Are cowboy boots still in? Canadian stylists share their tips for festival season | Canada Voices

Scrolling through Coachella highlights can only mean one thing: festival season is here, bringing good music, good company, good vibes and, of course, good style.

“Music festivals are about self-expression and individual style,” said Toronto-based stylist Joan Balda. Festival fashion has a long, storied history, with a spirit traceable to the counterculture of the 1960s (think Woodstock) through to Kate Moss’s iconic gold dress and rain boots at Glastonbury in 2005 and Beyoncé’s cutoffs and bedazzled hoodie at her 2018 headlining Coachella set.

The occasion offers plenty of opportunities to have fun with dressing up and highlight the trendy looks in your closet.

Festival trends change from year to year (just ask Moss), so we asked the experts to share their must-have pieces, the looks they expect to see on the festival circuit and shoppable suggestions to help you get wardrobe-ready this season.

Which celebrity beauty trends are making their way onto the festival circuit?

“I hope people channel Alysa Liu and embrace fun colours and do whatever they want, really – you’re doing it wrong if you’re not having fun,” said award-winning stylist Leila Bani, who splits her time between Vancouver and Los Angeles.

Her makeup advice follows the same idea. “I love what Painted by Esther has done for Olandria [Carthen] and for bright colours in contour and beauty,” she said. Metallic colours (like blush or highlighter in fun, contrasting shades) on the ears look totally modern, she added. “And I’m completely obsessed with the lip liners from Indigenous Canadian brand Cheekbone Beauty.”

What straight-from-the-runway trends can we expect to see?

“Saint Laurent had a cool girl moment at their Paris Fashion Week Spring 2026 show when Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, Rosé and Charli XCX all arrived and posed in their anoraks, rompers and lingerie flutter shorts channeling 1980s references,” said Stephanie Herold, a Toronto educator and stylist.

“Because of all of these visual references, I’m expecting to see camis, slip dresses and bodysuits with lace detailing, as well as micro shorts that are little enough to qualify as sleepwear,” she said.

What about jewellery?

“Layered necklaces and stacking on the rings always make a festival outfit look effortless,” said Calgary-based stylist Julie Roth, who is a brand ambassador for Winners, Marshalls and Collins St. “I love to mix metals, and silver is making a big statement this year.”

Expect more accessorizing in the form of bralettes, body chains, belts and skirts, heavily influenced by festivals such as Carnival and Mardi Gras, Roth added. “Some of these pieces are even resurfacing from a decade ago.”

Are people still wearing cowboy boots?

“We’re never over cowboy boots – especially at festivals,” said Lisa Commisso, a stylist based in Toronto (no relation to the writer). “I think they go hand in hand, honestly. First, they just make sense as far as being practical. Second, they’re just cool, they aren’t a trend, they’re a total vibe.”

Expect to see them in fun colours and with details such as studs and prints this season.

What tried-and-true looks have staying power beyond this season?

“One of the trends I expect to see are fringes,” said Gerardine Jeune, a stylist based in Montreal. “Yes, we’re still doing fringes, but this time, they’re everywhere – on shorts, jackets, skirts, T-shirts and more. It’s a festival staple.”

Pair fringe with cowboy boots for a classic country look, or with denim for a boho-inspired ensemble. If you’re looking for a Canadian brand, Toronto stylist Amy Polevoy recommended Lindsay King. “I’m forever a fringe lover, and her fringe pieces are designed and handmade in Toronto,” she said.

Are there any prints we should keep an eye on?

“I’m calling it now: paisley is going to be huge this spring and summer,” said Calgary-based stylist Andie J. “While cow and cheetah prints will always have their place – they’re neutrals in my opinion – I do see this classic western print becoming a must.”

What’s your must-have item this season?

Bani put forth a fun and unique festival hat, such as one from CLYDE, founded by Vancouverite Dani Griffiths. Roth highlighted denim, pointing to a custom set by Nicole Rita Tomney and the looks at this year’s “Bieberchella” as inspiration.

Balda said true-to-you jewellery is key to making a festival outfit completely your own, adding that accessories can completely transform a look.

Commisso agreed, noting that the versatility of a scarf – you can tie it around your waist or wear it around your head or shoulders – makes it a staple this year.

Regardless of trends, the stylists all agreed: the number one must-have is having fun with making your look your own.