Besides RSVPing to hundreds of parties and giving your liver a pep talk, your preparation for SXSW should also include some serious thought about your wardrobe. What you wear during SXSW is important for several reasons. For one, you will probably be meeting a lot of new people, and let’s be honest, appearances do matter. Looking good will not only catch people’s eye, but can also make you more memorable. And secondly, SXSW is a test of your physical endurance, so comfort is definitely a factor. Here are my suggestions of things that will keep you both stylish and comfortable during SXSW. And keep reading for some helpful tips from more local SXSW veterans…
Shoes For The Girls
The key to your comfort is your shoes. Boots really were made for walking, and I would go with a comfy flat pair. But if you want height, definitely opt for a platform heel. Even a 5 in. platform heel after hours of walking and standing will be more comfortable than a heel without a platform.
Jeffrey Campbell “Everly”, available in black at Feathers and more colors at Solestruck
Gee Wa Wa “Gemma”, Solestruck
Adidas “Kitt”, Solestruck
Shoes For The Boys
LunarGrand Wingtip, Cole Haan
Acne Adrian Plastic, Solestruck
Generic Surplus X Obey Propaganda, Solestruck
Handy Bag For The Girls
One of the few times you can get away with wearing a fanny pack is SX, so why not take advantage of it? A backpack is also a good choice if you want a comfy way to carry all your freebies.
Cher backpack, Nasty Gal
Drifter studded belt bag (way to make it sound cooler than it really is, Nasty Gal. It’s called a fanny pack), Nasty Gal
Handy Bag For The Boys (Or Girls)
This is the best bag for sneaking in things (shhh) because it has so many different compartments. I stole it from my friend to use during ACL and it was magical.
Orange Hobo Cary-All, Betabrand
Sunglasses For The Girls
I’m a huge believer in the power of a good pair of sunglasses. Many people don’t like to spend a lot of money on sunglasses because they fear they will break them or lose them, but as long as you make sure and keep a sunglasses case in your bag then you won’t have that problem. But, if you do end up losing yours, there will surely be some free ones (with some logo all over the sides) being passed out nearby.
Illesteva, Net-a-Porter
Alexander Wang, Net-aPorter
Linda Farrow, Net-a-Porter
Illesteva, Net-a-Porter
Sunglasses For The Boys
Frame Black Gradient Handmade Sunglasses, Acne
Original Wayfarer, Ray-Ban
Edgeworth, Warby Parker
Having fun is always more important than looking cool. So if all else fails, just smile and keep drinking the free booze. You really can’t go wrong. Oh, and be prepared for bipolar weather changes. It’s not a bad idea to keep a pair of tights in your bag for when the temperature randomly drops 20 degrees within an hour.
Joanna Wilkinson and Tyler Neal
keep austin stylish