Essence Festival is swiftly approaching. The festivities will be held in New Orleans, a vibrant city. Many attendees are infused with the lively spirit of the music-centric city as they stroll through streets in the French Quarter. To be honest, I’m counting down the days as I can’t wait to visit Café Du Monde and a few other spots I discovered years ago on birthday trips. Beyond the foodie culture and the music that’s nearly inescapable, traveling to New Orleans allows us to dress comfortably without sacrificing our style preferences.
I have enough experience with dressing for concerts and festivals to know how much more enjoyable these experiences can be when you dress appropriately. You don’t have to compromise your style from big cities like Los Angeles or New York City. Instead, you can opt for comfortable and trendy sneakers, and well-fitting shapewear. These essentials, along with others, are necessary for the extensive walking and long evenings you’ll be experiencing in New Orleans.
Below take a look at all of the Essence Festival style essentials you’ll need to fuse into your travel wardrobe.
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Skims High-Waisted Brief
When I’m styling clients I usually pick this essential up for them. So far each time I’ve purchased this for them they allude to how this tucks them in, in all the right places.
Since it’s incredibly warm in New Orleans, I suggest going braless on most days so you’re not concerned about sweating profusely. This backless bra is ideal if you feel you’ll still need a bit of support.
Aritzia’s bodysuits will take you from day to night with ease. This is a one-piece that I actually have–it fits snugly–I suggest it for a lazy day when you don’t quite know what to throw on.
I recently purchased a pair of capris and I haven’t been able to stop wearing them. Mango is offering a $50 pair that is selling out quickly. You can pair these with cropped tees or bubble hem tops, it’s up to you.
A linen dress is your best bet to throw on for trekking through the city. This option is effortless, chic, and easy to wear with your favorite sneakers or sandals.
The ‘90s is my favorite style era. There’s something about the cut of denim from that time frame that I can’t stop wearing. For a night out, I suggest pairing these nonstretch shorts with a laidback vintage tee and kitten heels.
Jacquemus is always offering whimsical accessories. This option will keep the rays out of your eyes, the hue allows it to pair with anything your heart desires.
I have these in black and I’ve worn them on long hours to exhibits, in the rain, and also for daylong excursions. They’re comfortable, easy to wear with just about anything, and affordable.
You cannot go wrong with linen shorts during the summer. Aritizia just released their “The Effortless Pant” with a variation of cuts and lengths–these feature a high-rise detail. I envision these with a breathable striped button-up shirt and floral applique kitten heels.
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® will take place July 4-7. For more information and updates on the festival, visit our website and follow us on social media @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
