SXSW obviously kicked a lot of ass this year-great weather, huge turn out, free food and booze all around.
But did you have as good of a time as you could have? Did you rock the ’09 trends like the player you so obviously are?
For all you scenesters who mock hipsters, for you brave fellows who’ve sprained a calf getting into those skinny jeans, for all you folks who spent an appreciable amount of time matching your sunglasses with your shoelaces (as a joke of course), Boots brings you this special, post festival, fashion round up. (Check out our Italian fashion post for some across the pond good looks.)
Now you too can look back and see just where you fell on the awesome spectrum.
Let’s start with some bands. Bands are kind of their own category because they’re in the performance business. They can go all out and get away with a lot more just for the sake of showbiz.
These guys are awesome.
Nothing like a young lady rockin’ the classic crooner styles of the ‘50’s
This guy. I don’t know about this guy.
Now be sure not to confuse band attire with the “look at me, seriously, look at me, look, why aren’t you looking at me” podcaster look. Similar, but with important differences.
The single, must-have, can’t-be-seen-without-them, must wear at any cost, accessory this year was the big, obnoxious, brightly colored sunglasses. Red was the preferred color,
but lots of other hues made an appearance.
By the way, two pairs of regular glasses doesn’t equal one ridiculous pair.
A big trend for the women this year was short skirts or dresses with leggings/big socks and boots. Oh, the boots. Bonus points for bringing a freakin’ huge bag. The huger the better.
But just because it works sometimes doesn't mean that it's a fail safe bet.
Some chicks eschewed the boots for big greek sandals that tried to eat their legs.
I’d recommend the boots.
The current, classic cool guy look was still in effect this year. Tight jeans, dark colors accented by a judiciously placed pop of color. Denim. No big surprises here.
As long as you can actually get it to work. Whoops.
Mixing it up a bit, lots of guys came adorned with thin ropey headbands.
You got to keep those bangs in check or who knows what could happen.
Vests were also big with the dudes. Sometimes they worked.
Sometimes not so much.
Keeping in the vein of dressy but not “too dressy”, skinny ties reared their narrow little heads again. Who needs a collar when you’ve got a tie like this?
I feel you man, it makes me sad too.
Fresher than the ties, the hotness in neckwear this year was the kefia. Literally the hotness, it was like 85 degrees outside.
It also worked it for the girls.
I think the heat actually threw a few people off. I saw more than a few guys roaming around looking dead like they were expecting a beach to spring up at any second.
Puffy neon sneakers! My god, I almost didn’t mention the troves of puffy neon sneakers.
Second only to the fugly glasses, the chunky, electric shoes had their day this time around.
Some people were very literal. This girl was channeling the ‘80’s like a séance.
This guy was channeling something all his own.
Well, that was a good start. But much like SXSW itself, the fashion can’t be summed up in just one day. Tune in for the next installment when you can find out about big ‘staches, cool parents, high waists, cowboy hat abuse, über cuffs, hookers on the loose, teacher chic, the most South-By Couple of the Festival, and my all time favorite trend.
"What the hell will it be?", you ask. Come back soon for SXSWear II to find out if you were as awesome as you possibly could be.
-L. Pants
