Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Style > Fashion

Is Coachella the Influencer Met Gala? Looking at Celebrity vs. Influencer Festival Fashion

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter.

The fashion show that is Coachella is once again taking over our Instagram feeds and TikTok For You Page. As some may have noticed, though, a lot of the A and B-List celebrities that usually show up and show out for Coachella each year are becoming much more casual this year. Each year at Coachella seems to always have a theme. 2016 was the iconic flower crown and flowy skirts and dresses combo. Last year was very fun with bright colors and sparkles. This year, as Elle Australia says, is the year of not trying too hard. When looking at the more prestigious celebrities Kendall Jenner and Emma Chamberlain, this claim bears true.

Kendall has never been one to shy away from showing up to Coachella in something on-trend and exciting. This year, however, she was seen in plain black pants paired with a black tank, seemingly flying under the radar.

Emma, who is notoriously known for her vlogs and outfits, has only made two posts with her Coachella outfits, neither of which stated that she was actually at the festival. She also hasn’t posted her own vlog, which is leaving a lot of her fans upset that they’re missing out on the festival content they could be getting. 

On the other hand, one thing we have seen a lot during this Coachella is a lot of influencers putting their best outfits forward and showcasing them on social media. 

Zoi Lerma has stepped out with some of my favorite outfits that I’ve seen at this year’s festival. Her outfits encompass a lot of eye-catching jewelry and accessories, and she has posted countless photos and videos on Instagram and TikTok showing them off. 

Alix Earle, another current popular influencer, is also making her mark at Coachella this year. Alix has been an avid festival-goer these past couple of months and she has never failed to give all of us viewers a stunning outfit. Coachella was no different for her. She continues to post in her countless show-stopping outfits, and she even had a PaperMag article written about her experience.

A lot of people have been questioning why influencers have been taking over the outfit game from their favorite big-name celebrities this year. The simple answer is this: Coachella has become an influencer’s playground. Because of how anticipated it is, it becomes the perfect time for them to show off the things that make the industry want them more — makeup, outfits, beauty — and they usually use this opportunity to its full extent. Coachella has basically become a fashion competition for those in the public eye. Before, it was mainly focused on outfits from celebrities and more widely-known influencers. Now, everyone’s involved. Knowing this, the only way for celebrities to still attend the festival but simultaneously separate themselves from influencers is to dress down. They’re doing this as if to say this is just another weekend for them. That they get invited to so many high-end, expensive getaways and events. Unlike the influencers, they don’t need to make a big deal out of this in order to support their brand because they have a plethora of opportunities for that.

I don’t want to say it’s a PR move to dress the way that they did this year, but I’m going to. And honestly, it was kind of genius. Celebrities may have a reason to dress to the nines at the Met Gala, but this isn’t the Met Gala for them, and strategically, they need people to know that.

Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, TwitterTikTokYouTube and Pinterest!

I'm a freshman at FSU studying psychology and criminology. I love painting, watching TV, going to the beach, and hanging out with my cat.