“I’m expecting it to be like the festivals I used to go to when I was your age”

Now that the festival is over, my mom admits that modern-day fests are not like anything she had previously seen. One of the biggest differences she noticed was the fashion. Festival fashion is so important to the scene today, and it gives people the chance to express themselves in a judgment-free zone. At IleSoniq, it felt like everyone was wearing mesh or vinyl. These trends were styled in so many fun and unique ways! I wore the Its My World Vinyl Skirt in neon pink and got so many compliments! Although I didn’t wear any mesh, I saw quite a few ravers looking absolutely stunning in mesh pants like the Sweet Thing High Waist Mesh Bell Bottoms.

The second thing that surprised my mom the most was the dancing. The headbangers and shufflers did not disappoint at IleSoniq, and my mom noticed. She said that the free-spirited dancing “was part of what made [her] like it so much.” She even got into a little headbanging at Subtronics, and who could blame her? He killed it.

“People weren’t there just to have fun themselves, they wanted to share it with you, even if you were a stranger to them”

As most ravers know, there are no strangers at festivals, and we are all best friends for the weekend. My mom was amazed by how many people came up to us to compliment our outfits, ask us to dance, or just to say hi. They were always stoked to find out we were mother and daughter. Everyone was extremely welcoming and did a great job hyping my mom up for her first rave!

“When Swedish House Mafia began their set, I forgot my uneasiness completely and just became one with the crowd”

My mom ended up liking the music a lot more than either of us expected. Swedish House Mafia was her number one, followed by Louis the Child. I guessed correctly when I assumed house would be her top genre, but I was shocked when she said that three of her favorite artists were Subtronics, Sullivan King and Svdden Death. She did say that bass music was “tedious after a few minutes” and “all sounded the same.” As a dedicated headbanger myself, I’ll let it slide because if you don’t know what you’re listening for, dubstep can definitely seem repetitive at times.

Overall, my mom had an awesome time at her first EDM festival. She said she would love to do it again, so don’t be surprised if you see her headbanging to Subtronics or singing along to Louis the Child!

Dress for your favorite artist

There are so many ways to honor any DJ with your outfit. Maybe you want to celebrate Swedish House Mafia’s reunion with an edgy, all black fit like the Cyber Angel Outfit. Or you could make sure Excision knows you’re a true headbanger with the Go Hard Outfit. Style your look based on an artist’s best album, the colors in their logo, or your favorite song. You can get really creative with this idea, but good luck trying to pick just one act as your favorite from this amazing lineup.

Cyber Angel Outfit

Go Hard Outfit

Bratz Be Like Outfit

Overdrive Outfit

Embrace the trends

Trends are popular for a reason—they look great! Embrace the trends this year at Ilesoniq and rock chaps, reflective gear or a corset. You can wear any of these pieces and still show off your personal style. Want to go for a cyber look? Pair some reflective gear with black like the Intergalactic Dream Girl Outfit does. Feeling western? Chaps and fringe will make you the trendiest cowgirl at the fest. There are tons of trends to choose from and you can make each one your own!

Intergalactic Dream Girl Outfit

Dashing Starlight Unicorn Outfit

Accessorize for the weather

It’ll likely be pretty warm at Ilesoniq this year. Montreal has an average high of 78 and low of 62 degrees Fahrenheit in August, and as we all know it tends to feel even warmer when you’re surrounded by thousands of other dancers. Protect yourself from the sun with a trippy bucket hat and a cute pair of sunnies. A fun fan can also help you beat the heat, and make friends with everyone around you in the crowd! If you get cold easily you can wrap up in this Take Flight Black Tassel Pashmina. It’ll match any outfit, making it both a fashionable and functional accessory!

Electric Escape Outfit

Make it mesh

Mesh is breathable and trendy, making it ideal for summer festivals. Whether you go with an oversized mesh tee or a stylish two-piece set, you won’t have to worry about sweat stains no matter how hard you dance. If you already have your look planned out but are searching for that special piece to tie it all together, consider mesh arm warmers. No matter how you style it, you’ll totally wow the crowd in mesh!

Moonlit Outfit

Power Up Outfit

Ilesoniq has a stacked lineup and you need some killer fits to match. Hopefully these ideas help you plan the perfect ensembles for an awesome weekend. Have fun at Ilesoniq!