5 Style Hacks For End Of Summer Festivals

Even in rainy, mud-aplenty Britain where I reside, late summer festival season is easily one of my favorite times of the year. However, considering my incredible knack for allowing money to trickle through my fingers like water, one niggling worry of mine is always how to achieve trendsetter-worthy festival style on a small budget.

This time of year, most stores are still awash with cute maxi dresses, body jewelry, and denim cut-offs. It can be tough to know where to take your personal festival fashion journey when each and every music festival (and IMO, especially these August and September ones that don't have quite as much fanfare surrounding them) appears to set its own unique fashion rules. If you're lucky enough to be headed on one more festival adventure before re-entering your autumnal routine, you're probably hoping to have one more chance to go OTT with your looks without spending too much of your fall shopping fund.

But fear not, my financially-cautious friend: Whichever festival you plan to immerse yourself in and whatever the end-of-summer weather the world decides to throw at you, there are always some festival style staples that will never go out of fashion. Before you go splashing cash on clothes that could be better spent on burgers and beer, why not swap your credit card for crafty fingers and have a pop at some of these ingenious YouTube DIY festival style hacks? They'll help you to look more festi-friendly than Florence Welch, without killing the last remnants of your summer festival allowance.

1. 3 DIY Bralettes (Via Tasha Leelyn)

From vintage lace-trimmed bralettes to edgy caged bra tops and cross-back bandeaus, the humble bralette is the perfect option for creating a gorgeously grungy layered look to keep you cool and comfortable in humid, August-y tents. You'll find a smorgasbord of bralette styles in all colors and sizes on the high street, including pretty pieces at Free People and Hips and Curves. No need to splurge, though, when you can carry out a Cinderella-esque transformation on a simple black bra for mere pennies.

2. Make A Festival Fanny Pack (Via POPSUGAR Fashion)

Fanny packs, bumbags, whatever you like to call them, the humble hip-clipped bags have had a massive resurgence in popularity this summer and are perfect for storing all of your festival essentials on the move, without restricting your drinking or dance moves. The embellishment-heavy designer versions can retail for as much as $1,970 — not exactly a snip when you've already forked out for festival tickets. Luckily, fuss-free versions can still be found in fast fashion shops for less than $5, so why not pick up a plain one and have a go at creating your own to rival Chanel and Louis Vuitton's?

3. DIY Denim Cut-Offs From Old Jeans (Via SaraBeautyCorner)

Whatever your style and however muddy the location, cut-off denim shorts are a music festival mainstay and will always hold a special place in my heart. It's easy to feel bored of your faithful blue stone-washes, though, when the high street is awash with so many lacy, studded, and distressed denim delights. And when that final August heat wave hits, you can never have too many pairs. Instead of dishing out extra cash, why not grab your beloved cut-offs or some old jeans and try your hand at making your own?

4. Upcycle Old T-Shirts (Via Andrea'sChoice)

Whether you're a fan of witty slogans or like to wear your music tastes on your sleeve, the simple T-shirt is an easy, fuss-free way to look and feel cool at a festival. This year, it's all about fringing, muscle vests, and tied handkerchief hems. But by transforming one of your old favorites instead of grabbing a shop-bought garment, you'll be the smug owner of a completely one-off creation, and have more money to splash in the beer tent. Sorted.

5. DIY Rainboots (Via Laryn Michael)

These are perfect for navigating wet fields and muddy puddles, not to mention avoiding a foot-trampling in the mosh pit. No self-respecting festival-goer's wardrobe is complete without a comfy yet eye-catching pair of wellies. But there really is no need to fork out on a new pair every season in order to satisfyingly switch up your look. This pretty yet tantalizingly simple tutorial takes just minutes, and requires just five crafty items (including the rainboots!).

Images: SaraBeautyCorner/YouTube