Festival fashion and how to master it

Kate Moss, our ultimate rock chick, is without doubt every girl's fashion compass when packing the bag for Glastonbury. Where Kate leads, others unquestioningly follow. But a word of warning: steer clear of Kate Moss for Topshop at this summer's festivals unless you want to run the risk of serious clonedom. This was Kate's classic Hunter wellies and micro shorts look in 2005, a look which has spawned a thousand slavish devotees. But the waistcoat was something Kate was wearing then: it's now 2009 and time for something different. Photograph: MJ Kim/Getty

A Glastonbury festivalgoer sports a convincingly cool take on the Kate Moss classic of Hunter wellies, a bit of animal print and short shorts. Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Now, beware of crossing the line when it comes to dressing up. Here's Dita Von Teese, seen at this year's Coachella festival in California. We wonder if she believed wedges were practical footwear for a festival, or if she just can't bear to be seen without her high heels. Photograph: John Chapple/Rex Features

Glastonburygoer Elena Dobson steers sensibly clear of the festival dress code of late: no A-line floral sundress or Lost Vagueness burlesque shenanigans here. Just thoughtfully coordinated socks and sunglasses teamed with a neutral base that says minimal effort, maximum enjoyment. Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

Let's get this no-no out of the way. There's really no excuse for angel wings, fairy wings or any other related apparatus on a grown-up. Photograph: Rick Gershon/Getty

Backstage, competition is always tough, and festival Wags are never far from their Winnebagos filled with sumptuous arrays of clean dry clothes - the lucky things. Gywneth Paltrow, seen here at Glastonbury 2005, always shows how effortlessly she can work the earth mother look. Photograph: MJ Kim/Getty

No, no, Tess Daly! Is that a teddy bear you're sporting? Photograph: MJ Kim/Getty

It's hard to know which came first: ball dresses at Glastonbury or Lily Allen. One thing's for sure: Lil came along and challenged the festival fashion gospel as decreed by Ms Moss, and made it entirely permissible to wear a ball dress with trainers, a hoodie and a Barbour all at once. Which, when angry clouds continually threatened, was rather a comfort. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Let's get back to what the proles are wearing. At Glastonbury, Georgie Sleap shows how to work a drapey catsuit with maximum elegance. Red wellies, smart belt and simple necklace strike just the right notes: this is both understated parachute-combat chic and high glamour. Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

If you're going to do fancy dress, this is how to do it properly. Two young Big Chillgoers show how to work an Ascot-meets-Bo-Peep aesthetic. Photograph: Jim Dyson/Getty

A word on colour - too much of either extreme is wrong. Charlie Brooker and Aisleyne from Big Brother show how not to shine, in dull, turgid, standard-issue outdoor wear: this (fatally) matching khaki is sounding alarm bells. Remember to check out what your friends and loved ones have put on before emerging from the tent at dawn. Mind you, her earrings are redeeming. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Remember this? Pete Doherty and Kate Moss had been an item for a couple of years, but in their heydey at Glastonbury 2007 Kate made PVC trousers the unlikely item to be seen in for keeping the mud at bay. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

A random archive shot from the ever shape-shifting Peaches look book. This summer we predict she'll be in tailored shorts and a tucked-in tee. Back at V festival 2006, it was a more urban look with Converse, tights and a nu-rave baseball cap. Photograph: Jon Furniss/WireImage/Getty

Kay Berry shows off a very sophisticated colour-blocked combo at Glastonbury 2008. Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

Two alternative forms of headdress at Glastonbury 2008: no prizes for guessing which we're awarding points, and which we aren't. The wizard theme hasn't gained in credibility this year, by the way. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Here's a Big Chill trick: keep your look to a boho minimum, teaming pretty vest and jeans. Then accessorise with multiple hula hoops. Photograph: Jim Dyson/Getty

Men wearing tutus are a common sight at Glastonbury, usually by those approaching, or in the grip of, middle age. Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

The cold reality: whatever brights you stow into your knapsack, they're likely to end up brown with mud. Still, there's something cheerful about pink wellies emerging from the primordial sludge. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA