Where to buy festival clothing in L.A.

Leave it to It Brit cult label Topshop to fulfill all your midriff-baring, floral-printed dreams this season. Think '90s, mod-rock-inspired statement pieces like gemstone-embellished denim, metallic platform wedges, retro sunglasses, embroidered bralettes and vintage ruffled blouses. When it comes to festival garb, Topshop is the Holy Grail. After all, the beloved brand has formerly teamed up with Coachella babe Kate Bosworth for an exclusive collection dubbed "Road to Coachella." This year, score a mini leather backpack for all your essentials, playful '60s-style round sunglasses, and metallic lace-up trainers—perfect with ripped jean shorts or a statement skirt.

A pilgrimage to Resurrection is practically a religious experience for vintage fashion fans, especially those with a penchant for pieces that are a little bit gypsy, a little bit avant-garde. The shop’s sweet spot is its festvial-ready collection of pieces from the swinging '60s and '70s—think: mini shift dresses from Pierre Cardin and Courrèges hanging alongside floaty boho frocks by Ossie Clark and Thea Porter. Be sure to check out owner Katy Rodriguez’s own fashion and jewelry lines, which have the same whimsical flair as her vintage pieces at a slightly more manageable price tag.

We’ve all been there—you find a vintage dress in the most perfect shade of cerulean silk, but with a ripped seam or set of ’80s puffed sleeves that render it all but unwearable. At Reformation, designer Yael Aflalo takes such diamonds in the rough and makes them shine, cutting vintage garb and surplus fabric into thoroughly modern silhouettes, from cropped blouses to breezy maxi dresses and flirty shorts. Amp up your concert-going garb this season with head-turning pieces like a flirty off-the-shoulder dress, a ribbed-knit cropped top or a relaxed fit, floral-printed pant. 

Hightail to the High Desert in Planet Blue’s expertly curated collection of bohème threads spanning billowy, tie-front cropped tops, ruffled rompers and floral embellished dresses. It’s a Coachella-loving frenzy, and frankly, it’s no surprise. The beloved retailer encompasses Southern California’s quintessential, bohemian beach culture—a style that’s celebrated at music festivals all summer long. Thumb through the racks for flirty, ultra-feminine threads from brands like Stone Cold Fox, Parker and Wildfox. On our radar? A crocheted, long-sleeved maxi dress from L.A. label Jen’s Pirate Booty. (We can already picture it against the Ferris wheel backdrop.) 

If you’ve basked in the desert sun at Coachella without a hat, you’ve likely regretted it later (hello, sunburn). This festival season, do it up right with a stylish Panama topper from Platform’s new boutique, The Edit by Freda Salvador + Janessa Leone. Beloved for its handcrafted, made-in-Spain quality and cutting-edge design, San Francisco cult shoe label Freda Salvador (helmed by designers Cristina Palomo-Nelson and Megan Papay) joined forces with L.A.-based hat maven Janessa Leone to bring local denizens their first collaborative, curated shop. Inside, find Leone's swoon-worthy Panama hats alongside Freda Salvador's coveted d'Orsay oxfords (a perfect shoe of choice for walking the festival grounds), booties and more.  

Whether you're looking for hippie-style, flower-embroidered denim or classic '50s frocks, this longstanding locale is filled with all your vintage needs and more. Scour the racks of this Los Feliz mainstay for funky men's and women's threads and a smattering of accessories, handbags and footwear from the bygone era. A mix of classic and eclectic, the airy, two-story boutique plays host to a rotating roster of one-of-a-kind staples from your grandmother's closet. Bring in some of your own lightly used garb (last year's festival trends, perhaps?) in exchange for payment, trade or consignment. 

Can’t afford to shop at the Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg or Helmut Lang shops on Melrose, especially when those clothes will be ones you wear to dance, sweat and lie in the grass? Not to worry—Wasteland always has plenty of these designers and more for less than you’d pay for lunch at the Ivy. This sprawling consignment shop is filled with rack upon rack of lightly worn clothing and accessories for guys and gals with a bit of vintage in the mix as well. Browse the shop for standouts like vintage rock tees, lacey bralettes, tasseled mini backpacks, desert-ready booties and boho ensembles. Bonus? There’s a section dedicated to festival season must-haves. 

What’s a festival outfit without a little bling? Jewelry designer Kathryn Bentley has created a sun-dappled escape from the buzz of Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction—one that feels a little bit like a forest cabin with its stained glass windows and teepee fitting room. Bentley’s own creations play the starring role in this show—her brass-and-enamel costume jewelry line Dream Collective is just as striking as her namesake fine jewelry collection­—but she’s also pulled in some supporting talent from her local designer pals. Our favorites this festival season: Jesse Kamm tote bags and woven leather moccasins from Beatrice Valenzuela. 

American Rag is our go-to denim destination for its vast selection alone. Even if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for—colorful and printed? Bootie shorts for desert heat? Distressed vintage wash?—you’re bound to find something among the dozens of brands on offer. Just about every big name in premium denim is represented for both guys and gals, and staffers have a knack for helping you sift through the stock to find the perfect fit and style for any festival occasion. After you’ve emerged from the store victorious, we recommend beelining for the attached Café Midi for a celebratory cappuccino and some street-side people watching.

This shop attracted so much love from L.A. ladies after opening in 2005 that owner Jade Lai decided to launch a second outpost in New York. But we’re still partial to the original location, a rare refuge of peace off Melrose Avenue. Inside, you’ll find unobtrusively cool brands from both near (Clare Vivier handbags, All For the Mountain jewelry) and far (loads of Isabel Marant and Rachel Comey). Our favorite pieces in the store, however, have to be from CoC’s in-house clothing line, filled with the kind of perfect basics you’ll wear over and over—slouchy tees, cropped trousers and pretty patterned blouses, to name just a few.