Coachella 2025 reaffirmed its status as a global fashion stage, where music and style converge once a year in the desert. While the festival’s boho-chic roots, characterized by crochet, fringe, and flowing silhouettes remained, this year’s fashion landscape showcased a blend of nostalgic elements and futuristic flair. Influencers and celebrities transformed the festival grounds into runways, debuting meticulously curated outfits in collaboration with various fashion brands. Statement accessories, including chunky jewelry and dramatic sunglasses, elevated even the most laid-back looks and added a bold edge to airy outfits.
Best Dressed:
Alix Earle:
During this year’s Coachella, influencer and model Alix Earle stunned social media with her statement festival outfits. From layering three belts and a skirt onto a leather laced romper on the first day to wearing a vintage top and leopard mini shorts on the last, Earle leaned into maximalism and made every look count. Whether she was striking a pose or dancing with friends to the music, Earle carried herself with ease in each outfit, exuding the same confidence and charm that keeps millions watching.
Madeleine White:
Social media influencer Madeleine White, known for finding and styling one-of-a-kind items, hit it off once again at Coachella. Styling an intricate and colorfully beaded top on the first day, she caught the eyes of many social media users. White paired the top with white mini shorts and a sheer scarf that she wrapped around her waist. To complete the outfit, she arranged several different flowers in her hair, giving herself an ethereal look. White continued to wear unforgettable outfits for each day of the festival, like on the last day when she paired a unique metal backless top with a sheer black skirt and smudged red eyeshadow that screamed effortless chaos.
Lady Gaga:
Lady Gaga’s performance on the Coachella stage blended fashion and music into harmony. Her set titled “Mayhem in the Desert” included over five acts, each marked by dramatic costume changes that paid homage to her past. The performance began with Gaga atop a dramatic crimson hoop skirt. In subsequent acts, Gaga wore a white corseted gown and later appeared in metallic armor pieces during her song “Paparazzi.” Her costumes not only showcased her flair but also served as visual metaphors for the themes — self-acceptance, fame, vulnerability, and empowerment — explored in her performance. Gaga’s Coachella 2025 appearance was more than a “mayhem in the desert”; it was an experience that reaffirmed her status as a pop icon who is unafraid to merge fashion with storytelling.
Worst Dressed:
James Charles:
It’s well-recognized that James Charles is no stranger to bold choices; however, at this year’s Coachella, his outfits crossed the line from daring into disjointed. His day one look — a high-cut black mesh bodysuit paired with thigh-high boots and a studded fanny pack — felt more like a poorly-executed costume than a festival outfit. On day two, he wore a denim jockstrap layered under a rhinestone-studded harness and cape. The mix of various textures and colors, layered one on top of the other, not only lacked cohesion but also looked uncomfortable under the scorching desert heat. Charles’ chaotic results are nothing but an ode to how sometimes less really is more.
Katie Fang:
TikTok star Katie Fang, known for her playful and quirky fashion style, may have taken her approach a bit too far this Coachella. On day two, she donned a bubblegum pink tulle dress paired with metallic cowboy boots, shutter shades, and a fuzzy bucket hat. Though each component of her outfit may have had potential on its own, the overall effect served a mismatched feel. Another equally jarring outfit materialized on day three when Fang stepped out in a neon-green outfit, featuring a fishnet jumpsuit over bike shorts and a corset. While Fang’s energy and creativity are undeniable, her looks at Coachella this year lacked the polish and vision to resonate in a crowd of intentional fashionistas.
Benson Boone:
Singer-songwriter Benson Boone notably brought heartfelt performances to the Coachella stage, but his fashion choices didn’t quite hit the same note. Boone’s outfits overall looked like they were put together last-minute, rather than being well thought-out. On day one, his outfit, showcasing a muddled color palette and heavy fabrics, felt out of place given the heat of the desert. By day three, Boone put together a distressed denim ensemble with mismatched patches and untied boots that felt entirely disconnected from today’s fashion trends. Although Boone is known for his laid-back vibe, it didn’t quite work well at Coachella, with the caliber of outfits demanding a bit more thought and deliberation. Ultimately, against a backdrop of sun-seared stages and street style, Boone’s outfits came across as half-baked.
