Style notes from a music festival in the mountains

Functional and fashionable outfits for dancing, sweating, and being outside

Two weekends ago, I made the trip to Salt Lake City for Kilby Block Party. This was my second year attending the indie music festival with Steve and friends. New Order, Beach House, Weezer, and Justice were the headliners. It’s literally a festival for millennials.

Besides listening to music, one of my favorite things to do there is to take notes on everyone’s fashion choices, from the strange to the daring. I think it’s so cute that all of us woke up, got ready for the day, and chose our little outfits.

Whenever I couldn’t see the stage, which was often as I’m 5’4”, I scanned the crowds noticing everyone’s style. There were the guys wearing black vans and selvedge denim. There were the girls with crocheted tanks and cowboy boots. And then there was the gray-beared man with jean short-shorts, an unbuttoned cutoff shirt, and rainbow friendship bracelets. He was having a good time.

What I found the most interesting was the crossover of festival fashion with sports fashion. Band T-shirts meet hiking pants meet glitter. And it makes sense, right? We spend the whole day outside so we need garments that breathe, wick sweat, offer UV protection, regulate our temperature, and cushion our feet. And they have to make us feel cool and unique and interesting, too.

Hope you enjoy this one!

XO

---

What people wore to Kilby Block Party 2025

Here are the patterns and trends I noticed most:

• Lots of head scarves and bandanas

• Moto jackets and workwear shirts

• Bags and overshirts with tons of patches

• Bags with beaded and stuffed keychains

• Layering short sleeves over long sleeves

• Horizontal and vertical stripes

• Loose as well as tailored trousers (more so than jeans)

• Cargo pants, shorts, and skirts

• Sporty sunglasses

New pal Andrew’s lace, tee, and charms.

---

Music festival essentials:

• Mini (16 oz) Nalgene water bottle. It’s easier to carry than the giant 32 oz bottle and there are plenty of water refill stations.

• Sunglasses. I packed four different pairs, all with different vibes.

• Comfy shoes. I will never again wear sandals in a mosh pit.

• Crossbody bag that meets the festival’s allowed dimensions.

• Water-resistant windbreaker for layering at night and because rain was in the forecast. I still ended up wearing a trash bag on the last day.

• Loop earplugs so I don’t lose my hearing by age 40.

---

What I wore to Kilby:

Day 1

Other than swapping a dress for pants, this is what I wore on the plane.

Peep the mini Nalgene.

In high spirits and health thanks to the free Nutrigrain bars.

Day 2

I thrifted these Zara cargo pants from Goodwill specifically for this trip. The white shirt is from a clothing swap with friends.

Isn’t my friend Hannah’s headscarf so cute? I convinced everyone in our group to wear gold glitter freckles. Sunglasses from Izipizi.

Closeup of my Merrell Moab Speed 2s.

Day 3

This was my bandana day. Shorts are from Matek. Bag is Alpine Sea Co.

Hannah! The guy in the tie dye is wearing sunglasses with charms. Also adore those windowpane pants.

Our Lyft driver had lollipops. We went back to the Airbnb for more layers.

Day 4

Another pair of thrifted pants and a thrifted sweater. This was the coldest day.

Same fit, from the front.

Closeup of my waterproof Timberland boots from a few years ago. Plus a trash bag to keep me warm and dry.

---