It’s time to move on from those Coachella “What’s In My Bag” TikToks where influencers pull out three lip glosses and a vintage camera. The real A-list Coachella kit, the one tucked into the luxury totes in the private lounges, doesn’t look like a fashion editorial. The real “It Girls” are tired. Their feet hurt. And the shopping carts do not lie.
New data from Instacart revealed the shopping secrets of concert goers during the desert festival season, and the numbers are a relief for anyone still trying to suffer for fashion. April in the desert triggers a grocery surge that rivals Thanksgiving. But instead of turkeys, the elite are ordering chic survival supplies. During the three-week festival window, orders in the Coachella Valley spiked 25%. The A-listers weren’t prepping; they were bracing themselves.
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The biggest secret on the circuit right now is a $20 pharmacy-aisle insert. Sexy? No. Necessary? Absolutely. As Instacart Trends Analyst Alex Orellana puts it, cowboy boots and four-inch platforms are great for a photo op but “brutal for an all-day dance party.” Foot insoles and inserts rose more than 3,900% around pop and electronic festivals.
And if you think you can skip the prep, look at the “Oops, I Forgot” numbers. Purchases of bandages rose 405% last season. People realized too late that pain should not be an aesthetic. The goal: don’t be the person crying in the medical tent while the headliner is on.
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To pack for vacation like you are going to Coachella, your bag needs two things: electrolytes and spite.
- The hydration plan: For the pop and rave crowd, it is about juice shots and electrolyte supplements, which spiked 304%. They prioritize hydration while the subwoofers rattle their teeth. Or, if you are standing on a hot sidewalk in Cleveland, your muscles need those minerals just as much as they do in the desert.
- Sun protection: Sunscreen is the only thing keeping you from looking like a glazed ham by 4 PM.. Body sunscreen jumped 1,033% in last-minute orders. A sunburn ruins a look faster than a bad lineup.
- Portable party: Tequila is the undisputed champion, spiking over 1,500% above the national average for country fans. But the real insiders are ordering limes and chili peppers in the same cart, a combo that jumped over 4,800%, to DIY their own spicy margaritas before they head to the gates.
- More bubbles: Sparkling water, specifically LaCroix, topped every other beverage category in the valley. Think of it as the official drink of “I’m thriving in the heat.”
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The festival vibe has gone national because the reality of music festival is the same everywhere: being on your feet for hours strains your body. The people who stay until the final encore are the ones who stopped trying to prove how tough they are.
They are fueling with coffee drinks (+110%) and energy drinks (+67%). They are stocking up on Hass avocados (+49%) and sourdough bread (+89%) for a high-fuel breakfast. It’s the “It Girl” version of a pre-game before the real day begins.
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Whether it is the 1,492% spike in pool floats for the morning recovery or the reliance on eye drops (+187%) to look human after a late set, the “It Girl” has become a vacation survival specialist. It doesn’t matter you’re standing under a palm tree in Indio or on a sidewalk in Cleveland, the goal is the same: don’t be the first one to call an Uber.