There are those moments when your closet suddenly feels completely different. As soon as the first festivals are on the agenda, I always feel like revisiting my summer wardrobe. Not because I need completely new outfits, but because I enjoy combining existing favorites in a different way.
I notice that many women then immediately start looking for the perfect festival outfit. Pinterest is full of fringe, cowboy hats, and glitter, while I believe that the most beautiful outfits are often much simpler. For me, a good festival look isn't about incorporating as many trends as possible into one outfit. It's about balance. An outfit in which you recognize yourself, in which you feel comfortable, and which moves effortlessly with you all day long.
Perhaps that's also why I've been such a fan of western boots for years. Not just during festivals, but actually all summer long.
Why western boots never seem to go out of style
Some shoes are popular for a season and then disappear from the streets. Western boots seem to do exactly the opposite. Every spring you see them again, under long dresses, denim shorts, linen trousers, and flowy skirts. Yet they never feel like a trend you HAVE to follow.
I think that's because western boots have something timeless about them. They add character to an outfit without demanding all the attention. Especially when the rest of your clothes are understated, they come into their own.
That's why I almost always build an outfit from the shoes up. Not the other way around. A good pair of boots sets the tone for an outfit for me. Only then do I look at which dress, pants, or accessories match.
That might sound very simple, but it does make your wardrobe much more versatile. Instead of buying something new for every occasion, you keep discovering new combinations with the same favorite items.
How to put together a festival outfit without it becoming too busy?
A festival is perhaps the place where you dare to do a little more than usual. Yet I often see people thinking that a festival outfit mainly has to be striking. Whereas an outfit actually becomes stronger if you choose one or two eye-catchers and keep the rest simple.
That's how I like to combine things myself.
For example, choose a beautiful maxi dress made of cotton or linen and wear a special pair of boots underneath. Or combine denim shorts with an oversized white blouse, the sleeves of which you casually roll up. Add a leather shoulder bag, some subtle jewelry, and sunglasses, and your outfit is practically complete.
Precisely because the base remains understated, the materials and details are given ample space. To me, that feels much more stylish than an outfit where everything simultaneously vies for attention.
Why natural materials always work
If you open my closet, you'll find few synthetic fabrics. I almost always reach for natural materials such as linen, cotton, leather, and denim. Not only because they are beautiful, but also because they are comfortable to wear on warm days.
Linen actually only gets more beautiful as you wear it. Denim gains character the more you wear it. And leather lives with you. That, perhaps, is what I find most beautiful about good materials: they become part of your story.
Perhaps that also fits my way of looking at fashion. I'd rather buy something that I'll enjoy for years than five things that will disappear into the back of the closet after one season.
A dress with western boots? Absolutely.
Many women wonder if a dress goes well with western boots. My answer is actually always the same: absolutely.
In fact, I think a dress and a pair of boots enhance each other. A flowing maxi dress gets a bit more edge, and a simple midi dress immediately looks less prim.
I prefer natural fabrics such as linen, cotton, or airy viscose. Not only because they are comfortable to wear on warm days, but also because they move beautifully when you walk. That gives an outfit a relaxed, summery feel.
I also like to keep the colors calm. Think ecru, sand, terracotta, olive green, old rose, or light blue. Colors that are easy to combine and won't go out of style after one season.
Precisely when the base is understated, your shoes can stand out.
Which accessories complete a festival outfit?
Accessories, for me, are the finishing touch. Not the starting point.
I often see outfits where everything demands attention at once: a striking hat, large earrings, multiple necklaces, a busy bag, and eye-catching shoes. Of course, that's fine if that's entirely your style, but personally, I prefer a bit more calm.
A beautiful leather bag, a few subtle gold pieces of jewelry, and sunglasses are often enough for me. Maybe a scarf in your hair or a braided belt, but that's usually where it stops.
I believe that an outfit becomes stronger if not every component demands attention. It's precisely the contrasts that make a look interesting.
Comfort might be the most important part of your outfit
No matter how beautiful an outfit is, if your feet hurt after two hours, the fun quickly disappears.
A festival day often starts in the late morning and only ends late in the evening. You walk more than you think, stand a lot, and constantly switch surfaces. Grass, sand, stones, or a wooden deck; your feet endure a lot.
That's precisely why I believe shoes shouldn't just be beautiful, but above all, comfortable. A good fit and quality materials truly make a difference. You might not notice it immediately when you put the shoes on, but you will at the end of the day.
I also believe that comfort and style are not mutually exclusive at all. In fact, the most beautiful outfit is often the one you don't have to think about all day.
Why a unique shoe is often enough
I'm generally not a big fan of outfits that are entirely composed according to the latest trends. It's precisely the combination of timeless basics with one special item that appeals to me.
That could be a vintage bag, a beautiful piece of jewelry you brought back from a trip, or a special pair of boots. Such an item naturally attracts attention, without making your outfit look busy.
Perhaps that's also why I've always been so drawn to products with a story. Not because someone else has them too, but precisely because they are just a little bit different.
An outfit, for me, doesn't become special because you wear a lot, but because you wear something that truly suits you.
Which festival outfit suits you?
The fun thing about festivals is perhaps that no two are alike. The atmosphere of an intimate food festival is very different from that of a multi-day music festival, and your outfit should match that. Yet I find myself constantly returning to the same basic principles. Not because it's safe, but because I know it works.
For a bohemian festival
For a bohemian festival, I immediately think of natural fabrics, loose silhouettes, and warm colors. A long cotton or linen dress, a leather bag, and a pair of boots already form a complete outfit for me. You don't need much when the materials speak for themselves.
For a city festival
In the city, I often opt for a slightly more tailored look. Denim jeans or nice shorts combined with an oversized blouse or a simple T-shirt give a more minimalistic look. Precisely because the base is calm, one item can stand out a bit more.
For a beach festival
On warm days, I like to keep it light. A linen set, a loose-fitting blouse, or a short dress are ideal then. Add a nice pair of boots and your outfit immediately feels dressed up, without having to sacrifice comfort.
Ultimately, it's not about which style you choose. It's about clothes that suit you. That might sound like a cliché, but I think the most beautiful outfits are always the ones in which someone visibly feels comfortable.
Why I prefer to invest in one special item
When I look back at my own wardrobe, I see that the pieces I wear most often are almost always the same ones. Not because they are the most striking, but because they have quality and combine with everything.
That also applies to shoes.
I'd rather buy one pair that I'll enjoy for years than multiple pairs that will disappear into the back of the closet after one season. Perhaps that's also why I started Kelim Boots. I wanted to create something that isn't dependent on trends, but can be worn again every season.
I personally select the vintage kelims I use for this in Morocco. Each rug has its own colors, patterns, and history. Then they are handcrafted in Valverde del Camino into a new pair of boots, so no two pairs are ever the same. That craftsmanship and small-scale production still form the basis of Bravas.
But honestly, I hope you don't think after reading this blog: I need new shoes.
I mainly hope that you look at your own wardrobe with different eyes. That you discover how many beautiful combinations are already hanging in your closet and that you realize that one special item is sometimes enough to complete an outfit.
Perhaps that is ultimately my favorite form of style: not constantly buying more, but choosing more consciously. For clothes you love to wear, for materials that age beautifully, and for pieces that still feel like yourself even in a few years.
Ultimately, it's about your style
Perhaps that is the most important message I want to convey to you. A beautiful festival outfit doesn't start with the latest trend or a list of must-haves. It starts with clothes in which you feel good.
Therefore, dare to choose quality over quantity. For natural materials that only become more beautiful the more you wear them. For colors that you can endlessly combine and for shoes that will make you happy not only today but also in five years' time.
I believe that style is personal. It doesn't have to be perfect, and it certainly doesn't have to look like everyone else's. It's precisely the outfits with something unique about them that stick with me. A favorite linen dress, a vintage leather bag, or a special pair of boots that no one else has. These are the items that give a wardrobe character.
Festivals, in my opinion, are the perfect place to experiment with this. Not by combining as many trends as possible, but by discovering what truly suits you. Perhaps you wear a long dress with boots, or perhaps denim shorts with an oversized blouse. There is no right or wrong, as long as your outfit feels like an extension of yourself.
That is also the idea behind Bravas. I don't design collections for one season, but for women who consciously choose quality, craftsmanship, and products with character.
Whether you're going to a music festival for a weekend this summer, visiting a food festival, or simply enjoying a sunny evening on a terrace, I mainly hope that you choose an outfit that you enjoy looking at in the mirror. Because ultimately, that is the most beautiful form of style: not wearing what everyone else wears, but wearing what makes you feel good.