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Aside from pool days and tan lines, summer is synonymous with one thing: festival season. If you live in Houston, indie connoisseurs will fill up Eleanor Tinsley Park for Free Press Summer Fest tomorrow. The Shins (my favorite), Portugal. The Man, Lorde, Grouplove and more will take the stage in the midst of Houston’s heated summer in front a full crowd. Now I know we’re supposed to all agree that the incredible live music is the best part of summer’s invigorating music festivals, but I’d like to wager that the fashion is a close second. I teamed up with Century 21 to share my favorite festival-ready picks.

If you catch me on a typical day, I’m more polished and less bohemian. Believe me, I wish I could be free spirited and flowy all year long but my day job requires a little more professionalism. Summer and festival season are absolute treats for this reason since I can feel like I’m at Coachella next to a Gigi Hadid (this is a hypothetical, of course) without fear of being judged. The liberation of slipping out of a pencil skirt and into a romper is priceless!

Century 21, New York’s famed department store, was always a favorite of mine when visiting NYC. My mom and I would plan our New York visits, scheduling enough time to see Broadway shows, eat New York-style cheesecake and go on our “shopping tour” of the Big Apple. It was the golden standard to buy a new piece of luggage to fill with all of our latest sartorial finds. Century 21 reminds me of high school travels when I frequented NYC and was bent on making it home. Now that I live in Houston, I still dream of New York but shopping at its staples definitely give me that hit of Manhattanite dopamine I crave. When putting together my festival favorites to prepare for Free Press Summer Fest, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Century 21 has a huge variety of indie chic attire.

Here are a few must-have trends for the season:

Loose Fitting Fashion

Living in Miami and Houston has taught me to avoid tight-fitting clothing at all costs during the summer. Both cities are crown jewels on the throne of humidity, so I’ve learned that more room to breathe leaves less space to get sticky and sweaty. I personally love the floral printed dresses at Century 21 and anything with an off-the-shoulder top. The Angie Printed Halter Dress is a stunning shift dress that can be worn anywhere but will fit right in the concert crowds. My absolute favorite piece is the Angie Printed Halter Maxi Romper – this piece is literally the BEST of both worlds. The dress has a flattering empire waist with a sweet tasseled bow at front, A-line skirted overlay at shorts with open front—the best part is the surprise shorts! This part-romper and part-dress creation is a brilliant solution to any festival.

Round Sunnies

Channeling John Lennon and Twiggy, round sunglasses are the hottest silhouette to wear at the moment. The black and gold tone sunglasses are my favorite and are a great addition to any summer look, but are a great pick for your next all-day concert. MCM’s two-tone round glasses are a great match for the Angie Halter Dress. If you have a diamond or square-shaped face, round glasses are the best fit for you and will balance your angles in a flattering way.

Tassel & Pom Poms

As a crafter at heart, I am thrilled that the pom pom trend is here for the summer. I adore the lighthearted feeling of fun embellishments and bright colors. These ankle wrap sandals are an easy alternative to the more structured gladiator that most festival goers opt for.  The tribal woven accents in Sam Edelman’s Camel & Pink Greythen Lace Up Sandals are intricately crafted in beautiful rosey hues. For those who aren’t a fan of all the bells and whistles, Katy Perry’s shoe design is beyond adorable and still evokes a folk rock attitude.

Last but not least, add a little tassel magic to your crossbody. I definitely wouldn’t advise any other type of bag for festival season as you’ll want to jump around and wave your hands in the air without the weight or stress of losing a purse.

Beaded and Woven Jewelry

Fringe, beads, and woven adornments conjure hippie charm in a bold way. Pairing dangling turquoise earrings with a simple matching choker is a chic way to put together a cohesive style. Can I also mention that I LOVE the ’90s vibes from this gold-tone fabric watch? I’m feeling nostalgic thinking of the endless amount of friendship bracelets I slaved over.

Do you have a favorite festival season trend I missed? I’d love to hear about your favorite trends and pieces in the comments!

This post was sponsored by Century 21 and all opinions are my own. Thank you to the brands who make Cup of Charisma possible! 

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