45 Years of Music Festival Fashion: From Woodstock to Electric Daisy

Laiiiid back. This original Woodstock attendee's embellished hat and sandals are perfectly suited for his relaxation vibes, perched — where else! — on a Chevy Nova. The accessories are classic — any dude could wear this full outfit today and look perfect for summer, although if he ventures off the beach he must not forget the hippie death knell, "No shirt, no shoes, no service."

A tent dress piled on with bead necklaces, frosted lipstick, and copious eyeliner: in 1969, she's at Woodstock, in 2009, she's a leading lady on The Hills.

The diaphanous dress worn by the Incredible String Band's Rose Simpson looks like a prototype for a Givenchy couture collection, 40 years ahead of its time. You could imagine this on any number of contemporary artists — though it gives us Ellie Goulding vapors the most — but gave Rose the impression of being an acoustic hippie angel.

At Altamont, the GTOs' Miss Mercy presaged the 1970s with her headscarf and chic raccoon eyes, which made her look super chic while conveying what everyone knew: the era of peace and love was ending. Those are the eyes of impending cynicism.

Nineteen-eighty-five Sade looks identical to 2014 Sade, both in skin freshness (seriously woman, what is your secret?!) and style-wise: the classic mock turtleneck and stretchy skirt would be a perfectly clean look for today. Add a bright red fur stole, and this could be on Rihanna. 

Don. Johnson. Is there a Migos song about this guy yet? The actor is giving so much 1985 realness in this photo. Full linen, a Cuban hat, and mandals are complimented by a freaking briefcase — because in the Eighties, even Don Johnson spends some of his vacation trading stocks.

Madonna's floral pants and multiple layers and lengths of brocade invoke both hippie love and Marie Antoinette decadence, which sums up her 1980s estilo quite nicely. 

These two attendee-lovers at the 1993 Lollapalooza embody the era in a nutshell: his 'n' hers eyeliner, greasy hair and DIY hemlines, à la the dude on the right's duct-taped pants. The Sixties thought they had "anything goes" on lock, but the Nineties dunked it from the cut.

Kat Bjelland, singer/guitarist of perennially underrated Nineties band Babes in Toyland, epitomized the era's baby doll look: a crisp white frock, toddler barrettes and double braids peroxided to the max. Its sweetness belied the devil whorl of their feminist guitars, a perfect paradox.

Why wouldn't a nearly naked Flea light his helmet on fire?

Nothing says "party" like a tropical caftan on George Clinton (and note his era-appropriate Doc Martens). 

This is back when Kanye was still wearing multiple hues at once — all the way in 2011. Because Coachella operates in the shadow of Woodstock more than any other American festival, we got to give it up to his friendship bracelets and Hendrixian chest-hair.  

Imagine if Björk had borrowed George Clinton's Lolla outfit to wear with her pom-pom headpiece? Better yet: a duet.

Captain M.I.rAve is in the building and she orders you to dance in the name of revolution, and also her excellent embroidered officer's sash. Handmade, no doubt.

Karen O's gold-coin dress and oil-slick gauntlet: these very likely are made of materials they had not yet invented in the Sixties. This is the promise of the 21st Century fulfilled.

Empire of the Sun's backup dancer can shred a giant fake guitar with her eyes closed. WAH-WAHH. Sorry.

Diplo's taken festival fashion to black-tie affair like the adult man he is, but still couldn't resist accessorizing with — is that a rave inhaler?!

The dream of the Sixties is alive at Electric Daisy Carnival.