Photos show how Coachella fashion has changed dramatically through the years

The crowd at Coachella 2024.

Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

• The Coachella music festival in Indio, California, is known for its distinct fashion.
• Dozens of trends have come and gone over the years.
• These photos show how Coachella fashion has changed year-to-year since the mid-2000s.

Gabi Stevenson and Elana Klein contributed to previous versions of this article.

Over the years, Coachella has become known for its fashion as much as the music.

Collage of Coachella outfits.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Since its inception in 1999, Coachella has become somewhat of a runway in addition to a music festival.

Many festivalgoers take outfit planning very seriously, creating some memorable, daring looks. But it wasn't always this way — take a look at the evolution of Coachella style from 2007 to 2023.

There appeared to be nothing separating a 2007 Coachella outfit from regular late-2000s summer attire.

Festivalgoers in 2007 dressed casually.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

The difference between the trends that dominated Coachella in the aughts and those that are dominating the event these days cannot be understated: As photos show, there seems to have been no distinct "Coachella" aesthetic whatsoever back in 2007. 

Audience members were seen wearing typical summertime outfits in the late '00s. Many festivalgoers wore baseball caps or visors and low-rise denim shorts, often paired with simple bikini tops, tank tops, and button-downs. The attire was casual, simple, and practical for enjoying music during a warm day.

Similarly, in 2008, Coachella attendees sported casual summer looks.

Swimsuits and bikini tops remained popular at Coachella in 2008.

Tim Mosenfelder/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In contrast to the careful curation of today's festivalgoers, Coachella attendees in 2008 wore standard T-shirts or bathing suits as tops. 

The absence of influencer culture, Instagram, and other social media mitigated pressure to dress in extravagant attire.

The outfits of 2009 were slightly more curated, but fans generally remained casual.

Festivalgoers in the '00s seemed to dress for the heat, not the photo ops.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

The classic late-aughts Coachella style kept steady in 2009. Staple pieces included bikini tops, flowy skirts, and denim shorts.

Coachella 2010 saw a mix of funky pieces and bohemian basics.

Festival-goers tried everything from the flowy to the furry.

Michael Buckner/Getty Images; Charley Gallay/Getty Images

Classic festival clothes like gauzy dresses and maxi skirts were popular in 2011. Others combined color and texture to build eye-catching outfits.

Some attendees chose bikinis and big accessories for the festival in 2011.

Coachella attendees stayed cool in their swimsuits.

Christopher Polk/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

String bikinis were seen around the festival grounds in 2011, often accessorized with unexpected pieces like hats, fishnet tights, and belts.

Although the influence of Y2K fashion was still popular for many people, others incorporated pieces from rave and scene subcultures to create bold looks.

Still, Coachella fashion a decade ago was a lot more low-key than today's festival style. These attendees kept it casual in 2012.

Fashion at Coachella 2012 featured simple fashion with a bohemian or edgy twist.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella

Many festivalgoers wore tiny denim shorts and low-rise skirts in an array of colors. Those who wanted a more bohemian look often added fringe or a headband.

For an edgier style, attendees stomped around the grounds in combat boots.

Cropped shirts, bralettes, and bikini tops made a splash at Coachella in 2013.

The super-cropped top reigned supreme at Coachella 2013.

Mark Davis/Getty Images for Coachella

Although Coachella fashion was still relatively tame, a stand-out piece for the 2013 festival was the micro-top.

Bralettes, cropped shirts, and bikini tops were paired with anything from a full-length maxi skirt to Daisy Dukes.

Boho style was still at the forefront of Coachella style, but some festivalgoers took more fashion risks in 2014.

Attendees at Coachella 2014 showed more skin than in previous years.

Matt Cowan/Getty Images for Coachella

Coachella 2014 saw style get more daring and intricate, with some festivalgoers choosing crocheted and mesh materials. You could even find some people skipping tops altogether.

Bohemian style and accessories took center stage at Coachella in 2015, with stars like Kendall Jenner and Paris Hilton hopping on the festival trend.

Celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Paris Hilton piled on the accessories at Coachella 2015.

Papjuice/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella; Papjuice/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

So-called "bohemian" accessories were everywhere at Coachella in 2015. The flower crown was becoming a festival staple, but fashionistas also piled on other pieces like cat ears, chunky jewelry, belts, sunglasses, and bags.

Big names like Kendall Jenner and Paris Hilton both showed up to Coachella that year in hippie-inspired looks, proving that boho-mania was making a comeback on the festival circuit.

Monochromatic looks were big at Coachella in 2016.

Many attendees rocked black and white to the 2016 festival.

Matt Cowan/Getty Images for Coachella

Coachella 2016 was the year of black-and-white looks for many attendees. Some went for all-white or all-black with their ensembles, while others mixed them together for contrast.

High-slit skirts, boots, and midriff-bearing sets also made strong appearances in 2016.

2017 saw a huge backlash against culturally appropriative trends in Coachella's past.

A pair of sunglasses is a festival staple.

Matt Cowan/Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella

Publications from Teen Vogue to Mic began publishing guides about "how to avoid cultural appropriation at Coachella," a problematic reputation that continues to this day.

Many festivalgoers simply wore toned-down versions of boho-chic trends, opting for layered necklaces, wide-brimmed hats, and funky sequin designs.

Pigtail braids and space buns were very popular among people with long hair.

Gems, sparkles, and bright colors became synonymous with Coachella in 2018.

Rainbow sequins were a major trend.

Frazer Harrison/Presley Ann/Getty Images for Coachella

Festivalgoers went all-out with skin-baring looks, which they frequently paired with sparkly accessories or bejeweled accents.

Vibrant colors were everywhere, especially when it came to hair.

Alongside the typical glitz, Y2K fashion started to make a comeback in 2019.

Satin, leather, and mesh were popular textures.

Presley Ann/Getty Images for Coachella

While sequins still reigned supreme at Coachella, 2019 bore the unmistakable air of shifting trends, with many fans wearing Y2K-era styles like slip dresses and low-slung pants.

After two years of cancellations due to COVID-19, Coachella returned in 2022 with bold prints, fringe, and matching sets.

Many sets of friends seemed to coordinate their outfits.

Callie Ahlgrim

Although some vestiges of old festival fashion remained in 2022, the overall vibe was more casual and cohesive.

As opposed to the maximalist trends of yesteryear, festivalgoers largely favored matching pieces and color coordination.

Oversized outfits and fringe dresses were popular styles, as were bold patterns like marble swirls and cow prints. Cowboy boots and Dr. Martens were easily the most common footwear options, though many comfort-minded fans chose to wear sneakers.

Casual fashion made its return to Coachella in 2023, but standout accessories still made appearances.

Denim and sheer pieces were big at Coachella 2023.

Callie Ahlgrim/Insider

While many attendees in 2023 stuck to comfortable clothes like flowy dresses and T-shirts, some chose see-through knits or sheer fabrics to beat the heat. Parasols could also be seen around the grounds, providing shade with style.

Denim in all forms — jeans, cutoff shorts, and even dresses — also proved to be very popular.

This year's trends include cowboy hats and crochet.

Coachella provides plenty of colorful photo backdrops.

Monica Schipper/Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella

Perhaps thanks to Beyoncé's new hit album "Cowboy Carter" and the accompanying surge in country music's popularity, cowboy hats were everywhere at Coachella 2024's first weekend.

Much like the previous year, fans also tended to favor denim pieces and lightweight fabrics, particularly crochet.

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