What to Wear to We Are FSTVL. May Guide (Upminster)

What to wear to We Are FSTVL: Upminster sits at 18°C (64°F) by day and 10°C (50°F) at night in May, on open field, with a moderate chance of rain. That means a light base with one warm layer you can carry, broken-in boots or sturdy trainers, and a bag small enough for the gate rules. The crowd leans rave, house and glam, so anything that survives the day reads as right.

Typical daytime high	18°C (64°F)
Typical night low	10°C (50°F)
Day–night swing	8°C (14°F)
Rain risk	Moderate
Ground	Grass that turns to mud
Sun exposure	High during the day, no shade at the main stages

Everything below follows from those numbers.

What to wear, look by look

Look 01

Mesh & Muscle Mid-range

Sheer mesh, harness, shorts. Built for a sweaty tent, not a photo op.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (rave and house), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. At 18°C (64°F) this needs a real layer underneath. Thermal base, not just a jacket. Nights drop to 10°C (50°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

Topsmesh long sleeve or harness shop
Shortsshort shorts shop
Sneakerschunky trainers or boots shop
Glitterbody glitter shop
Jewellerychain necklace shop
Bagsbelt bag shop

Crochet halter top

Crochet halter top

$53.99

sample

Micro pleated skirt

Micro pleated skirt

$114.47

sample

Trail runners

Trail runners

$92.87

sample

Face gem sticker set Premium

Face gem sticker set Premium

$100.43

sample

Look 02

Corset Drama Investment piece

Structured top, soft bottom. The silhouette that owns every front row.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (glam and y2k), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. Nights drop to 10°C (50°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

Topscorset or bustier shop
Shortstulle skirt or wide cargos shop
Bootslace-up platform boots shop
Jewellerylayered chokers shop
Makeupgraphic liner shop
Bagsmini shoulder bag shop

Crochet halter top

Crochet halter top

$53.99

sample

Micro pleated skirt

Micro pleated skirt

$114.47

sample

Knee-high boots

Knee-high boots

$75.59

sample

Beaded anklet

Beaded anklet

$53.99

sample

Look 03

Y2K Revival Budget-friendly

Low-rise, baby tee, butterfly clips. 2003 with better sunscreen.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (y2k and rave), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. Nights drop to 10°C (50°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

Topsbaby tee or halter top shop
Shortslow-rise cargo or micro mini shop
Sneakerschunky retro trainers shop
Sunglassestiny tinted shield sunglasses shop
Hairbutterfly clips and mini braids shop
Bagsbaguette shoulder bag shop

Crochet halter top

Crochet halter top

$53.99

sample

Micro pleated skirt

Micro pleated skirt

$114.47

sample

Trail runners

Trail runners

$92.87

sample

Sport wraparound shades Premium

Sport wraparound shades Premium

$182.51

sample

Look 04

Sequin After Dark Investment piece

One high-shine piece plus practical everything else. The night-set formula.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (glam and house), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. Nights drop to 10°C (50°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

Dressessequin mini dress shop
Jacketsfaux fur or bomber for later shop
Bootsknee-high boots shop
Bagscrossbody with zip shop
Jewellerycrystal earrings shop
Glitterface gems shop

Tiered prairie dress

Tiered prairie dress

$97.19

sample

Faux fur cropped coat

Faux fur cropped coat

$23.75

sample

Knee-high boots

Knee-high boots

$75.59

sample

Dry bag

Dry bag

$153.35

sample

Look 05

Cyber Fairy Mid-range

Chrome, iridescence and wings. The most photographed look at any night stage.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (rave), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. Nights drop to 10°C (50°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

Raveholographic bodysuit shop
Costumefairy wings or light-up halo shop
Sneakersplatform boots shop
Glitterchrome face gems shop
Jewellerybody chain shop
Makeupsetting spray that survives sweat shop

Iridescent skirt Premium

Iridescent skirt Premium

$70.19

sample

LED halo headband

LED halo headband

$32.39

sample

Trail runners

Trail runners

$92.87

sample

Face gem sticker set Premium

Face gem sticker set Premium

$100.43

sample

Look 06

Neon Rave Budget-friendly

UV-reactive everything, so you still read as a person at 4am under the lasers.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (rave), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. Nights drop to 10°C (50°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

RaveUV-reactive bikini top or bodysuit shop
Shortsneon shorts or mesh skirt shop
Sneakerschunky white trainers shop
Glitterbiodegradable glitter and face gems shop
Jewellerykandi bracelets shop
Hairneon braids or space buns shop

Holographic bodysuit

Holographic bodysuit

$49.67

sample

Micro pleated skirt

Micro pleated skirt

$114.47

sample

Trail runners

Trail runners

$92.87

sample

Face gem sticker set Premium

Face gem sticker set Premium

$100.43

sample

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Footwear

Best option here: Broken-in boots or sturdy trainers.

Avoid: brand-new shoes, heels, and anything you have not walked 10 kilometres in.

You will walk between 15.000 and 30.000 steps a day at a festival of this size. Footwear is the only part of a festival outfit that can genuinely end your weekend, so it is the one place to spend money and break things in beforehand.

Bag, glitter and gate rules

Bag size. Most festivals of this size cap bags at roughly A4 or require a clear bag at the main stages. A belt bag plus a small crossbody clears almost every policy. Check the official rules before you buy anything bigger.
Chains and studs. Long chains, spikes and metal-heavy accessories are refused at some gates. If a piece is central to the look, have a backup.
Glitter. Biodegradable only at a growing number of festivals; plastic glitter is banned outright at several. It is also, practically, the hardest thing to remove from a tent.
No camping. You are travelling in and out each day, so the outfit has to survive public transport at both ends, and a cloakroom is not guaranteed.

The packing checklist

Two tops per day (one gets ruined)
One layer for the night
Earplugs
Refillable water bottle
Portable charger
Sun cream or SPF stick
Baby wipes
A bag with a zip

What not to wear

Heels of any kind. Grass, gravel and crowd crush. Platform boots give the height with a surface area that works.
Your good bag. Beer, mud, being sat on. Take the one you would not mind losing, with a zip.

FAQ

Start with the weather: 18°C (64°F) by day, 10°C (50°F) at night, moderate rain risk, on open field. That points to a light base with one warm layer you can carry, plus broken-in trainers or boots. Style-wise the crowd leans rave wear, house and high glam.

Typical night lows are around 10°C (50°F), a drop of 8 degrees from the daytime high. That is cold enough to end your night early if you have nothing with sleeves.

Broken-in boots or sturdy trainers. Expect 15.000–30.000 steps a day.

No formal dress code. Wear what survives the day; the crowd is broad and nobody is checking.

Festivals this size usually limit bags to around A4 size, and some require clear bags at main stages. A belt bag plus a small zipped crossbody clears almost every policy. Always check the official rules for the current edition. They change year to year.

The reliable formula here is a tee, a light overshirt and broken-in trainers, with a beanie and a small crossbody bag. See the full list of men's outfits below.

Yes, but bring biodegradable glitter. Plastic glitter is banned at a growing number of festivals and is close to impossible to get out of a tent, a car or your hair. Face gems are the lower-effort alternative and survive sweat better.

We Are FSTVL normally takes place in May, running 2 days in Upminster. Exact dates are announced by the organisers each year at wearefstvl.com. Check there before booking anything.

Typical daytime high	18°C (64°F)
Typical night low	10°C (50°F)
Day–night swing	8°C (14°F)
Rain risk	Moderate
Ground	Grass that turns to mud
Sun exposure	High during the day, no shade at the main stages