Southern Style: Shaky Knees Festy Dress

All of my girls at Shaky Knees Saturday afternoon for Real Estate
All of my girls at Shaky Knees Saturday afternoon, during the Real Estate set.

For the third year running, Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival brought an intensely curated, nationally-acclaimed indie rock showcase to the streets of downtown Atlanta.  Each year the fest has changed locations – two years ago the Masquerade Music Park hosted, last year the concrete jungle of Atlantic Station.  After trial and error, the promoters finally have settled into a homelier park locale – Atlanta’s own Central Park, located in the West Old Fourth Ward.  The new location also translated into the ability to host more guests.  This year’s daily attendance hovered around 30,000, which, in my humble opinion, is THE magic number for an intown festival.  Congratulations, Shaky Knees, you’ve done it!

Unicorn backpack, winged glasses, spacey sheer UNIF dress. This lady might be an alien!
Unicorn backpack, winged glasses, spacey sheer UNIF dress. This lady might be an alien!

Prior years have been muddled with monsoons and mud, but not this year!  Shaky Knees welcomed sunny skies, light cloud coverage, spurts of breeze and a HOTT 90 degrees.  WHOOSH!  Friday’s steamy temps had festival attendees fading fast and rethinking all ideas regarding dress.  If there was any fashion theme for the weekend it was this: minimize body coverage, maximize air flow!  And be cute to boot.  Ladies wore crop tops and tailored tops tied up in the front, lacy bralettes, flowy tiered skirts, mesh sundresses, and crochet.  Add a sheer shawl or scarf, some spaced-out cat-eye sunglasses, top it off with a wide brimmed sunhat or cute flat bill and you’re good to go.  Men took the manly approach – patterned tanks, stylin’ haircuts, top hats, bandanas to keep cool, and at times, no shirt (no problem here).

Saw these ladies dancing around in the field during Real Estate. Who knew shawls could effectively be used as shade from the sun? Rocking black lace bralettes, adorable sunglasses, and the shortest of flowy skirts, these Orlando girls know how to fashionable stay cool.
Saw these ladies dancing around in the field during Real Estate. Who knew shawls could effectively be used as shade from the sun? Rocking black lace bralettes, adorable sunglasses, and the shortest of flowy skirts, these Orlando girls know how to fashionable stay cool.
I ran into fellow Florida fashion bloggers Ashley and Tina outside of Panda Bear. Lately, I feel black and white stripes have been mildly overdone, but Ashley's tiered skirt is a huge winner. With a black felt hat and sheer, tasseled shawl, she may well be my festival best-dressed. Loved all of these girls' stone wraps!
Ran into fellow Florida fashion bloggers Ashley and Tina outside of Panda Bear. Lately, I feel black and white stripes have been mildly overdone, but Ashley’s tiered skirt is a huge winner. With a black felt hat and sheer, tasseled shawl, she may well be my festival best-dressed. Loved all of their stone wraps!

Running around the festival, I met a whole lot of fashionable cats, many of whom were from Florida.  I guess Floridians naturally just know how to stay classy AND cool.

My good friend Deanna and I were pleasantly surprised at the lack of women’s high-waisted jean cut offs, a current fave trend.  We would like to thank all attendees for their taste in thinking outside the box and invite you to join our new campaign: “Just say no to denim diapers.”

Deanna and Heather
Deanna and I on Sunday afternoon. Crop tops, cool shades, flat bill. Perfect end to the festival.

Some tips on Festy Fashion Do’s and Don’t’s:

DON’T wear a shirt from a major regional festival you have previously attended – that’s just plain tacky.
DO wear a tee from prior years of the festival you are currently attending.
DON’T wear a shirt for a band that is playing the festival, especially on the day said band takes the stage. Unless you plan on getting your shirt signed…but then the question arises – why are you wearing that anyway? You’ll just end up with a sweat-drenched mop that no band could possibly sharpie.
DO wear a tee for a band that’s not playing the festival, especially if said band is local.
DO support local music!

Friday's ensemble - shameless Athens promotion. Drinking Terrapin Brewery's Hopsecutioner and sporting local band Chief Scout's tee. Complete with combat boots, orange shades, and my favorite black felt hat <3
Friday’s ensemble – shameless Athens promotion. Drinking Terrapin Brewery’s Hopsecutioner & sporting local band Chief Scout’s tee. Complete with combat boots, orange shades, and my fave black felt hat <3

Heather Harz

Heather is an Athens-based musician by day, bartender by night. You can find her working at Last Resort Grill providing wine recommendations and (mayhaps) tasting alongside you. As a classically trained flutist, she lives for all things music - performing & recording in Athens, promoting shows, and attending festivals. Because she is vertically challenged, she is also a master of "getting to the front." In her spare time, you will find Heather imbibing local beer, making candles, shopping for accessories, laughing, traveling the world, and driving with the windows down. PROST!

Heather Harz has 3 posts and counting. See all posts by Heather Harz

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