Festival season has arrived for the first time since 2020. The sun came out in full force on the weekend, as a couple thousand punters-to-be made the journey up to Tatyoon, Victoria. There, they gathered for the four-day bonanza, celebrating “music and mateship”, that was Hopkins Creek. Postponed not once, not twice, but three times already, the festival had at last made its return.
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After years spent locked down in the comfortable isolation of a home, the thought of spending three nights and four days in social company without the luxury of a shower would have been inconceivable to some. It frightened me, and I’m a self-described Feral Girl.Hopkins Creek isn’t really a costumey festival – most outfits appeared to be just slightly-more-fun versions of people’s every-day clothes – but the sole experience of being out in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere, surrounded by hot and sexy like-minded people - your own mind possibly addled by heat, booze, and illicit substances - will do interesting things to your personal style. And there’s truly no place better than a festival to sit back and appreciate the style of vast swathes of people, who, for the most part, radiate impeccable vibes.Sitting on the hill, basking in magnanimous sunshine, I wanted to know how those gorgeous people felt about their outfits. So I asked them.
Nelson, 25
VICE: You look amazing. Could you please give me a rundown of the fit?
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What’s been a highlight, a lowlight, or maybe something you’ve absolutely loathed–Is that a cockroach? Where? Oh. Yeah. Apparently that’s the best way to survive on a beach. You just eat the cockroaches. Actually though.Super high protein.It’s like the most sustainable way to eat, because they just reproduce.And they’re so easy to catch too. I feel like other animals are too hard for us to catch really, in the wild.Yeah. Back in Taiwan we just eat bugs on the street. But they’re really nicely cooked, like cricket chips, seasoned with turmeric. Bug spaghetti… you have not lived. Sorry, what was the question?Uhh I don’t know. Where were you headed when we interrupted you?I was heading to get a coffee, but I was like, “hmm, this is the wrong way”.
Gabby, 24
VICE: I’m loving this outfit. Can you give me a rundown of what you’ve got on?
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It’s like Toorak mum but Prada. I love these shoes. Do you think you look good?I think I look gorgeous. I feel gorgeous, I feel like I can take on anything today. And I’m ready to dance.What’s the most important thing for you when getting dressed at the festival?Moveability, breathability, and that some of my ass-ets are showing.
Harry, below 30
VICE: I love your outfit, please tell me about it.
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Any advice, for the kids, for dressing cool?I’ve got all these bad jokes in my head. They’re too stupid to say. If it’s really bad I won’t put it in.No, you will put it in! I know how you journalists are. No! This is supposed to be fun, I’m not trying to stitch you up. Please, just one.Don’t forget to wear underwear.
Camilla, 24
VICE: What’s your favourite part of your outfit?
Henry, 23
VICE: What are you wearing today?
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Yeah we walked like 17km yesterday from midnight ‘till 4am. Fuck that haha.
Harry, 23
VICE: SO Cute. Please give me a rundown of what you’re wearing!
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Yeah, bring a hairbrush. And bring hair clay, because this shit was fucked this morning. And no one has a blow dryer. Shit’s fucked.Yeah, no one brought a generator to use one either. You could start a renegade salon next time?I should.We did want to set up a renegade tent. For ASMR though. Gay-SMR.All images by Kallista Richards.Follow Arielle on TikTok and Instagram.Read more from VICE Australia.