The light breeze swirling round your bottle tanned legs (newly shaven) and festival face on.

YAAAAAAAAAAY.

I used to think I was too high maintenance for festivals. Then I went to one. And I copped on a bit. And now I LOVE going to them and look forward to them like no other event of the year. Do you know what’s very equalising? Peeing in a portaloo. Sharing out toilet roll. Washing in a sink with cold water and having baby wipe showers in between.

The result of all this back to basic-ness is an amazing atmosphere of togetherness. Of being at one with the musical earth. Of not worrying about your make-up or your hair, because it’s more important to have clean hands and a pint between your fingers.

A few weeks ago online fashion site JD Williams asked me to take a look at their summer dress collection and choose a dress to showcase. I went with this little number below, as it jumped out at me as being fun, eye-catching and oh so festival ready.

They also kindly offered shoes to match and I couldn’t resist these boots from their ankle boot collection, mainly because I need a new pair (I live in ankle boots) but also because I loved the colour of these and the cowboy type design.

The boots are fabulous. You know a good boot when you smell one. (Literally, the smell of leather nearly knocked me. Sorry vegans). They are really comfy on and they’re a wide fit, so that’s good to know for you all you fat foots. (Like myself).

I’d ordered the dress in a size 10. It was a very generous 10. Too generous. So generous I had to get it taken in! So, if you are ordering, I’d recommend you maybe choose a size smaller, depending on the style you’re looking at.

When I had everything sorted and the dress to my size liking (let’s face it, getting ANYTHING taken in makes you feel like a skinny bi-atch) I got all dressed up and took some photos for you. Don’t laugh. Modelling is really hard work.

 

 

 

Actually we took these photos five minutes before we headed to Vantastival, a boutique festival taking place at Beaulieu House, Co. Louth which was the best of fun and meant I got to try out the dress to festival standards.

Here are my top three things a festival dress needs to do and how this JD number shaped up.

1.Be Eye-catching

Do you know how many lovely girls there are at festivals? Millions. Be lovely too. This did the job with his neon-ness floralness. Loved it.

2. Be Comfortable

I usually choose fashion over comfort, but since becoming a Mammy, I’m been having a word with myself. There are lots of discomforts at festivals, from making your bed on rock hard ground to wakening up in a swelter shed when the sun shines on your tent in the AM. The least you can do for yourself is be comfortable in your clobber. At first I thought this dress might be just a bit longer than I wanted, I like my mini dresses, but as the day wore on, I loved the swish of it as I walked and realised this was the comfort factor I’ve been having a word with myself about. It was also loose around the tummy which was great for the beer and burger belly. (Ahem).

3. Be Practical

By practical I mean no playsuits at festivals. Nothing that buttons underneath. And something that covers you up and means no need for sunscreen. I did need help with zipping this up at the back, but once it was on, it did all of the above.

Here’s a picture of inside the tent as we rocked out with all the other festival goers. It may have been dark, it may have been late, but I still. felt. great. And isn’t that what fashion, style and festival wear is all about?

The yellow print floral dress retails at £20 and the Sole Diva grey studded ankle boots cost £45.

*Disclosure: I received these products to showcase on LadyNicci.com, however this is not a paid for post.