Festival season has officially arrived! With Stagecoach and Coachella fast approaching, piecing together the perfect outfits can become one of your most important tasks. And, what better way to prepare for these major festivals than by supporting your local boutiques and businesses while you find the perfect outfits and accessories?

This past weekend, I went to an event hosted by Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows. The venue was filled with different kinds of clothing and jewelry vendors. The face painting, flash tattoo and tarot reading tables definitely helped you jump into that festival mood. Trendy and Tipsy, a boutique located in Pacific Beach, seemed to be the main clothing vendor with the biggest display. They’re a really unique and edgy store that I often shop at (they have the best repurposed denim shorts and flannels), and they have some really awesome pieces that you can work into your festival look. I was also really excited to see that Hunt & Gather was a part of the event. Hunt & Gather is a vintage boutique in North Park, and they were one of those stores that I always saw but never got to check out (until the event). Their styles were really interesting, and seemed to have that bohemian, unique and carefree vibe that’s perfect for music festivals. Taking over Lafayette’s olympic-sized pool, there were three runway shows put on by Hunt & Gather, Trendy and Tipsy and Sauvage Swimwear, with music by DLA.

My favorite part about this event was that it wasn’t just about the fashion vendors; there were displays that promoted sunless tanning, body art and everything you’d need to help achieve your best festival look – it’s not only about your clothes! I love going to these events because I am exposed to so many different stores and businesses that I never would’ve been aware of. It’s a great way to support your community, meet new people and find cool new pieces!

Featured Image by Sabrina Kim.