Festival season isn't over yet. Now that Coachella weekends one and two have come and gone, it's time for cowgirls and cowboys to flock to Indio as Stagecoach invades the Empire Polo Fields from April 26 to 28. Given the SoCal country music festival's rising status on the fashion and beauty front, we tapped L.A.-based celebrity stylist Daniel Musto to share his top tips for any desert-bound festgoers who are stumped on their Stagecoach style situation.
Here, the on-camera fashion expert (who's dressed Louise Roe, JC Chasez, Ashlee Simpson, and more as well as styled wardrobes for shows like The Real, Access Hollywood, American Idol, and others) reveals his best pointers for Western-obsessed women and men heading to the three-day fest, from last-minute bedazzling that won't break the bank to picking the perfect hues for standing out from the honky-tonk crowd under the sun.
Read on below, and shop some of our favorite Stagecoach-ready picks.
Up the Ante on Vintage Tees
"A vintage tee isn't festival-ready until it has been rhinestoned," Musto insists. "The key is to use rhinestones that are equally as muted as the distressed fabric. A gunmetal or bronze rhinestone is always best." He suggests using E6000 glue "for a lasting hold"; as far as where to get your gems, "Bohemian Crystal in Downtown (812 Maple Ave., L.A. 90014) stocks every color and size," he says.
Be Bold with Rockabilly Suits
Ladies and gents who plan on dressing it up at the desert with a suit should "choose a color that stands out," says Musto. "Browns and beiges blend in too much."
Musto adds that "when buying vintage, alter the silhouette so the outfit is modernized." Bell bottoms can be altered into a cropped cigarette cut, while waistlines can be tapered and shirt cuffs tightened.
Punch Things Up with Patches
Nudie suits, the flamboyant rhinestone cowboy looks created by legendary tailor Nudie Cohn, "are a classic country Western look, but they could cost a pretty penny," says Musto. He recommends "taking solid color pieces from your closet and enhancing them to look like the Nudie style. You can buy patches of your favorite symbols — like cowboy boots, horses, horseshoes, and roses [to name a few] — and simply iron them on. If you want the true Nudie look, outline the patches with silver size 20 rhinestones around the edge like marquis lights."
Add More Swing to Your Shirts
"If you are adding fringe to a button-down shirt, make sure it has yolks so there is a seam to work with," says Musto. "Most conventional Western wear shirts have a three to four inches in length of silk fringe. I recommend getting six to ten inches from a fabric store for a more dramatic touch."
KiraKira Your Denim
"Nothing screams 'country star' more than sparkly denim," says Musto. "I recommend buying fishnet stockings that have rhinestones on them and layering them over your jeans for the sparkle effect in seconds, as opposed to days of manual labor."
When shopping for bedazzled fishnets, "make sure you go one to two sizes up to guarantee a good fit. This works for anyone, male or female, who wears tight jeans."
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