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What To Wear To Notting Hill Carnival This Weekend
Disclaimer: feathers and rhinestones included
Notting Hill carnival is one of London's most legendary events. A celebration of West Indian culture, you can expect great music, steel drums, yummy Caribbean food, good vibes and – hopefully – a heatwave. The vibrant event takes place every year over the last bank holiday weekend of summer and is basically a huge party spanning Portobello Road, Westbourne Grove and much of West London. Oh, and did we mention? It's free. There are no spenny festival tickets; as if you needed another reason to buy a new outfit.
The parades are colourful AF, with women dressed in elaborate feather headdresses and bejewelled bras, so boho Coachella fringing or your Kate Moss-inspired cut-offs-and-Hunters-combo won't cut it. Take inspiration instead from Rihanna's iconic outfits, or shop our round-up of Notting Hill Carnival essentials right here. We've picked 10 playful pieces that will stand out from the crowds, but that you'll also wear again. No one hit wonders here.
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Cara crochet backpack
Was £35, Now £17
Skinny Dip
You'll inevitably need a bag at Notting Hill carnival to store your phone, makeup and water bottles sneakily filled with booze. If you're tired of the much-overdone bumbag trend, then invest in a festival-friendly backpack. Skinny Dips' rainbow crochet iteration is giving us JW Anderson vibes, and it's currently half price in the sale.
Aqua Trip Biodegradable Cosmetic Glitter
In Your Dreams
£6
We get it, you don't want to give up the glitter when it comes to festivals and carnival – just make sure to look out for sustainable options though. Seriously, microplastics are polluting our seas and killing fish. In Your Dreams' little pots of sparkle are 100% biodegradable and come in a wide range of colours.
Leather cycling shorts
Topshop Boutique
£145
The cycling short trend might have taken us by a surprise, but these skintight babies are practically a wardrobe staple these days. Topshop Boutique's stretch-leather pair are a luxe take on the jersey styles we're seeing everywhere (and less see-through, for sure). Wear them with a printed camp collar shirt to carnival, then pair them with an oversized blazer when the bank holiday is a distant memory.
Ostrich feather bandeau top
The Attico
£1,275
When you're thinking about what to wear to Notting Hill, just ask yourself: 'What would Rihanna do?' (we've documented all of the singer's legendary carnival looks right here). Channel her pink feathered affair, from 2019's trip to Barbados, with this Ostrich bandeau top from The Attico – you can tone down the extra with some stone wash boyfriend jeans.
Hooded transparent PU raincoat
Rains
£110
When you're decked out in feathers, sequins and glitter, you won't want to compromise your swag with a coverup – no matter how heavy the downpour. Show off your outfit and stay dry (as well as keeping your mum happy) by investing in a transparent raincoat; Rains' high quality iteration won't cloud up like cheaper high street versions.
Shield bio-acetate visor sunglasses
Stella McCartney
£355
Noughties visor shades are having a moment, and Rihanna just happened to wear a pair back in 2013 with her rhinestone carnival bikini. Stella McCartney's shades tick all the boxes with their iridescent bio-acetate lenses and diamante-embellished logo.
Fluid cargo pants
Arket
£79
Fashion's obsession with the noughties doesn't just stop there: cargo pants are now a fully-fledged thing. Arket has put a luxe touch on the utilitarian trouser with a lustrous Tencel (a sustainable, biodegradable fabric) weave in a bright fuchsia hue. Wear these to Notting Hill with a one-shoulder top or pair with the matching shirt to create a cool boilersuit.
Backless ribbed bodysuit
The Reformation
£50
The tank top is summer's low-key wardrobe hero and this backless bodysuit version by Reformation is ideal for carnival. Don't banish it to the back of your wardrobe when the temperature drops, it's ideal for underpinning boyish blazers, trousers suits and longline cardigans come next season – just take it from Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley.
Suede hiking boots
& Other Stories
£135
It may still be summer, but sandals and Notting Hill carnival crowds do not mix. You can rest assured your feet will stay safe in these stompy hiking boots by & Other Stories, which look great with everything from floral slip dresses to denim cut-offs. This utilitarian shoe is a key trend for AW19; invest now and they'll see you through next season.
Rainbow gem headband
Orelia
£45
If feather headdresses just don't do it for you, playful hair accessories will make a subtle statement. With its slender shape and rainbow crystals, Orelia's headband will give inject your lewk with some sparkle.
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