I'm a fashion expert, here's how to do festival looks on a budget – and save the planet

The Irish Sun

23-05-2025

FESTIVAL fans are being urged to go green on Glasgow Green this summer with more sustainable fashion choices.
Every year Brits throw away 300,000 tonnes of
fabric
waste, which ends up slowly decomposing in landfills.
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TRNSMT is all about the music - but also the fashion
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Victoria has curated fest collections in stores
Credit: MARK GIBSON
And to do their bit, the team behind TRNSMT is encouraging festival-goers to choose second hand style when it comes to their outfits.
Bosses are launching a Sustainable
Festival
Fashion
Trail, which kicks off this weekend.
Tomorrow, TRNSMT will take over the Barras Market,
Off The Rails
at VEGA
Glasgow
and will
pop
up at vintage stores where shoppers can explore unique finds and festival picks curated by Scottish Stylist of the Year Victoria Lee.
The Glasgow-based preloved fashion fan said: 'It is my
job
to encourage people to step away from fast fashion and choose more sustainable routes when it comes to topping up their wardrobes.'
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Getting a look right for a festival can be tricky, especially in our unpredictable Scottish weather.
But what Victoria hopes is that music-lovers will avoid buying fast fashion items that get tossed aside once the
party
weekend is over in favour of vintage pieces that will last a lifetime.
Victoria, who ditched her own fast fashion
business
when she discovered the unethical roots of her on-sale items, said: 'I
love
the uniqueness of it.
'When you're shopping, you can have those unique pieces that other people aren't wearing.
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'You can really focus on your personal style. I think when you're more slow and more intentional about what you buy, it pays off more in the end as well.'
While the average lifespan of an item of clothing is three years, many people who consume fast fashion find their clothing only lasts a few months.
We're sizes 10 & 18 and did a New Look winter haul - it's a burgundy dream & boots pass chunky test
But some of the preloved pieces in second hand and vintage stores have been worn for decades — and are still going strong.
Victoria said: 'I think a lot of people panic buy for festivals and also we've become a little bit too accustomed to viewing our
clothes
as disposable.
'So the fashion trail encourages people to buy more staple pieces. The pieces in the collections will all be pieces that you can hopefully style around other things. Normal life, not just festivals.'
SUSTAINABLE STYLE
WE are self-confessed clothes addicts.
But, despite our love for all things fashion, choosing a fest outfit still foxes us — especially with our different ages and sizes.
In our YouTube series
Katy is 34 and a size 18 while I'm a tummy-conscious size ten 45-year-old.
So could Victoria choose gorgeous, preloved festival outfits that rocked both of our worlds?
She scoured the rails at Glasgow's West Vintage for two looks that could go from day to night at TRNSMT.
And she played a blinder.
For Katy, Victoria chose a flowy, brightly-coloured, tie-dyed maxi skirt paired with an over-sized sports T-shirt, all for just over £40.
For me, she chose a classic denim waistcoat and a layered white mini, with a handbag scarf for a pop of colour all for £50.
These pieces can be worn for years to come, making cost per wear a snip — music to our ears.
And her top tip for what to wear this summer? The style pro said: 'I'd say the most fashionable thing you can do is just go with your own personal style and express yourself and who you are. Get those pieces that are staples that you'll be able to wear again and again.'
On Sunday, the day will kick off at the Barras Market in Glasgow's East End, where from 12pm fans can browse curated rails of pre-loved fashion, discover upcycled gems and get styling tips from sustainability champions.
From there, fans can head to Kings
Court
, stopping at vintage favourites including Mr Bens Retro Clothing, Minted and West Vintage for even more unique finds picked out by Victoria.
The day wraps up at VEGA
Glasgow
with a special festival edition of Off The Rails, a quarterly pop-up that celebrates independent brands.
There will be
live
performances by artists from this year's BBC Introducing line-up and
Radio
1
Dance
Stage
DJs
at both The Barras and VEGA, bringing the festival buzz to
the city
.
There will also be the chance to
win
festival
tickets
to this summer's Glasgow Green music extravaganza on July 11 to 13, with ten golden labels hidden along the trail as a reward for those who choose pre-loved summer festival outfits.
A TRNSMT Festival spokesman said: 'Planning a festival outfit is a priority for so many fans. We wanted to create something that shows how sustainable fashion can still be exciting, creative, and fun, especially in a city like Glasgow that's full of legendary vintage and second-hand options.'
To find out more visit
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West Vintage has curated fest looks on offer
Credit: MARK GIBSON
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Lynn and Katy loved their looks
Credit: MARK GIBSON