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The Perfect: Coachella-Inspired Weekend

Shorts, sunglasses, sleeping arrangement? Sorted.

Headshot of Leah Melby ClintonBy Leah Melby Clinton
Product, Text, Yellow, Font, Logo, Brand, Footwear, Eyewear, Room, Graphic design, pinterest icon

Welcome to "The Perfect," ELLE.com's new weekly franchise, where we lay out exactly what you'll need for the perfect outfit, shopping list, Saturday night, or whatever it may be. In a shopping landscape where the options are endless, consider it a complete snapshot of must-haves.

Whether you're actually headed to the Coachella Valley or chasing the vibes locally, it's easy to get inspired by the free-spirited, laid-back feeling that we've come to stylishly collect under the blanket term of "festival fashion." Capture it with playful-yet-practical pieces that get the whole open-fairgrounds je ne sais quoi thing—no wristband required.

1

The Bikini Top

<p>Looking like you're always ready for a chic pool party is part and parcel of keeping Coachella-cool. Wearing&nbsp;a bikini as you would a crop top is also key for&nbsp;allowing maximum airflow.<span class="redactor-invisible-space"></span></p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Madewell x Bikyni Plunge Bikini Top, $55; </em><a href="https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/SWIM/bikinis/PRDOVR~G4089/G4089.jsp" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">madewell.com</em></a></p>

Looking like you're always ready for a chic pool party is part and parcel of keeping Coachella-cool. Wearing a bikini as you would a crop top is also key for allowing maximum airflow.

Madewell x Bikyni Plunge Bikini Top, $55; madewell.com

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2

The Shirt

<p>A breezy white button-down&nbsp;can be styled in a ton of different ways: tuck, button, or knot it (or leave it open to fly freely in the breeze).&nbsp;</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Everlane The Relaxed Cotton Shirt, $65; </em><a href="https://www.everlane.com/products/womens-relaxed-poplin-shirt-white?collection=womens-tops" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">everlane.com</em></a></p>

A breezy white button-down can be styled in a ton of different ways: tuck, button, or knot it (or leave it open to fly freely in the breeze). 

Everlane The Relaxed Cotton Shirt, $65; everlane.com

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3

The Earrings

<p>Bold, playful earrings are the surefire way to take an outfit to the next level. Since tassels are quickly becoming ubiquitous, get ahead of the style curve with bunched gumdrops instead.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Sachin &amp;&nbsp;Babi Coconuts Earrings, $250; </em><a href="https://www.sachinandbabi.com/products/coconuts-earrings-goji" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">sachinandbabi.com</em></a></p>

Bold, playful earrings are the surefire way to take an outfit to the next level. Since tassels are quickly becoming ubiquitous, get ahead of the style curve with bunched gumdrops instead.

Sachin & Babi Coconuts Earrings, $250; sachinandbabi.com

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4

The Shorts

<p>Denim cutoffs are a summer, and festival, mainstay. Refresh the look by picking a patched pair with some personality.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Rosie HW x Paige Babes Short, $299; </em><a href="http://www.paige.com/d/400005117" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">paige.com</em></a></p>

Denim cutoffs are a summer, and festival, mainstay. Refresh the look by picking a patched pair with some personality.

Rosie HW x Paige Babes Short, $299; paige.com

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5

The Camera

<p>Mobile phones mean everyone's a photographer, but go a step further and actually print your sun-soaked memories out on command.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Camera, $70; </em><a href="http://www.target.com/p/fujifilm-instax-mini-8-blue-camera/-/A-17393973" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">target.com</em></a></p>

Mobile phones mean everyone's a photographer, but go a step further and actually print your sun-soaked memories out on command.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Camera, $70; target.com

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6

The Shoe

<p>Mules are easy to kick off, yet still provide some of the coverage of a bootie (a practical option for dusty, dirty spaces).&nbsp;Skip the trendy white hue for an outdoors-friendly snakeskin print.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Sol Sana Camille Mule, $165; </em><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sol-sana-camille-pointy-toe-mule-women/4446743?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&amp;fashioncolor=NATURAL%20SNAKE%20PRINT%20LEATHER" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">nordstrom.com</em></a></p>

Mules are easy to kick off, yet still provide some of the coverage of a bootie (a practical option for dusty, dirty spaces). Skip the trendy white hue for an outdoors-friendly snakeskin print.

Sol Sana Camille Mule, $165; nordstrom.com

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7

The Sunscreen

<p>Sun damage isn't fun; spraying with SPF actually kind of&nbsp;is. Stock up before heading into the desert (or wherever your destination may be).</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Hampton Sun SPFF 35 Continuous Mist Sunscreen, $32; </em><a href="https://www.everythingbutwater.com/products/hampton-sun/beauty/sg015/spf-35-continuous-mist-sunscreen/72157" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">everythingbutwater.com</em></a></p>

Sun damage isn't fun; spraying with SPF actually kind of is. Stock up before heading into the desert (or wherever your destination may be).

Hampton Sun SPFF 35 Continuous Mist Sunscreen, $32; everythingbutwater.com

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8

The Fanny Pack

<p>In the age of overstuffed totes and shoulder bags, going hands-free is always a pleasure. It makes even more sense if you plan to be out and about.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Clare Vivier Fanny Pack, $259; </em><a href="https://www.clarev.com/products/fannypack-tan-neptune" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">clarev.com</em></a></p>

In the age of overstuffed totes and shoulder bags, going hands-free is always a pleasure. It makes even more sense if you plan to be out and about.

Clare Vivier Fanny Pack, $259; clarev.com

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9

The Sunglasses

<p>Sunglasses have to be the wardrobe workhorse all too often. For Coachella, or any other fun-focused event, pick a pair that's outside the box, be it via shade or shape.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Quay Eclipse Sunglasses, $55; </em><a href="http://www.revolve.com/quay-eclipse-sunglasses-in-pink/dp/QUAY-WG66/?d=F&amp;currency=USD" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">revolve.com</em></a></p>

Sunglasses have to be the wardrobe workhorse all too often. For Coachella, or any other fun-focused event, pick a pair that's outside the box, be it via shade or shape.

Quay Eclipse Sunglasses, $55; revolve.com

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10

The Hotel

<p>Beyond&nbsp;Coachella weekends, Palm Springs and its surrounding zip codes make for a nice breather from real life.&nbsp;</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Hyatt Indian Wells, standard queen room starting at $289/night, <a href="https://www.kayak.com/Indian-Wells-Hotels-Hyatt-Regency-Indian-Wells-Resort-And-Spa.33424.ksp" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">kayak.com</a></em></p>

Beyond Coachella weekends, Palm Springs and its surrounding zip codes make for a nice breather from real life. 

Hyatt Indian Wells, standard queen room starting at $289/night, kayak.com

Headshot of Leah Melby Clinton
Leah Melby Clinton
Leah Melby Clinton is a writer, editor, and serious shopper who loves discovering new labels, detailing the best ways to build a wardrobe, and interviewing interesting people.

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