According to distributors COMAG Specialist: Launched in 2004 by DJ Rob da Bank and his wife to change the culture of independent festivals, Bestival is now one of the most popular weekend events on the calendar.
Taking place every year in September on the Isle of Wight, Bestival is more than just a music festival, regularly attracting crowds of more than 60,000 fans and some of the top acts around. Not only aimed at people who love good music of all genres, but also those creative and imaginative types who are looking for all-round fun.
With both the acts themselves and the audience often entering into the playfully fun ethos of Bestival, it is little wonder that the annual festival is now a fixture on the calendar and has won many awards over the years, including the ‘Best Major Festival’ award in 2012.
From the very first event, Bestival has pioneered a renaissance in ‘dressing up to get down’ and has long been synonymous with not only fancy dress, but also an adventurous style. In 2010, Bestival set a Guinness World Record for the most people in fancy dress at a single event, when 55,000 people appeared together in costume.
Celebrating the unique creativity of artists and ‘Bestivalites’ alike, the launch issue of Bestival Presents is called ‘The Art of Dressing Up’ and will look at many of the impressive costumes and themes that have appeared at the event since 2004.
With pictures and features that capture the ethos of the annual event, the launch issue of Bestival Presents will explore some of the themes that have appeared, the best and worst outfits, the costumes that might have seemed a good idea at the time, but proved to be less than practical in the field, as well as the ever-trusty, perennial favourites!
With acts including Elton John, Snoop Dogg, The Flaming Lips, Wu-Tang Clan, The Cuban Brothers and Chic (with Nile Rodgers) amongst many others, it is likely that the 2013 Bestival will have as much dressing up as ever, both onstage as well as off!
