From Lizzo to Kendrick Lamar, 7 Trends Everyone Wore to NYC's Biggest Festival

Between Coachella and Stagecoach, the West Coast tends to get all the music festival buzz, but the East Coast shouldn't be overlooked. Here in New York, the Governors Ball Music Festival is one of the city's biggest and most iconic festivals. Last weekend, droves of music fans, many of them Gen Z, descended on Flushing Meadows for a weekend of hip-hop, pop, indie, and electronic music from some of the most beloved artists in the game right now. The lineup was anchored by heavy hitters like Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and Haim and peppered with emerging names like Ice Spice and Suki Waterhouse, proving that New Yorkers don't have to travel across the country to enjoy an epic weekend of live music. 

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(Image credit: Governors Ball)

WHO: Lil Nas X; Suki Waterhouse; Sabrina Claudio; Lizzo; Ice Spice (clockwise from top left)

With festival season in full swing, we're breaking down the fashion trends we spotted at the Governors Ball in New York City. Keep scrolling to discover the seven trends we saw.

Crochet

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(Image credit: @amaka.hamelijnck)

Crochet looks aren't just for vacation dressing. Rather, the woven pieces are peak festival attire, too. Festival style is often rooted in bohemian influences, which makes free-spirited crochet feel perfect for the occasion. This year, festival-goers took a more pared-back approach by wearing more minimalistic and elevated crochet pieces.

Cowboy Boots

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(Image credit: @kitkeenan)

From Coachella to the Governors Ball, you'll find cowboy boots at nearly every music festival you visit. Western motifs feel like the right choice when heading to a festival's grassy stomping ground. New Yorkers, however, eschewed the boots' Southern roots in favor of edgier styling.

Sheer

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(Image credit: @lucyraemcfadin)

Music festivals are the perfect excuse to test-drive a riskier trend like sheer clothing. Whether it involved a lace dress, chiffon top, or gauzy sheer skirt, see-through fabrics were aplenty at the Governors Ball this year.

Parachute Pants

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(Image credit: @champagnemani)

There aren't a ton of current trends that offer comfort without sacrificing a cool aura, but parachute pants are definitely one of them. Paired with a tiny top and funky sneakers, these utility-inspired pants were spotted all over festival grounds. 

It Kicks

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(Image credit: @sukiwaterhouse)

This season's It sneakers—Onitsuka Tiger, Adidas Sambas, and New Balance 550s—were especially popular among performers and festival-goers this year. 

Corsets

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(Image credit: @lefevrediary)

Lingerie-inspired looks have long been popular at music festivals, and this year's Governors Ball was no exception. Corsets and bustier tops ranked high on our list of most-spotted trends. 

Y2K Shades

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(Image credit: @laurenwolfe)

It should come as no surprise that a crowd comprised mainly of Gen Z favored Y2K trends. Wraparound sunglasses were easily the top throwback trend. We spotted nearly every other person wearing a pair. 

Next: You're Done: 11 Summer Staples I'm Tired Of and Their Fresher Alternatives

Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.